How to Fix Squeaky Hardwood Floors: A Repair Guide

Any home with hardwood floors is going to develop squeaky floorboard problems at some point. Fixing squeaks in a hardwood floor can be accomplished with the suggestions presented below. The process outlined is best accomplished by two people! When the work is done, the hardwood floors will no longer squeak, and any late night raids on the refrigerator can be carried out without fear of a telltale squeak.

Fixing Squeaky Hardwood Floors - First Floor

If the home has a basement or crawl-space and the squeak is on the above floor, have someone walk in the area of the squeak allowing you to locate it from below. If squeaks occur in areas between the floor joists, driving a properly sized drywall screw (not too long!) through the sub-flooring will do the trick. Typically, a one-inch screw is a good length for this job. This method works well with hardwood floors and is generally a quick and easy process.

If the squeak is coming from the area of the joist itself, than the approach may be a bit different, but not at all more difficult. A common beveled wood shim with some wood glue applied to it can be tapped between the floor joist and the sub-flooring to firm up the squeaking gap. Just enough to take up the slack area will do, as too much may raise the floor unnecessarily. Small packages of these shims can be purchased at most hardware centers.

Fixing Squeak Hardwood Floors - Second Floor and Up

Upper floor squeaks are usually dealt with from the top as opposed to the previous examples. One of the best and easiest ways to accomplish this task is first locate the floor joist nearest to the squeak. You can do this by tapping on the floor with a hammer, whether the floor is exposed or carpeted. Do this until you can hear a very dull sound as opposed to a hollow sound. The dull sound is where the floor joist is located.

Drive a good sized finishing nail through the carpet and/or the exposed flooring directly into the floor joist nearest the squeak. In cases of an exposed hardwood floor, it would be recommended that you hammer to within ¼ " of the floor surface and then finish the process with an appropriate size nail driving punch.

Squeaky hardwood floors are a natural occurrence for the homeowner. They are the result of drying wood rubbing against nails, sub-flooring, and joists coupled with the overall settling of the home. Using the tips and techniques outlined above will help to get rid of a squeaky floorboard for good!

Remember, always work safely.