How to Redo Squeaky Flooring
Floors are set on top of joists. The joists hold the weight of the floor to keep it sturdy enough to handle the weight above. A shifting house, or buckling floor material, may cause the floor joists to pull off the floor. When the floor is walked on, the gap between the joist and the flooring material will cause squeaks. This can become annoying after a while. Usually, fixing a squeaky floor is a quick fix. However, if you see rotting wood anywhere, call a contractor to have the floor professionally fixed. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Shim
- Pencil
- Construction adhesive
- Utility knife
- 2-inch by 4-inch lumber
- Drill
- Wood screws
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Instructions
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Shimming Gaps
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Slide 2 shim pieces -- thin portions of wood -- into each side of the gap between the joist and the floor above.
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2
Make a mark on each shim with a pencil. Remove the shims.
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3
Apply construction adhesive to the marked portion of the shims.
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Place the shims into the gap up to the marks.
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Cut the shims with a utility knife at the marks. The shims should now fill the gap.
Reinforce Joints
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Measure the length of the gap between the joist and the flooring above. Use this measurement to cut your 2-inch by 4-inch lumber to length.
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7
Drill 3/16-inch holes every 12 inches along the a 2-by-4 at a slight diagonal upward.
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Apply construction adhesive to one side of the 2-by-4.
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Press the 2-by-4 onto the joist with the top touching the floor above, covering the gap.
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Drive two 1/2-inch wood screws into the 2-by-4 into the joist to stop the squeak.
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Tips & Warnings
Have someone walk on the floor while you stand underneath so you can locate the squeak with ease.
Try filling gaps with construction adhesive for a quick fix to squeaks.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
