How To Fix Squeaky Floorboards
Nothing's more annoying than the persistent squeak of a badly fitting floorboard - find out from George Clarke how to cure the problem.
Drill
Screwdriver and drill bit
60mm screws
Talc
Wide-bladed cold chisel
Club hammer
Budget
Less than £5
Time
30 minutes
Skill
Beginner
Step One: Find The Problem
Often, boards may swell and distort with extremes of heat or moisture. Then, if the sides of adjacent boards touch and the edges to rub together when you walk over them, the result can be a squeak. Start by removing any floor coverings and test the boards with your foot to pinpoint the problem. Then brush chalk or talcum powder liberally between the boards to reduce the friction.
Step Two: Screw The Board To A Joist
If the noise persists, the boards may be rubbing against the joists. The best thing to do is tighten the loose board/s by fixing to the joist with 60mm screws. At the ends of boards, drill pilot holes to stop the screws splitting the wood.
Step Three: Screw The Board To A Batten
If a board end isn't supported by a joist, take up the board by prising it up with a cold chisel and club hammer. Screw a 25 x 50mm batten to the side of the joist to support the board end. Lay the board back on top of the batten and fix with screws.
Step Four: Fix A Squeaky Stair Step
Assuming you can get underneath a staircase, it's not complicated to fix a squeaking stair tread. This can by done by tapping a wooden wedge directly under the stair tread, tightening the tread against the stringer - in other words, the side of the staircase.
Illustrations: Ed Roberts
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