Fixing floor squeaks?

[leech~~]

Any one ever try this to stop floor squeaks? Laying down some Lam flooring and want to stop some of the squeaks in the old house.

[mwal]

My carpet layer put talcum powder over our old hardwood floors before he laid carpet over them. Removed most of the squeaks.

mwal

[CAMAN]

Subfloor screws will do the exact same thing for A LOT cheaper

[leech~~]

Subfloor screws will do the exact same thing for A LOT cheaper

But they don't snap off below the floor level though like the kit screws do. I will be drilling into an old hard wood floor and can not have a bunch of heads sticking up all over when I lay the Lam floor down. Even with the thin pad, over time they will wear into it.

[PurpleFloyd]

Leech,

They obviously can work and do the job but in my years of experience they can also have some issues. They are designed primarily to pull a sheeted subfloor down to a floor joist and if that is what you have then they can be effective. If, however, you have an older floor where there is a solid wood deck running across the joists and another diagonal subfloor running at a 45 degree angle to it as was popular prior to the 50's they are not as effective and if the floor is actually squeaking between the hardwood and the subfloor then you will probably need to hit more than where the subfloor contacts the joist.

IMHO if it were my house (because it is what I have done) is to get some torx headed deck screws. The gold color ones in a 2.25-2.5 inch length and try them first. Since you are laying over them with laminate there is no need to have them break off and the deck screws will countersink. If they don't countersink you didn't hit anything solid.

Also- with those breakaway screws if you don't hit the joist securely and have a good bite into the joist and it breaks off it may not pull the subfloor tight and now with the head broken off you won't be able to back it out and the broken off screw can keep the next one from drawing it tight.

So yeah, they will work if you have the right problem but first verify what the subfloor is, where the squeaks are and first try the torx screws.

[leech~~]

Good feed back PF, I'll have to take a closer look at what's under foot.

[JeremyCampbell]

I allways use screws to But I see what you meen It could be a problem when you lay the product down over it.

[BoxMN]

Did what PF said at a buddy's and it worked like a charm. It if doesn't countersink, then you missed and just take it out and retry. Simple enough even I can do it

[DavidsonTaylor]

I had a squeaky floor, had to pull back a large chunk of carpet and drive a few nails through the floor to anchor it down. (Note from admin:Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you)

[traveler]

The talcum powder trick is worth a try if it's hardwood. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't....Trying to remove squeaks in hardwood can be frustrating for sure, the squeaks will move around on ya. Just keep at it, put in enough screws and you should get some relief.

[leech~~]

I really don't mine them because I am half deaf from shooting for so many years, but my wifes hearing is very good and it bugs her! Of course!

[Eric Wettschreck]

I've heard of people putting dry graphite between the boards also.