Squeaky floors and creaky stairs are more common in older homes, but they can also be found in newer structures. The common cause of creaky noises is often loose wooden floorboards. But it could also be because of incorrect nails used, an issue with the supporting joists, or many other reasons.
Before you start calling a professional, try these 4 simple troubleshooting steps to silence your creaky floorboards.
4 Easy & Quick Ways To Fix Your Creaky Floorboard
Quick Fix 1: Lubricate the floorboards
Most of the time, the reason why your floorboards creak is because they’re simply rubbing against each other. One of the easiest fixes to quiet your noisy floorboards is to use baby powder, talc, or powdered graphite. Begin by locating the joists in your floor. Walk around until you find the joists that are creaking. Simply dust a bit of baby powder (or talc powder) or graphite lubricant between the boards. This should do the trick.
Quick Fix 2: Fix The Gaps
This one can be a bit tricky since you have to go underneath the floor to find the gap. Go to the basement or crawl space beneath the floor. While you’re below the floor, ask someone to walk over above so you can locate the creaky floorboard.
Once you find the location, look for a gap between the top of the floor joist and the underside of the subfloor. No matter how small the gap is, it could be the cause of the creaking. Fix the gap by applying some carpenters’ glue to a thin wood shim and push it right into the gap. Don’t hammer the shim as it may cause more damage. Let the wood shim dry completely.
Quick Fix 3: Caulk It
If you’re working beneath the floor and notice a visible long gap, caulk it rather than use a wood shim. For this, you need a caulking gun to fill in the gap between the top of the joist and the underside of the subfloor. Go over the sides of the joist and look for more gaps. Continue applying adhesive until you have secured any possible gaps. Let the caulk dry.
Quick Fix 4: Screw It
If you don’t have access underneath your floor, you can use special screws to fix it above. You will need to purchase dual-pitch screws that will draw the joist and the flooring together. These screws were designed to make holes less visible, and some kits even have screws that won’t damage your carpets. Make sure you find the right location before using the screws on the floor. Follow the instructions on the kit, depending on what type of screw and floor you’re trying to fix.
There you have it! We hope one of these simple steps was able to silence the creaky floorboards. This simple home repair is just one of many home repairs you can do on your own. You can fix a broken door knob, or seal drafty windows, if you know the basic simple steps. Good luck on your next project!
