Easy fix for noisy squeaky floorboards! (a complete how to guide) #flooring, by Fix it with Fowler on YouTube. 13 min 52 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 52 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Walk over the floor and listen for each squeak. Mark every noisy spot with a Post-it note or a chalk mark so you can find it again later.
Check the floorboards are loose nails rather than movement in the joists. Press down on each marked board to feel where it moves.
Use a centre punch and hammer to knock the old nails back down, just below the top of the board. This tightens boards that have worked loose over time.
Test the floor again by walking on the marked areas. If the squeak is gone, move to the next spot.
For boards that still squeak, drill pilot holes through the board into the joist below. Keep the holes about 25 mm in from the board edge.
Countersink each hole so the screw head sits flush or just below the surface. This stops the head catching on underlay or carpet.
Drive a wood screw into each hole with the drill or impact driver. Add two screws per board where it crosses a joist.
Walk the whole floor again and listen. Add more screws to any board that still creaks, then fill the screw holes if you are not covering the floor.
Tips and common mistakes
Find the joists first by tapping the floor or using a stud finder so your screws actually bite into timber.
Do not over-tighten screws or you can strip the hole and make the squeak worse.
Check for pipes and cables under the floor before drilling, especially near walls.
Fix squeaks before laying new underlay and carpet so you do not have to lift it again.
Questions
Do I need an impact driver?
No. A normal cordless drill with a screwdriver bit works fine. An impact driver just makes driving long screws faster.
What size screws should I use?
Use wood screws long enough to reach the joist, usually 50 to 60 mm for standard 18 mm floorboards. Check the board thickness first.
Will this work on chipboard floors?
Screws work on chipboard too, but use specific chipboard screws and do not over-tighten or the board can crumble around the hole.
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.
