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ARe you looking for information about Fixing Creaks in Your Floorboards? The noises might be very annoying and you just want it gone!
Old or new, there is one universal problem that irritates everyone — squeaky floorboards! Not only do creaks and squeaks always seem to happen when everyone is trying their best to be quiet, but these floorboard fails can be more than just minor frustrations, especially if they are happening in an area of high traffic in your home.
Luckily there are ways to fix creaky floorboards, though some are more complicated than others, and it will depend on where your home’s creaks are located.
What Causes the Creak?
Most common in older homes, though new construction is not a guarantee that the problem won’t happen, creaks are most often caused by board looseness.
Loose boards rub together or onto a fixing nail or floor joist which makes that unpleasant and annoying noise. When there is a gap between the top of the joist and the underside of the subfloor this creates space for movement when pressure is applied to your flooring.
Other potential culprits could be incorrect or ill-fitted nails used to secure your flooring to the joists. Or it could be an issue with the supporting joists underneath the boards. There are many reasons why your floors could be making so much noise!
Traditional hardwood strip flooring is the most likely to develop a case of the squeaks, but all types of flooring can make annoying noises. And to determine how to fix the noise, you first have to figure out whether your creak is the culprit of simple looseness or some other factor.
How to Figure Out the Cause
To get to the root of the creak, you have to pinpoint its exact location. Most people do this by having someone step on the floor while someone else listens closely to the noise and looks for floorboard movement.
It is easiest to diagnose your creaks and squeaks if you have access to your floors from below, but they can be identified and corrected from above on some occasions.
Fixing Creaks in Your Floorboards: Now What?
Congratulations! You have identified what is causing your creaking floorboards. Now you need to decide on next steps to take care of a fix. There are some DIY fixes that can solve the problem in a matter of minutes, others take considerably more time and effort. Obviously, you want to silence the squeaks without damaging the finished floor.
Here are some suggestions for Fixing Creaks in Your Floorboards:
- Wrong nails used or not well fitted
If incorrect (short) nails were used to fit your flooring to the floor joist, or the flooring wasn’t correctly nailed to the joist, you will need to remove the current nails and refit your floorboard with longer nails or ails appropriately fitted. - Gaps between the floor and joist
If you find space between your floor and the joist, affix a thin wood shim to fill the gap, using carpenter’s glue, between the joist and the underside of the subfloor. Gently tap the shim into the space between the joist and subfloor. But be careful! Don’t drive it in too far because you will raise the flooring, creating a new problem. - Damaged floorboards
If your boards are damaged or warped due to leaking or some other issue, you’ll want to have new ones fitted. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for this problem. - Simple friction
If you can’t find any other reason for your boards to be creaking, try dusting the cracks between the boards with talcum powder or graphite powder lubricant. This is an easy first step that will greatly reduce any slight bit of friction that is occurring between the planks of wood and should eliminate most of your noise concerns.
What if I have carpet?
That’s fine! There are kits made specifically for DIY fixes for carpeting laid over a wood subfloor. These usually consist of specially designed breakaway screws and have detailed instructions that show you how to use them to your best advantage.
Does Fixing Creaks in Your Floorboards require a professional?
Some of this work sounds simple enough, but can actually be pretty complicated — or just difficult to access. So sometimes, especially in severe cases, it is best to rely on the services of a professional carpenter to fix the issue.
Squeaky floors definitely drive us crazy, but it may be possible to silence some of the squeaks and get our homes back to peace and quiet.
Fixing Creaks in Your Floorboards can help save your sanity. Keep in mind that it may not be possible to fix every flaw, but you or a floor professional can certainly cut down the creaks so you can enjoy your home again as you were meant to.
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