Is there any way to 'unsqueak' hardwood floors?

[underpants]

Without ripping then up, of course.

[BrotherBuzz]

1. Talcum powder sprinkled between the boards

[seemunkee]

2. Do you have access from below?

You can screw through from underneath. Otherwise you will probably have to toe-nail from above and try to hit a rafter. I would use some ring nails.

[kmla]

3. Here are a couple of links for some info...

http://pages.areaguides.com/ubuild/PunchFloorSqueak.htm

http://www.asktooltalk.com/home/general/products/countersnap.html

Hope this helps.

[Dora]

4. Walk on your tippytoes.

[Radio_Lady]

5. Get used to the sound. We've tried everything besides ripping up the

carpets. The second floor of this home just squeaks. That is all.

Yes, we did try the Squeek No More Kit. It didn't work a couple of years ago.

No access from underneath.

I did re-read this and maybe I'll try to find a handyman to try it again. Thanks.

http://www.asktooltalk.com/home/general/products/squeak_no_more.html

[Fenris]

6. Shimming the spaces between the joists and the floorboards

But you need to have access to the underside of the floor, i.e. a basement.

[johnnie]

7. Learn to float around the house

[Radio_Lady]

8. Yeah, right. Then I'll have to hire "Ghostbusters" to get rid of those

...nasty floating apparitions!

[Little Wing]

9. Cover it with dead cats

[IntravenousDemilo]

10. I think you should joyfully embrace their squeakiness. Not everyone has luxurious hardwood. n/m

[sweetheart]

11. screws

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?ts=07613&id=95440

Depending on the substructure, a screw will sadly contribute to the quaintness of the finish,
but it doesn't take many to lock down floating floors.

...best to correctly (install hardwood) to start with, with glue and pins... but seldom the situation.

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

12. take your sneakers off

[colinmom71]

13. According to "Ask This Old House"....

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/knowhow/interiors/article/0,16417,229967,00.html

There is also a breakaway head screw that they used on a show for squeaky subflooring (used under carpeting though) that might be useable for your purposes if you're looking for the extra strength of screws over nails. It would likely require a larger pilot hole though... Still, it's more easily covered by wood putty or patches than traditional flat head screws. It may be a good idea to ask a professional wood floor installer if this is viable option.

Good luck...

[LaurenG]

18. I saw that episode

I was thinking the same thing. It seemed to work very well.

[Kali]

14. You will wish it was back if you ever have to deal with sneaky teenagers.

Squeeky screen doors are good too.

[jmowreader]

15. Play Ozzy albums real loud at all hours of the day and night

Floors squeak because their subfloor decking was nailed down with no construction adhesive on the floor joists, and the nails are pulling out. The squeak is caused by the decking rubbing against the nails.

The suggestion to drill 1/2" holes in the hardwood (but not through the subfloor), run 3" deck screws into the joists and plug the holes with wooden plugs is very good. It's about the only thing that will work.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. worst was when my husband used pledge to clean the wood floors

even the animals were to frightened to walk on them....ahem...i mean slide/glide

[TheCentepedeShoes]

17. We tried the talcum powder

thing but it just made a mess. Learn to like the squeakiness.