Most squeaky floorboards are caused by a board that has worked loose on its joist, so it rubs against a nail or its neighbour each time you step on it. The usual fix is to screw the board down firmly into the joist, after checking exactly where pipes and cables run underneath. Where the creak comes from a joist that has been notched too deeply, from boards that have shrunk, or from a pipe rubbing below, the board may need lifting so the cause can be sorted properly rather than just pinned down.
The common causes
Floors move a little every day as people walk on them and the timber dries and takes up moisture. Over the years that movement loosens fixings and opens gaps.
- Nails that have loosened and let a board ride up and down
- Boards that have shrunk and rub along their edges
- Joists notched too deeply for pipes or cables in the past
- Pipes running under the boards that rub when the floor flexes
- A gap between the top of a joist and the board above it
- Previous repairs where a board was refixed with too few nails
Finding the squeak
Walk slowly across the room and mark each spot that creaks. Joists usually run at right angles to the boards, and the line of nail heads shows where each joist sits. A squeak right on a nail line usually means a loose fixing. A squeak between joists points to boards rubbing together or something below the floor.
If carpet is down, it is worth lifting a corner to see the boards directly. Fixing a creak through carpet is possible with specialist screws, but it is far easier to get right on bare boards.
Screwing boards down safely
Replacing loose nails with screws into the centre of the joist holds the board tight and stops it moving. The critical step is checking for pipes and cables first. Heating pipes and electric cables often run across joists just below the boards, and a screw in the wrong place can cause a leak or worse.
A detector helps, but where there is any doubt, lifting the board to look is the safe option. Screws are driven so their heads sit just below the surface, ready for any carpet or new floor on top.
When boards need lifting
Some squeaks cannot be fixed from above. If a joist has been notched or drilled too heavily, it can sag or flex, and the board above will keep moving however well it is screwed. A pipe rubbing on a joist needs a clip or a little more clearance. A board that is split or badly worn is better replaced.
Lifting a board carefully, without splitting its tongue or its neighbours, takes patience. In older homes, where boards are long and nailed at many points, it is part of the job that should not be rushed.
Squeaks under carpet and new floors
Laying a new floor is the ideal time to fix squeaks, because once laminate or LVT is down, the boards underneath are hidden for years. Going over the whole floor and screwing down any loose boards first stops creaks coming through the new surface. The cost to lay laminate flooring guide and the LVT versus laminate guide both cover preparing the floor beforehand.
Booking the fix
One squeaky board is a short job. A whole landing or a room of creaks is better done in one visit, ideally alongside other small carpentry jobs such as easing doors or fitting skirting. Send a short video of the creak, say whether the floor is carpeted, and mention if you know of any pipes or cables underneath. The flooring and carpentry pages on this site explain the wider work if the floor needs more than a few fixings.
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