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Eliminating Floor Squeaks


BLACK+DECKER B+D Contributor 120 Projects
Floors squeak when floorboards rub against each other or against the nails securing them to the subfloor. Hardwood fl oors squeak if they haven’t been nailed properly. Normal changes in wood make some squeaking inevitable, although noisy floors sometimes indicate serious structural problems. If an area of a floor is soft or excessively squeaky, inspect the framing and the foundation supporting the floor. Whenever possible, fix squeaks from underneath the floor. Joists longer than 8 feet should have X-bridging or solid blocking between each pair to help distribute the weight. If these supports aren’t present, install them every 6 feet to stiffen and help silence a noisy floor.