Squeaky Floors - Hardwood and Carpet

-Squeaky floors can be a problem under hardwood or carpeting. The problem seems to get worse in the colder months. This is usually due to the reduced moisture in the air that causes the wood subfloor (and hardwoods) to shrink. The wood has a reduced grip on the nails that were intended to hold them down. Thus, the squeaking floor starts.

-When I was building houses, I always asked my framers to "screw and glue" the subfloor. The glue would hold the flooring on the joists more securely, and the screws would work better than nails at reducing the squeaking.

-Recently, I had some hardwood floors squeaking shortly after installation. The hardwood floor contractor came by and shot some nails in the floor in the affected area.

-The nails seemed to stop the problem. If they hadn't, I would have tried a product that I have heard of recently. Do a google search for "Squeeeeek No More". This product basically involves screws that allow you to knock off the top part so that they are not visible. Looks like a reasonable solution to me.

-Squeaky floors can be a major annoyance, and can happen with hardwood, carpeting, laminate, or vinyl flooring. Nails or screws or a product like the one mentioned above should help. Good luck. You can do it!