It could be annoying to hear the floor creak when you walk over. Well, it is due to the squeak which is common to witness when you have wooden floors.
Joists are horizontal beams that form support to the flooring, lending stiffness and adding to the strength. It is this part of the architecture that gets plagued with faults to produce such annoying creaks.
Hammering a few screws can get rid of this seemingly large problem. However, appropriate steps must be followed for permanent or at least to keep such annoyance away for a longer frame of time.
Tool and Supplies Required
You will easily find these tools in a nearby DIY store and start fixing on your own, the squeaks in the subfloor under the carpet:
- Hammer
- String
- Pliers
- Drill
- Deck Screws
Steps to scan and fix squeaky floorboards under the carpet:
1. Spot the Squeaks
Identifying areas with a squeak is the first step in determining squeak in the subfloor under the carpet.
Walking over the carpet must hint at the places with potential squeaks. Examine precisely those areas and mark them using the strings.
2. Mark the Joists with Faults
The next step in the process stands to find the joists that have been corrupted.
Using a Stud Finder
You can use a stud finder if available to find the joists with fault. A stud finder will make your life way easier as far as finding faulty joists is concerned.
Run the device over your carpet surface until it indicates through lights or noises that a joist has been found
Using a Hammer
Also, you can make use of a hammer on the subfloor under the carpet. Variation in sound will make it evident whether you are hitting the right area. On a joist, the sound will be solid, otherwise, it will be hollow.
Using a Tool
A more easy but more expensive option could be a kit. Floor repairing kits contain a tool which is a long screw with threads that is drilled down until the subfloor under the carpet is reached. In case, a joist is missed, take the screw out and try again.
3. Insert Screws Along the Edges and the Rest of the Area
Now grab the deck screws of length at least 3 inches. Insert the screw through the carpet on top of the joists where squeak was determined. Make use of a drill to form holes of appropriate diameter.
To reduce your effort with the rest of the screws on the other side of the joists, run a thread along the direction of the joists. Drive the deck screw along the length of the joist every few inches. Repeat the same with other joists.
4. Break the Screw Heads
Now, it’s time to make use of the pliers that you bought from a DIY store. Pluck the top of each inserted screw off. Try to reach closer to the subfloor under the carpet.
Squeaks will not make your home topple to the ground. However, being careful about it and an early solution will ensure peace and keep away annoying noises.
