June 13, 2003, Newsletter Issue #61: Squeaky Floors

Tip of the Week

Question:
I have sqeaky hardwood floors. How can I get these out without taking the floors back up? Thanks. Robbie
Answer:
Robbie; Squeaks are caused by two pieces rubbing against each other. Standard construction practice in building a house calls for the floor joists to be nailed into place. Then the sub-floor is nailed onto the joists. Then the hardwood floor is nailed through the sub-floor into the joists. Sometimes the carpenter will "miss" when nailing either the sub-floor or the hardwood into the joists. If the sub-floor is not nailed to the joist, it will rub, making a squeak. The same is true if the hardwood is not nailed to the joist. If you have an unfinished area below the hardwood floor, like a basement without a ceiling, you can drive shims between the joists and the sub-floor. This will help somewhat. Without an unfinished area below, I´m afraid the news is not good. The only sure way is to sand the finish off the floors, re-nail each joist, fill the nail holes, and then refinish the floors. Unless you have experience using a floor sander, this project is probably best left to a professional. Home Improvement Guru

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