Fix a squeaky hardwood floor
Squeaks come from movement, a board moving against a nail, a subfloor moving against a joist. The fix depends on access.
What you'll learn
- How to locate the exact source of a squeak
- The from-below fix (basement or crawlspace), cleanest option
- The from-above fix using Squeeeeek-No-More, works in any home
- When the fix is structural and a DIY kit will not solve it
Step by step
- Walk the floor barefoot or in socks. Note exact squeak locations with painter's tape.
- If you have a basement or crawlspace, check from below first. Look for joist movement at the squeak location.
- From below: drive a wood screw with a washer up through the subfloor into the bottom of the squeaky board (do not penetrate the top of the board).
- From above (Squeeeeek-No-More): position the tripod, drive the breakaway screw down through the carpet or directly into the floor, snap it off below surface.
- Wood-fill the screw hole if it is in finished hardwood, then touch up the finish.
If the squeak is along a long wall or follows a structural line, the issue is probably joist or subfloor movement and a screw will not fix it permanently. The matched pro diagnoses before quoting on persistent squeaks.
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Keep learning.
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Pulling out tile is expensive and messy. If the existing tile is sound, you can usually float LVP right over it.