how to fix repair squeaky squeaking creaking floors/floorboards, by Ultimate Handyman on YouTube. 11 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Find the squeaks by walking slowly over the floor and marking each noisy spot with a pencil or tape.
Pull back the carpet and underlay from the wall to expose the floorboards. Cut the carpet free at the gripper if needed.
Check the boards are loose by pressing on them. Look for gaps between boards and joists underneath.
Load a Floor Tite screw into your drill. These screws have a break-off head that snaps off when tight.
Drive the screw straight down through the board into the joist below, close to the squeak. Keep firm pressure so the bit does not slip.
Keep driving until the screw head snaps off flush with the board surface. Repeat at each marked squeak.
Vacuum up the snapped screw heads and any dust from the floor.
Lay the underlay back down and refit the carpet, tucking the edge back under the gripper.
Walk over the floor again to check the squeaks are gone. Add another screw at any spot that still creaks.
Tips and common mistakes
Never drive a screw where a pipe or cable may run under the floor. Check for pipes and wires first or you could cause a leak or shock.
Talcum powder in the gaps may quiet a squeak for a while, but it is not a lasting fix.
Use a screw length that reaches the joist without poking through the ceiling below.
If the squeak comes from boards rubbing together, a screw near the joint usually stops it.
Questions
Will this work on chipboard floors?
Yes. The same Floor Tite screw method works on solid wood and chipboard floors.
Do I have to lift the carpet?
Yes. You need to get to the wooden boards underneath, so pull the carpet back from the wall first.
What if the floor still squeaks after screwing?
Add another screw closer to the noise, or check whether the squeak comes from a board edge rubbing against a neighbour.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
