I’m going to be doing a remodel on a kitchen in a older house. (maybe 1950’s) One of the tasks in going to be tear out the ceiling and replace it with sheetrock. While I have it all torn out, I’m thinking about trying to fix the squeaky floor in the bathroom directly above it. The bathroom floor in vinyl with 3/8″ underlayment and I think 1×6 subfloor nailed down. It squeaks in many places. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how this might be accomplished? A side from reattaching it from the top. I’m open to any ideas. (with in reason)
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The old standby of light taps on pine wedges placed between joists and subfloor usually works well as a two man job unless the squeaks can be isolated between the 1x6 subfloor and the 3/8 ply underlayment.
I suppose it would be possible to inject a glue from underneath up into the cracks between the 1x6s to secure the underlayment to that subfloor without a lot of trouble, but I have not done this personally.
Let me clarify that recommendation as just from one homeowner to another and not meant as professional advice.
Half of good livin' is staying out of bad situations.
there are two sources for squeeks like this, especially with boards for subfloor. On can be wood on wood, the other is wood sliding on a nail.
Wood/wood can come from the ply underlayment not having paper under it, ( in which case you can't do much from under) from bord edger to board edge, (if boards were laid too tight and no shrinkage occurs)or from board to joist.
Wood/nail squeeks are the most likely culprit and one that the shims can help with. The original boards have probably shrunk and the nails holding them down no longer fit tight. When pushing shims in from under, be sure not to do too much more than just take up the slack so the board doesn't ride up and down on the nail, or you could end up lifting the entire floor above, one at a time. Like torquing and engine head, you want it to be pretty equal loading.
If it is one of the other, you could rip a 2x2 to sister in with screws and use construction adhesive both to the joist and the boards above.
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Thanks for the suggestions. I had thought about glue but didn't think about attaching the 2x2s. I'll probably give that a try. Unless I learn something different when I have the ceiling torn out down below.