How to stop floor squeaks thru carpet

[HIGHTOWERescort]

Great advice BUT it is VERY dangerous to do this (in the UK, anyway) as services such as water/gas pipes and electrical cables run directly under the floorboards, so "blind" screwing could see you with a flood or a nasty electric shock!!!

[210482fmj]

Replace floorboards entirely when they are getting old. YOu will benefit and so will your house. I mean replace every floorboard in the house. Another thing people shoudl do more often is have the area under the floorboards cleaned more often. Ideally you want to clean under the floorboards every few years. I think some kind of folding floorboard system would be good so you could remove the dust from underneath. Perhaps have some kind of dust extraction system installed underneath the floor

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@210482fmj ???? Clearly this was not a well thought out comment. This would cost thousands even tens of thousands, every few years. +++Bob

[4dzone]

@210482fmj What a dumb comment. People who look here are looking for the best and cheapest alternative. Your answer is so stupid.

[shinaab]

Great video! Now I can finally fix the baby's bedroom so we don't wake him up when trying to walk out of the room. I'm now a subscriber. Thank you for the great work!

[shallpion]

How I wish I can do this in my apt, but I am pretty sure the neighbor down the floor will be pissed off if I drill so many holes on his ceiling. T_T

[MrCPlusPlus313]

Hey, Great job. Simply said,great visuals and examples.Will be looking forward to more vids from you.

[ConshyKid71]

Excellent video Bob - one question maybe someone could help with an answer. We have hardwood flooring underneath the carpet and then the sub-floor. Would you need to do anything differently? Thanks in advance, Brian

[lmogden1]

great video

[waynee28]

Wow great how-to. Well made Bob. As a couple FYI's, joists typically run parallel with the short walls of a house. And, I recently successfully used a kit from Lowes called "Sqeeeeeek no more" it does exactly what you show but in some fancy packaging and with a contraption to snap the screws off.

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@waynee28 How expensive was it? +++ Bob

[jonathonbrenner]

@HomeRemodelWorkshop $18 on Amazon. That's much more expensive than your solution, but it's probably a good choice for the less handy/patient.

[wwindsunrain]

Very neat.

1 - we could could start with a decent stud finder to locate those joists.

2 - there are nails that have a twist that can be nailed through carpet with a nail set.

Wouldn't it be nice if floors were screwed instead of nailed in the first place?

[TheBadcop]

a great help, thanks!

[iSarahize]

Hi.

Sorry if this sounds stupid, but my bedroom floor is carpet and it creaks and i can't see the joists, the problem is, i don't have the tools because me and my dad aren't good at this kinds of stuff. Can someone help me? I don't want to wake my dad up anymore just because my floor creaks. Please help! :c

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@iSarahize From below your bedroom floor (in basement maybe) can you see the floor joist from there? +++Bob If so you can buy an inexpensive caulk gun and some Liquid Nail and squirt it where the plywood and the floor joist meet in corner. Rub liquid nail in tightly with small block of wood to try to force the adhesive into any gaps. Hope this helps!!!

[iSarahize]

@HomeRemodelWorkshop

that's another problem. i don't have a basement, it's a two story house and only the 2nd floor creaks

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@iSarahize This is primarily the reason I made this video, If you are going to replace the carpet anytime soon it could be handled then or get a bid from a carpet installer to pull carpet and pad and then replace it after problem has been fixed, Sorry I can't be more helpful! +++Bob

[mulus2008]

45 min? maybe just hide some pie in the night table

[moviebizman]

Hi Bob,

I was ahead of the game not needing to do this. (2nd floor of our home) before the new carpet and padding was installed we walked the floor without padding and carpet and no floor squeaking. (Staircase too). Then after adding premium Shaw patterned carpet and premium Shaw Triple Touch 10 lb. premium padding, and now the floors creak, squeak and crackle! What do you think happened? This is all within a year's time. Could the new padding cause all these squeaks in the floor?

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@moviebizman I doubt it but I have had a similar thing happen on a project once. I am not saying this is your issue but here goes. Before carpet screwed floors and walked floor for creaks and squeaks, Quiet as a church mouse, A week later.after homeowners moved back into bedroom, complaint call "Squeaking floors" After returning to project and meeting with homeowner, he takes me upstairs and walks floor( Big man) Squeak, but sound not coming from where he is walking. (Add new post)

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

Respond to this video...the noise was coming from an interior wall. the floor deflected under the weight of his furnishings and himself that it allowed the nails holding the wall plate down to move in the plywood causing sound. had to take baseboard off and cut nails free below wall plate. hope this is not your issue, it was a pain to find and solve. +++Bob

[moviebizman]

@Bob...hmmm I wonder? Because I am baffled otherwise! This was my pet peeve (no squeaky floors) when buying the house. I walked the house and there was little to NO squeaks at all (bought house in mid 2010) It's a 32 year old house and built pretty solid. I'm in Southern CA, and have had the roof changed to an Eaglelite Tile roof, changed all windows to Milgard Dual Pane... Would these things trickle down and cause issues with floor? But then again... these were already installed...and

[moviebizman]

@Bob (continued) and the carpet and padding was the last thing changed out before we moved in. I was so happy as the carpet installer was cool and patient for me to check out each area before laying down the new padding/carpet.... Before moving in and before the new tile roof was completed we had the house tented for termites... could anything weaken the 2nd level structure after the fumigation? Not likely right? Thanks again!

