How to Prevent Hardwood Flooring Squeaks

Hardwood flooring can add value to a home and add a fresh look to any room. Through normal temperature cycles the wood flooring may expand and contract, which can slightly separate the wood planks from one another and cause squeaking when someone walks over them. There are a few ways you can prevent squeaks in wood flooring and also a few ways you can easily stop the squeaks.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Powdered graphite
• Putty knife
• Liquid wax
• Sandpaper

Prevent Hardwood Flooring Squeaks

1. Keep the room temperature consistent. The less of a temperature change the lower the chances are of your floor boards developing a squeak.

2. Use a dehumidifier during the summer months. Humidity can cause wood flooring to swell and squeak.

3. Remove wet shoes before walking over hardwood flooring.

Fix Flooring Squeaks

4. Identify the squeaking boards. The best way to do this is just to step on each board, one at a time, until you have located the culprits.

5. Pour powdered graphite in the cracks between the squeaking planks. You can purchase powdered graphite at most home improvement stores.

6. Using a cloth or putty knife, force the powder all the way into the crack, making sure it is packed in tight. Apply more powder and repeat the compacting process until the powder and the top of the hardwood floor are even with each other.

7. Pour liquid wax into the cracks between the squeaking floorboards if your hardwood floor has a wax coating.

8. Leave the liquid wax to sit until it is completely dry. Use sandpaper to level out the liquid wax if it dries unevenly with the rest of the wood, or if some has dried on the hardwood planks themselves.

References

• Prevent Harwood Floor Cracks and Squeaks