Fiixing squeaky sub-floors

jlgurr · Oct 11, 2014

wngsprd said:
Thanks for the help. I already have 2 and 2.5 inch deck screws (star drive) and will try the glue/caulk approach. I may go the Squeek-no-more route to get a head start, since radioman cautions about how much time I may (not) have when the carpet guys are here.

If you're like me when it comes to squeaky floors/stairs it will be worth the wait (and expense) to have them "tear it up and come back tomorrow" so you can do it right.

jaotguy · Oct 11, 2014

.... get out a measuring tape and a piece of paper and some painter's tape .....

walk the room ( area) and note where the squeaks are , put a tab of tape over the general spot on the carpet ....
keep going till you've marked all of of them... ( note positions on the paper after measuring from walls )

re-walk again to make double sure ...

then cut out a square of carpet around a marked area ... find the floor joints and mark them ... sink at least 3 to 4 deck screws ( 2 inches apart ) in the area INTO the marked joist... re-walk the area and see if the noise is gone ... most noise is from a loose board wiggling over a joist ( like a teeter totter )

repeat with the other marked areas ....

wngsprd · Oct 12, 2014

You've convinced me that I need to do this now, before the carpet arrives. I don't think there will be any slack time available. Thanks.

wngsprd · Oct 14, 2014

Okay, just finished up and glad I took your advice! It took longer than anticipated and I would never have gotten this done with the installers waiting. I cut the carpet, used deck screws, and then taped back over the cut with frog tape. No more squeaks (except my aching back).

I did try the Squeeek-no-more product in one place as a test and it worked as advertised. I'd be willing to use it again on the new carpet if a new squeak develops in the future.

Thanks again for your ideas.