how to repair squeaky floors through carpeting

• Use a hammer to locate a floor joist within the squeaky section of the floor.
• Tap the carpeted floor with the hammer and listen for a dull thud, indicating a joist below.
• Chuck the joist-finding screw into the drill/driver.
• Drill a hole through carpeting and subfloor and into the joist; if you miss the joist, move over a couple of inches and try again.
• Once you find a floor joist, measure over 16 inches and locate the next joist.
• Press the tripod-shaped alignment and depth control fixture firmly into the carpet directly over the joist.
• Use the drill/driver to drive a scored screw down through the center of the fixture until the screw bottoms out.
Drive screws into all the joists within the squeaky section at both ends of the room.
Run taut strings from screw head to screw head across the room, indicating the joists below.
Using the alignment and depth control fixture, drive scored screws along the strings spaced 8 inches apart.
Hook the screw gripper on the fixture onto each protruding screw, then rock the fixture back and forth to snap off the screw head.

How to fix squeaking floor without removing carpet?

What is needed for the job

• Drill & drill bits
• Tape measure
• Channel lock pliers or side cutters

How to fix squeaky floors before they drive you nuts?

You can use a few methods to stop creaks:

• Driving flooring nails at opposing angles assures they won't come loose again.
• With hardwood treads, drill pilot holes for the nails, drive the nails into the risers and countersink the nail heads.
• Fill the nail holes with wood putty.

How to repair squeaky floors through carpeting?

To recap, the way to fix a squeaky carpeted floor is to:

• Find your squeak
• Locate the joists on either side of your squeak
• Use the Squeeeeek No More kit to verify the joist
• Screw down the sub-floor with kit’s tripod and screws
• Snap off screw heads
• Listen to silence

Who to call to fix squeaky floors?

Using Carpenter’s Glue

• Get someone to walk on the floor above you until you locate the squeak. Tell the person to stomp their feet on the exact spot to pinpoint it. ...
• Have a thin shim ready. ...
• The shim prevents the joist and subfloor from having any room to move. ...
• Finally, drive a one and a quarter-inch screw into the joist and shim at an angle. ...

Can you fix squeaky floors under carpet?

Floor squeaks are caused by gaps between the sub-floor and the floor joists which have separated over time and can be fixed by simply reattaching that sub-floor back to the framing. The trick, however, is to not damage your wall-to- wall carpet and to locate where the joists in your floor are located.

How do you permanently fix squeaky floors?

0:193:47How to Repair Squeaky Floors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWork the graphite down into the floorboards by repeatedly stepping on the area to quiet the noise.MoreWork the graphite down into the floorboards by repeatedly stepping on the area to quiet the noise. The lubrication will often quiet the squeak.

How do professionals fix squeaky floors?

How to Silence Your Squeaky FloorPut a Shim into the Gap. Do you have access to the underside of your floors? ... Nail a Piece of Wood Along a Warped Joist. ... Put Wood Blocks Between Noisy Joists. ... Use Construction Adhesive to Fill Long Gaps. ... Screw the Subfloor to the Finished Floor. ... Floorboard Lubricants. ... Fix the Squeak from Above.

How do you fix a squeaky floor with carpet removal?

You can put an end to the squeaking by screwing the subfloor to the floor joists after you remove the old carpet and pad, but before the new carpet is installed. You'll need to do a little work before the carpet layers show up, but you'll have a quiet floor when all's said and done.

Why does my floor creak when I walk on it?

The noise that you hear when you step on a floorboard (or floorboards) is usually a result of loose boards. The bounciness and movement in these loose boards causes them to rub together or onto a fixing nail or floor joist which, in turn, creates an unpleasant and annoying noise referred to as creaking or squeaking.

How much does it cost to fix squeaky floors?

between $200 and $1,000Depending on the cause, the average cost to fix a squeaky floor is between $200 and $1,000.

Are squeaky floors a structural problem?

Are squeaky floors a structural problem? There's no need to panic. In real life, a creak or squeak is no big deal—that is, they don't signal structural damage, like termites, that could cause your floor or joist to collapse. And fixing creaky floors is fairly simple.

