How do I stop squeaking floors ?
In some cases, squeaky floors can add to the ambience, such as walking through the hallowed halls of your old home or school, or the rhythmic sounds of the dance floor that is the testament to many years of use. However, when heard in your own home, it can be quite annoying. Getting rid of the squeak is not as easy for an amateur do-it-yourselfer, but some methods are available for people who don’t have the time or money to invest in high-end equipment. In repairing squeaky floors, remember that you should tackle the problem at its source, and not just apply a quick-fix.
Modern homes have several layers of flooring. The lowest level is called the floor joists, which are constructed as solid beams. These may sag over time, thus causing the squeaks. If this is the source of your problem, there is nothing you can do on your own – you would need to hire professionals who can replace it or jack it up to maintain its integrity.
The subflooring is the second-to-the-lowest support. It is usually made up of plywood panels that were nailed directly onto the floor joists. Through the years, the panels of the subflooring may have been worn, causing loose nails or loose panels. To remedy this, you may need to put wooden shims between the floor joists and the subflooring.
Finally, the cause of squeaky floors might have been the flooring itself, which have become uneven. When two uneven boards slide against each other, the friction causes the noise. You can fix this by putting powdered graphite on the part of the floor that emits the noise and then rub it into the floor’s grooves using a towel.
You can also drive a nail into the flooring so as to bind the flooring and the subflooring together. But remember that squeaky floors may be a sign of a larger danger. If you notice cracks forming on the walls together with the beginning of the squeaks, you may need to call a professional to give his or her diagnosis.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Excellent article! If i may just add that sometime squeaky boards is a seasonable thing due to temperature and humidity changes and is often nothing to worry about – more annoying than anything.
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