Home Improvement

Squeaky floors are the single most irritating thing that could happen to your home, next to a leak. Squeaky floors happen when the subfloor becomes loose, or damaged in someway. The easiest way to fix a squeaky floor is through the surface, not the bottom. This is a long-lasting fix that will get rid of the annoying squeak until the subfloor weakens again.

To start off, you will need a nail, and a hammer. Most households should have these, but if you do not for some reason, then it’s important that you get them. If you want to go the route of fixing the squeak from the surface, then get a finish nail, and drive it into the area where the squeak is located. A specific angling may be necessary depending on the condition of the squeaky floor as well as the exact location.

While squeaky floors usually occur in wooden floors, they can also happen if you have a carpeted surface. Fixing these requires cutting a slit in the carpet that is the size of the area where your squeak problem is located. A small screw can be inserted through the floor and subfloor to fix the problem quickly. Usually a squeaky floor just needs extra stabilization and support.

If you wish to, and are able via basement, then you can go under the floor and actually adjust the subfloor problem yourself. This only requires some small pieces of wood, a drill, nails, screws, and possibly a hammer. You will need to assess the total damage and get some quick measurements. After that is taken care of, you can determine how much needs to be replaced in the gap that is causing the squeak. Usually it’s a small amount, which requires a thin piece of wood to slide into.

If you have difficulty fixing your own squeaky floor, a contractor can do the job for you fairly quickly. If you are not sure how to begin, then you can pick up a fix-it yourself floor kit. These are designed to contain all of the materials you need to fix your floor and remove all of the annoying squeaks.