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@moviebizman Wow, I am at a loss, at the moment, The only thing that has changed since the work is you live there now. I would start there, Good luck all the best +++Bob Any suggestions from other viewers would be appreciated !

[taunta]

great vid. Is there a way that this will work on carpeted steps?

[garzonetto]

Bob is the MAN! I love his videos.

[semieden]

Top video.

[hunkatiel]

Good tips. Shows the lengths guys will go to sneak some pie.

[marc666foryou]

LOL at 11:38 "That floor squeak that's been here for years that kept me from getting my dessert is gone, tonight that pie is mine."

[TheJimsock]

Now this was an awesome tip. None of this would have crossed my mind. I would surely have been in the basement tow screwing through the joist and splitting wood.

Thanks!

[dieselbrown7]

great video! exactly what i was looking for~!

[mwswewawfw1]

nice video man. not sure if it's true but i think they make screws especially designated to break easily at a certain point. now i see that they are probably a waste of money. not sure if i dreamed that or they do make them. anyways, nice drill. got one just like it and it's worked like a charm for me. good video buddy. think i need to start fixin my squeeks now

[keyhano69]

WOW!

[Deckion2187]

Hmm. 3 inch screws. Any possibility of going through drain pipe if you happen to hit on top of joist with pipe running through it?  Maybe 2.5 " a little safer. Just my two cents.

Anyways. Love your videos. Keep up the good work

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@Deckion2187 If you noticed about 1 inch 0f screw gets snapped off. Hmmm, seems to be about 2 inches of penetration. To answer your question, yes there is a chance of hitting a pipe or wire if some electrician , plumber, or homeowner did not follow proper procedures while installing.Thanks for watching! +++Bob

[knecht105]

Great Tip ... thanks for sharing it.

[specialks1953]

I just wanted to let you know, You're Doin A Fine Job ! ! !

[jjlwis]

the best channel on youtube! 

[minimaru77]

I have several nail pops under my carpet that I can feel when I walk across the carpet. Any ideas on how to fix that? Maybe try to hammer it down with a nail set? Thanks for the tips, great stuff!

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@minimaru77 I have a video called "Unique woodworking tool" you may want to try also +++Bob

[monkeyt88]

Cool idea!

[raybigto]

Amazing as usual Bob. Your videos on home improvement are the best.

[ClintL63]

I am aCarpenter and have been for as old as you are; I've always said"I will never know it all!" Thanks for the simple idea of a coat hanger! luv ya

[anorenbergs]

I drowe 5 pounds of 6 inch ring shank nails into the subfloor to stop the squeeks in our master bedroom in size of 15x15 feet before installing Pergo laminate flooring.

I was very surprised when I disovered that builders in 1986 when building our townhouse complex, had tied down subfloor pieces to joists only with four or five medium nails. Believe me, Bob, I can sleep well at night due to job well done and due to no squeeks. Thanks, Bob, for this video. Aivars

[67tr876]

It should be 16 inch on center but if not you have to do what he is doing.

[TomSawyerPainting]

Thank you for this vid Bob. Now I can get some rest.

[N8FLY001]

Great video...I will be using this on my floor squeaks.

[toolmanpjr]

I have been doing renovation work for over 20 years and I still learn new ways to tackle a job. Great video!

Thanks Bob!

[ClintL63]

@toolmanpjr I've been doing this for 30+ yrs! Aint he Great?!!! like you I say EVERY DAY is a learning experience!!

[spyyked]

Excellent tip as always!!! I always look forward to seeing a new video by home remodel workshop in my subscription list :)

[nEWwORLDhOARDER]

I've only seen 2 of your vids but you rock dude. THANKS!

[HatRatt]

Will this method work for my 60 yr old maple floors? They are attached directly to the joists with water pipes (for heating) running between the joists. How about this: 1) Locate the joist 2) drill those screws through the flooring and into the joist 3) break off the top of the screw 4) fill in the hole with wood filler.

[dougdobbs]

Not sure if someone else made the observation, you might want to make sure there's no PEX tubing beneath the floor either. Drilling a hole in that tubing could be a bad day at the ranch. :)

[tankthis85]

Great Vidoes, my wife loves me more becuase of your vids :D now she trustes me more with home repair becuase I did something that works LOL very informative

[slhender1]

I do have access to the bottom side of the sub-floor. No sure of thickness, the floor is 5 years old. it is tongue and groove brazilian cherry.

[slhender1]

How would you recommend fixing squeaks under wood flooring?

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@slhender1 Two questions 1. Do you have access to bottom side of sub-floor from below? 2. How thick is hardwood 3/4 inch? +++Bob

[slhender1]

@HomeRemodelWorkshop I don't know the thickness for sure. It is what I would call standard tongue and groove hardwood, brazilian cheery, about 6 years old. I do have access to the bottom side of sub-floor from the basement.

