How to Stop Noise in Wooden Floors
While wood floors are often celebrated for their rich coloring and natural beauty, they are also known for the noise and squeaks that can develop over time. Noise in a wooden floor can be caused by many different factors, including poor installation or settling of flooring components over time. The techniques for silencing a wood floor can differ depending on the level of access available. If you have a basement or crawl space, you can effectively fix a wood floor from below. If not, there are also a number of methods that may work from above. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Carpenter's glue
- Wooden shims
- 2x4s
- Nails
- Hammer
- Construction adhesive
- Pliers
- Talc
- Drill
- Screws
- Sandpaper
- Wood putty
- Stain
- Wood glue
- Putty knife
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Instructions
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Fixing Floors from Below
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Examine the floor joists or support beams. Any gaps or spaces that are visible between the joists and the floor boards can often be the source of squeaks. Apply carpenter's glue to a wooden shim and use it to fill these gaps or voids. Be sure not to over-fill the gap as this can lead to additional problems.
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Fill smaller spaces with construction adhesive. If you find gaps along the joists that are too narrow for shimming, insert a line of construction adhesive into either side of the beam. The adhesive will fill the gap without over-filling and will help cushion the joist to eliminate squeaks.
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Support sagging floor boards. If your joists are spaced too far apart in some areas, the floor boards above may be visibly sagging. To add support in these areas, nail 2x4s or thicker beams into the space between the joists. Cut the new wood to fit the space and install it perpendicular to the joists. Insert nails to connect it to the joists at either end.
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Remove any loose nails using a hammer or pliers. If an out-of-place nail is rubbing along floor boards on joists, it could be the source of your noise. Try pulling it out with pliers or removing it with a hammer. You could also try cutting the nail to remove it and stop the noise.
Fixing Floors from Above
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Pour talc between the squeaky boards. This will lubricate the tight spots and eliminate squeaks for a length of time. Any talc left on the surface of the floor could leave the surface slippery. Try cleaning the floor immediately after applying the talc and use caution around this area to avoid falls.
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Pour a bit of wood glue into the gaps between the floor boards from above. Use a putty knife to force it down between the boards. This glue will often seal the gaps between loose or squeaky framing members to help silence the floor. Make sure to wipe away excess glue from the floor surface to avoid stains.
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Drill holes in the floor at any squeaky locations. Add screws to help tighten up the floor in these areas and re-secure the floor boards to the joists below. Cover the heads of the screws with wood putty and then sand and stain the area to match the floor. You can also mix the stain in with the floor putty to help conceal the screws.
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Use break-away screws designed for silencing squeaky floors. These screws come in kits that are meant for carpeted floors. After you drive the screw into the floor to tighten up the floor boards, the head of the screw breaks away. This helps you fix a noisy floor without removing existing carpet.
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