Squeaky Hardwood Floors - Reasons & Fixes

Older Nailed Hardwood Floors

You'll be hard bent on finding an simple permanent solution because the fasteners are usually hidden as most floors are installed by nailing into the tongue portion of the board. Hence, the nail is out of view. There are four permanent solutions to this problem unless complete replacement is done. Depending on how your home is built, only one or two may apply to you.

If you have access to the underside of the subfloor in the basement, wedges (shown right) can be inserted between the subfloor and floor joist system. Wedges come in the form of cedar shake packets you can purchase at any home improvement centers, or a simple package of wooden shims. Floor joist movement can also be a contributing factor where shims would provide relief from squeaks.

Ring Shank Nails

One could use ring shank nails and nail into the affected areas on a 45 degree angle, making sure the nails penetrate and hold into the subfloor or floor joist system. Another option is using deck screws and fastening from the underside, making sure the screws are not long as to protrude from above. When using screws consider the thickness of the subfloor and the flooring.

Screws From Below

For example let's say our plywood subfloor is 3/4" thick and the flooring the same. Older floors may have been sanded a few times with the thickness being reduced. Choose a screw that penetrates into the flooring by half to play it safe. If there is no subfloor, screwing into the floor joists and into the flooring on a 45 degree angle is the only option. You'll need to be a little more careful here in choosing screw length.

You Need A Helper Stand On The Squeaky Noisy Area

To handle this repair effectively you'll need someone to stand on the areas while the work is being done. The preference is for the heaviest volunteer you can find. It's necessary to use downward pressure while screwing or nailing so as to keep the flooring and subfloor tight against one another, or the problems will continue.

Apply Talcum Powder

The third option is used for minor noisy floors. This can also be used for floating floors. Apply talcum powder to the floor while sweeping the powder into the grooves. Pound the areas with a rubber mallet to help the powder settle into the seams then sweep clean.

Floating Floor Fixes

With noisy floating floors options are limited because we have nothing to attach to as in our solid hardwood example above. Besides most floating floors are installed over concrete subfloors. Using any of the above methods except for talc powder is a big no no. Floating floors will lose their need to expand and contract and larger problems will develop. Other options may be found on our related pages below.

Direct Glue Down Flooring

Problem noises with these types are mostly from adhesive losing it's bond from subfloor to hardwood. We have a complete page devoted to repairing popping or squeaky glue down floors.

Other Notes:

Minor squeaking can be beneficial especially if located at the entry ways. It may sound off the wall, but minor squeaking can become somewhat of a burglar deterrence. Same is true of steps.