squeaky floorboards

bgatty68 · Post by **bgatty68** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 10:49 pm

im sure this may have been asked before, but please help, my floorboards on my landing are really squeaky so should i replace them as they dont seem loose?? and if so do i have to replace with the same type of floorboards (small thin ones like tongue/groove) or can i put the big floorboards i put down in my extension-the type you get from wickes/B&Q-??? also what causes the squeaking as i dont want to rip it up put new down and find the squeak still there.

Its a lot to ask but never too much for you guys.
Thanks in advance

Teabag · Post by **Teabag** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:46 pm

from memory i think its chalk powder fixes this... cant recall for sure... but its applied over the join between boards and falls between them, the rubbing causing the squeek is reduced or stopped totally.
im sure someone with the old readers digest home improvments books will confirm.... its basically a dry lubricant.

bgatty68 · Post by **bgatty68** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:55 am

thanks will try that, but what about the type of floorboard?? tongue groove or board?? which is best

Teabag · Post by **Teabag** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:33 pm

again from memory I thought floor boards were approx 20mm thick, (3/4") either with or without tounge and groove.
havnt laid flooring for ages lol, you sure you were not looking at cladding? by your description (small thin ones like tongue/groove).
regards type, as long as they are cramped up while being laid I wouldnt have thought there much difference as in whats best... only when over a cavity floor like in older houses tounge and groove would stop more draughts, and you can also use the secret nailing technique making for a nicer finish.

others who actually work in the trade may have more acurate info....

Gadget · Post by **Gadget** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:29 pm

Talcum powder might help, just sprinkle some on the floor and spread it around with a brush to work it down it to the joints!

Teabag · Post by **Teabag** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:01 pm

I couldnt recall if it was talcum powder or chalk...

Gadget · Post by **Gadget** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:34 pm

Chalk powder may well do the trick, I was just adding another option!..

darkhorse · Post by **darkhorse** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:14 am

Yeah, talcum or chalk are short term fixes but Im not sure how long they will stop the squeaking?

What you want to do is take teh carpets up, use a punch to undersink and nailheads that are visible...and then ID the main problem areas and screw the floorboards down to the joists if they are not already (very unlikely!)

bgatty68 · Post by **bgatty68** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:03 pm

thanks for that, i need to take up the floorboards anyway for my electrics(another post) so will replace them, but like i said at the start should i use tongue groove or the complete floorboard type you can buy from wickes etc, what would you do and whats easier as i have looked at how to lay boards on here and the floorboard tensioner/clamp is expensive to buy???/

darkhorse · Post by **darkhorse** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:27 pm

bgatty68 wrote:thanks for that, i need to take up the floorboards anyway for my electrics(another post) so will replace them, but like i said at the start should i use tongue groove or the complete floorboard type you can buy from wickes etc, what would you do and whats easier as i have looked at how to lay boards on here and the floorboard tensioner/clamp is expensive to buy???/

Tongue and groove every day of the week for me

Chipboard will drive you mad with the sqeaking....
T & G if laid properly, in my humble opinion give the best result with a quiet very tough floor.
18 or 22mm chipboard is easy to lay but WILL squeak after a while I have found!

You dont need a tensioner as far as Im aware! (at least I never have)

See here

http://www.andrews-timber.co.uk/HowtoFl ... oring.html

bgatty68 · Post by **bgatty68** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:53 pm

Thanks darkhorse T&G it is then, i had heard an old wives tale that putting a rubber 'O' ring under each board will stop squeaking?? not sure if it's a wind up tho.
And welcome to the site

Teabag · Post by **Teabag** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:23 pm

you dont need to spend out on a flooring cramp, reason a flooring cramp is used is due to shrinkage, as the timber acclimatises to heating in the house, many people are not in the position to leave the timber in the house to acclimatise, just make a pair of folding wedges... use a off cutt piece of flooring push to the stuff your installing (wedges push against this and it wont damage the tounge and groove), then put wedges down points facing each other.
screw another bit of timber to the joist next to the wedges... hit the wedges together this forces the flooring tight. against the timber you screwed to the joist. then fix the flooring to joist... remove wedges and screwed timber.
you can use more than one set at a time for long runs... way cheaper than joist cramps...
its how I was taught...

hope what ive tried to explain is easily understood.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:53 pm

Before making up wedges, sprinkling talc , thinking about clamps, etc, would the first thing to do not be to simply walk arounf to identifiy the boards that makes a squeak and put in a screw to tighten it against the joist (as the nail has probably lost its grip)

Teabag · Post by **Teabag** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:43 pm

he already said he's taking the floor up, due to cables need running...
hence the more recent replies about wedges...

bgatty68 · Post by **bgatty68** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 9:23 pm

cheers teabag i got your idea about the wedges eventually simple after a good think excellent advice

squeaky floorboards

squeaky floorboards

teabag

darkhorse

Re: darkhorse

thanks

thanks