How do you find floor joists under carpet?

Pull back the corner of the carpet padding with the pliers. Look at the subfloor and find a row of nails, which are attached to a joist. The nails tell you where the first joist is and which direction it runs.

Does Squeak No More Really Work?

These screw's work well under carpet, we have a new home, that the contractor was supposed to screw and glue the sub floor to Joists. Our floor started to more than squeak, one could hear the plywood contacting the joists as we walked. I tried this method to screw through the carpet, it actually works.

How do you check floorboards under carpet?

0:041:52How to Check What Is Under a Carpet : Carpet Installation & MaintenanceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you have tack strips. You'll want to use a knee kicker. So you can kick that back towards theMoreIf you have tack strips. You'll want to use a knee kicker. So you can kick that back towards the wall pry it up and see what's under there now if it's glued.

How do you fix a squeaky subfloor from above?

Shim the Subfloor You can solve this by shimming the subfloor. Wedge shims between the joist and subfloor, and use a clawhammer to tap them into place. Don't pound the shims because they could lift the floorboards and cause more squeaking.

Can you stop wood floors from squeaking?

Creaky floors occur when the subfloor has been separated from floor joists. You can solve this by shimming the subfloor. Wedge shims between the joist and subfloor, and use a clawhammer to tap them into place. Don't pound the shims because they could lift the floorboards and cause more squeaking.

Does Squeak No More Really Work?

These screw's work well under carpet, we have a new home, that the contractor was supposed to screw and glue the sub floor to Joists. Our floor started to more than squeak, one could hear the plywood contacting the joists as we walked. I tried this method to screw through the carpet, it actually works.

Are squeaky floors a structural problem?

Are squeaky floors a structural problem? There's no need to panic. In real life, a creak or squeak is no big deal—that is, they don't signal structural damage, like termites, that could cause your floor or joist to collapse. And fixing creaky floors is fairly simple.

Does baby powder stop squeaky floors?

0:332:26How to Stop Wood Floor Squeaks With Powder - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you would want to get the baby powder in between those boards and allow that to smooth out thoseMoreAnd you would want to get the baby powder in between those boards and allow that to smooth out those two boards. So they don't rub together. And make noise.

Why does my floor squeak?

Squeaky floors are usually the result of a sub-floor board that has come loose around a nail on a joist. The squeak is the plywood subfloor board rubbing up and down on the nail. Locate the joists by using your hand or a hammer to find where the floor is solid. You can also use a stud finder to locate the joists.

How to tell if a drill bit has found the carpet?

This drill bit will bore right through the carpet without causing any damage. You’ll know the drill bit has found the joist by feeling it bore into the joist. But you can also tell by reversing the drill and if it comes out on its own, then you’re there.

Do you need a drill for a squeaky stud?

In addition to the squeak repair kit, you will need a drill. You can use a stud finder, but we didn’t find it to be necessary!

Why do my floors squeak?

Squeaky floors may alert you to kids sneaking in past curfew, but they've got little else going for them. Annoying floor squeaks, common in many homes, typically occur after the house has settled and flooring lumber has dried out and shrunk. As you walk across the floor, boards rub against each other or slide against nail shafts to produce ...

How to silence a floor from below?

Another effective way to silence floors from below is with a cleverly designed piece of hardware called the Squeak-Ender($7) . It consists of a threaded rod attached to a flat mounting plate and a steel bracket fitted with a squared-off hook on one end.

What happens when you walk across a floor?

As you walk across the floor, boards rub against each other or slide against nail shafts to produce a cacophony of squeaks and creaks.

Can you get access to floor joists from below?

When you can't get access to the floor joists from below, your only choice is to make the repairs from above. The trick, however, is to silence the squeaks without damaging the finished floor. Fortunately, there are two fastening systems, both manufactured by O'Berry Enterprises, that can do just that.

Does plywood make a chirping noise?

Traditional hardwood strip flooring is the most susceptible to developing a case of the squeaks, but all types of flooring can make annoying noises.

Can you silence a squeaky house?

It may not be possible to silence every squeak in your home, but with the techniques described here, you can certainly cut down the chatter to an occasional chirp.