How to Stop Floor Squeaks

Every owner of an old home with wood floors has learned where those spots are that squeak loudly each time you step on them. A squeaking wood floor isn't usually an indicator of a serious problem in your house, but they can be annoying. There are many reasons that floors squeak. The most common is that the nails that secure the floorboards have loosened and the boards begin to move against each, squeaking, when pressure is applied. The solution is to re-secure the boards with screws, which hold more securely than nails.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One small piece of white chalk Power drill Pilot drill bit (1/16th inch or so) Screwdriver bit Box of small drywall screws Small can or stick of wood filler, (roughly the same color as your floor)

1. Walk slowly around the floor, pressing your weight on the areas you know to be squeaky. Pinpoint those areas, listening for the sound as you step. For each spot you pinpoint, use the chalk to mark a little X on the surface of the floor.

2. Load your drill with the drill bit. At each point where you marked an X, drill two pilot holes, about an inch from each other and at least an inch from the edge of the floor plank. The pilot holes should go just through the flooring, but not all the way through the underlayment.

3. Load your drill with the screwdriver bit. Take the box of screws, at each pilot hole you've drilled sink a screw. The head of the screw should be just below the surface of the floor.

4. Go hole to hole, with your wood filler, filling the tops of the screw heads with filler. Press it into the hole with your fingertip, then wipe it even with the floor.