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@slhender1 Ok, The reason I ask these questions is: if your sub-floor is 3/4 in.and cherry is 3/4 in. Then with someone above squeaking floor for you you can predill hole 3/4 in. deep thru( sub-floor from bottom) slightly bigger than shaft and threads of 1 1/4 in. drywall screw (fine thread) and run from bottom up into hardwood. After putting in 6/8 screws from bottom in squeaky area spreading them at least 2-4 in. spread if squeak persists write me back for more suggestions+++Bob

[dhtroy]

Bob,

I have learned a good bit from your videos, but you have NO idea what this video does for me. I have been pulling up carpet in rooms, fixing floor squeaks in my house for years, but there are spots throughout my house where I cannot do that, and you have just given me the knowledge/tools to fix those problem areas that have plagued my house, and my life, for ages.

Thank you SO much for this video. You rock; but in a quiet, none squeaky way.

D.

[Hollrobb]

Was you sneaking into bed or out of bed to get that "pie"?

[jjlwis]

Bob- you NEVER cease to amaze me!

smart very smart!

[HFIntegrale]

Exactly what Avishai said!!

Thanks!

Motty

[locoken]

Great tip, Bob. The only thing I would do differently is work my way from the furthest points on the floor joist on either side that is making the most noise and working my way into the squeaky spot. That way the pressure you have to put on the sub floor is less and it will take less pressure once you get to the squeak because you'll be pulling the sub floor down the whole way into the squeak. You will probably use less screws, too. Either way, this is still a great tip! Thanks, Bob!

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@locoken Excellent point! will do it that way next time! +++Bob

[JackANDJude]

Very clear explanation, and the mock up floor was helpful in getting your point across.

[BourneAccident]

Boy.. getting rid of those squeeks was a lot of work just to get a piece of pie... Wouldn't it be easier to leave the squeeks and get rid of the wife? Then you could have all the pie you want! lol Great video... thanks...

[avishaishitrit]

thank you thank you you are so helping

i lorned a lot from you

avishai

[SauronsEye]

Nice...and how useful are wire coat hangers. Much is made of the invention of the wheel in Human development but how many things can a wire coat hanger become? The latest morph I've seen of a wire coat hanger was into a stand for an IPAD, so it was at the optimal movie watching angle.

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@SauronsEye The guy that invented the coat hanger never made a dime.He came in to work one day to the wire company and made it quickly because there were no wall hooks available and he did'nt want his coat to get wrinkled hanging over his chair.Before too long everyone in the plant made one, the owner noticed, got the patent and the rest is history. P.s the employee quit went to California and started his own wire company. This is as close as I recall what I read. History Channel book.

[threeque]

Nice to see another vid! Thanks for the tip and happy new year to you.

[pezzza16]

a top tip if your installing floorboards, use tongue and grove and glue all tongues and joist before useing 2 screws on every joist! top vids bob! from the UK!!!

[pberglin]

Nice fix - Now if you have a tip for getting around that hard plastic casing that the pie is in that goes SNAP / CRINKLE when you try to pilfer the pie, I would be interesting.

Thanks for posting

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@pberglin I will work on that, I may have to go thru many pies for that video, wonder if I could find a sponsor... a bakery perhaps +++Bob

[silas132]

if you cant find a joist you shouldn't do this... people may rill in to a wire. there are safer ways of finding where a the studs or joists are. just saying not hating :.D

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@silas132 Fair enough comment,however almost all building codes and common sense state that you do not put wires within the range I am saying to drill. If you do it needs to have a protective plate put over it that a coathanger will not drill thru, also just saying not hating

[silas132]

@HomeRemodelWorkshop agreed totally. I've been to many jobs and found nothing is to code.

for some houses this could be dangerous. great tip though, im just saying be careful :)

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@silas132 True, I too have been in houses where your nervous to put in drywall anchors to hang a picture, Maybe I just have to accept that risk as part of working on homes. If this carpet had been removed and you were not able to see below, to nail or screw the floor is still risky but most homeowners are not willing to destroy the room below or pay for new subfloor to pull it up and check it out. We all have to have some trust that most people who work on homes have some scruples. Thanks Bob

[Jrm4cam]

great vid! Great info.  I think just about anyone with an older and sometimes new home has a squeak here and there!

[binashraf]

tonight.. that pie is MINE!

[bl1tzkr1egbob]

Hey nice. That squeaking drives my wife crazy because it wakes up the baby some times :D

[nijaexhile3]

Wow great vid Bob. Very thorough and well explained. There is a product called 'squeek no more' that sorta does this... Any thoughts on it?

[HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@nijaexhile3 I would have to try it out, sounds good especially the tighter spiraling screw threads to get screw to tighten itself up with-out downward pressure. I guess I am still a little old school lol +++Bob

[boomstix1]

thats awesome

[anfonyl]

Happy new year! Nice to have you back.