How to Stop Floorboards from Creaking

By applying some simple methods with minimal investment, you can eliminate the source of the creaks and have a peaceful night’s sleep once again. The most important thing is to identify the root cause of the creaks before fixing it permanently. There may be several reasons for your floors to squeak. One reason being the wood drying out and shrinking, which can create small gaps between the boards. Most modern homes consist of flooring that is made up of several timber layers. Over a period of time, the joists start sagging and become noisy. The easiest option would be to sprinkle a handful of talcum powder along the joints of the boards. You should then cover the powder with a paper towel and step on the wooden board to let the powder work its way through the seam. Talcum powder will lubricate the surface of the floorboards and stops them from creaking. You may also use this method for small gaps and cracks. If you can still hear a squeaky noise whenever walking on the wooden floorboards, it may be a good idea to nail the board into the layer underneath it. But it is better to use small screws rather than nails as they will hold better. Finish off the work by applying some wood filler to cover the patch. If your floorboards are old, take a hammer and bang it on the screwed patches. If that doesn’t work, install another screw near the previous one for added stability and strength. But sometimes, even after you have added extra nails and screws into the floor, the irritating noise still continues. If you can’t get under-stair access, begin by determining the riser’s position, and then draw a pencil line along it. Drill 100 mm holes on the line and then drive the screws in. Use an adhesive to cover the timber plugs to hide the screws. Once the adhesive has dried, cut off the top of the plug with a chisel before sanding it. However if you can get under-stair access, you will have to check every part of the floorboard separately to find out where the noise is coming from. By investigating the floorboards, we mean removing an entire section of the floor to look for loose parts. This has to be done if you want to get to the root cause of the creaks. If you think this task is beyond your capability, it is better to get the help of professionals. That way, there will be minimal damage to the floorboards, and you will get the result you are looking for.