Fixing Squeaks in Hardwood Floors         Back

What Causes Squeaky Floor Boards
If you have an older home with hardwood floors it is likely that you will have squeaking as you walk across certain areas. Squeaks usually occur in older floors where a sleeper subfloor system has been used. Most squeaks occur as a result of the normal cycle of seasonal contraction and expansion. From dry winters to humid summers, and back to dry winters, this seasonal change causes the sleepers to separate from the pine subfloor below and the hardwood flooring boards above. As the years go by, the nails loosen, separation occurs, and the result is "character" squeaking.

A newly installed floor should not squeak. The plywood subfloor should be walked prior to installing the hardwood flooring to test for any looseness or squeaking. If looseness or squeaking is found, the plywood is screwed down to the floor joist. This securely fastens the plywood subfloor to the floor joist. The hardwood flooring should be installed with an air compressed staple gun set at 60 pounds of pressure. This correct fastening will ensure no squeaking as long as there is no water damage or other damage to the hardwood flooring or subfloor.

Silencing Squeaks
There are several options for silencing squeaks if the ceiling underneath the flooring is open and accessible. If the ceiling is finished the squeaks will have to be accepted as part of the "character " of the house. Nailing on top of the hardwood flooring is usually unsightly and ineffective at eliminating the squeaking.

You can approach the problem from below if the subfloor is accessible from below:

Shim the squeak. Sometimes the squeak is not located in the floor boards but rather in the subfloor. One method for solving this problem is to carefully pound a shim into the gap between the subfloor and the joist in the area of the squeak. The best shims for this purpose are exterior wood siding shingles because their taper is more gradual than the pre-made shims found in most stores. You may want to apply construction adhesive to the seam between the joist and subfloor as well as the shim before hammering it in place.

Screws through joists. Another technique is to apply construction adhesive to the seams where the joist meets the subfloor. Then, drive a screw on an angle through the side of the joist into but not through the subfloor. To get a snug fit, after you have applied the adhesive but before you have driven the screw, ask someone to stand on that section of the floor in the room above, then drive the screw.

Bridge and Block. If you suspect the squeak is coming from the subfloor and not the floor boards, you may want to try these ideas. Install a bridge, a small square piece of 3/4" plywood to join two pieces of subfloor. Apply construction adhesive to the one side of the plywood before placing it against the subfloor, and then drive screws through the block into but not through the subfloor. A block involves installing a short piece of 2x3 or 2x4 along side of a joist. Apply construction adhesive to one edge and one side of the block and position the adhesive side of the block against the side of the joist, with the adhesive edge against the bottom of the subfloor. Then, with someone standing on the floor above, drive two screws through the block into, but not through, the subfloor and into the side of the joist.

Preventing Squeaks
Although you may not be able to prevent squeaks entirely, there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood that they will occur. By maintaining a consistent humidity level in your home you will reduce the impact of seasonal change. A simple way of accomplishing this is by installing a humidifier. Maintaining consistent humidity level year 'round will not only help your floors, but will be healthier for your family, too.