I’m told that clients with noisy floors hear their builder’s name every time the floor squeaks and soon tire of the sound. Here are lessons I’ve learned over the years to keep squeaks at bay.
First, I have found that the primary cause of floor squeaks is a nail that just kisses the edge of a floor joist. This nail doesn’t do anything to hold the floor down, but it does rub against the joist with each passing footfall. It is therefore imperative that subfloor assemblies be inspected before they are covered up or before finished floors are installed. If you spot nails along the sides of joists, pop them back out. When I’m working on a ceiling that is also an upstairs floor, I use a 6-ft. length of 3/4-in. copper pipe for this purpose. I flatten one end of the pipe and then fold it over to make a square pad to bear against the nail.
I’m not convinced that using screws will avoid a squeaky floor. Screws do not necessarily pull the decking down tight to the joist, so they may leave a gap between the joist and the subflooran eventual squeak. Well-applied construction adhesive, coupled with your heaviest crew member nailing in a timely fashion (don’t let the stuff dry out), seems to be the hot tip.
To avoid other squeak sources, be sure that cross-bracing members (bridging) do not rub against each other, that ductwork is secured and that pipes are isolated from framing members with hangers or bushings.
Josh Rothman, Maumee, OH
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