Why Do Floorboards Squeak?
Squeaky floorboards are mainly caused by a loose board or many loose boards. The movement in the boards causes them to rub which causes the ‘squeak’ you hear.
To properly fix the issue you need to find out what is causing this, it is mainly these reasons:
- The floor joist is not secure as incorrect nails have been used.
- The nails aren’t fitted correctly.
- There is a gap between the joists and the floorboards.
- The supporting joists have an issue.
All these issues cause a space to appear under the floorboards which allow them to move up and down when they are walked on, they then rub on each other or on a loose nail.
How To Fix It
Here are a few simple ways you can fix your squeaky floorboards once you’ve identified what issue you are facing:
- Insert thin pieces of wood into the gaps. If you are able to see under your floorboards via a basement this will be easy. Go underneath the floorboards and have someone walk over the squeaky floorboards. When you identify where the gap is place the wood into the gap and glue it in. Be careful not to push it in too much as you can cause a bump.
- If you find a long gap try filling it with high-quality adhesive, when it hardens it will fill the gap.
- If you don’t have access to the underneath of your floorboards you will have to tackle the issue from the top. Sprinkle talcum powder into the joints and walk back and forth to push in down into the gaps.
