Fixing Creaky Floorboards for Good
What causes creaks and how they are repaired
Few things are as noticeable as a squeaky floorboard, especially at night or in a quiet house. Squeaks are particularly common in older homes with original floorboards, but they can affect newer floors too. In most cases, a squeaky floor can be repaired without major work.
What causes floorboards to squeak?
Every squeak is caused by movement and friction. When a board is not held tightly, it moves slightly under your weight and rubs against a nail, a neighbouring board or the joist beneath it.
Loose nails that have lost their grip over the years.
Boards that have dried and shrunk away from the joists.
Boards rubbing against each other at the edges or tongues.
Boards lifted for pipes or cables and not refixed properly.
Joist problems such as weakened, notched or poorly supported timbers.
Seasonal changes in humidity making boards expand and contract.
How squeaks are fixed
We start by locating the source of the noise. We walk the floor, mark the squeaks and check the boards and fixings, sometimes lifting a board to look at the joists beneath.
Screws instead of nails
In most cases, the solution is to secure the board firmly to the joist with screws, which hold much better than the original nails. Screw heads are sunk below the surface and filled for a tidy result. We take care to avoid pipes and cables, which often run under the boards.
Supporting the structure
If the joists themselves are moving, extra support may be needed. This can involve fitting noggins between joists, packing gaps between joists and boards, or strengthening joists that were notched for old pipework. The floor feels firmer and quieter afterwards.
Board replacement
Some boards are beyond repair. We use reclaimed boards matched in width, thickness and age, so the new board blends in, especially once the floor is sanded and finished.
DIY fixes and their limits
There are plenty of DIY tricks for creaky floors, from powder in the gaps to extra nails. Powder may reduce friction for a while, but the noise usually returns. Adding nails often just repeats the original problem and can crack fragile period boards. The main danger is driving a fixing into a hidden water pipe, gas pipe or electric cable.
Professional repairs deal with the underlying movement instead of covering up the sound. Before fixing anything, we check for pipes and cables and choose fixings suited to the floor. You get a floor that is quiet and secure for the long term.
Will all squeaks disappear?
Repairs eliminate most creaks in most floors. Even so, timber keeps responding to seasonal changes in humidity. Older floors may still produce the odd creak as the seasons change, particularly when the heating is switched on. Any new squeaks are generally minor and straightforward to fix.
Creaking stairs
Stairs can creak too, usually where a tread has loosened from the riser or stringer beneath. These can often be fixed by securing the treads and adding support blocks from underneath, ideally when the stairs are being restored.
Key points to remember
Squeaks are caused by movement: boards rubbing against nails, joists or each other.
Screwing loose boards to the joists gives a far stronger and longer-lasting hold than nails.
If the joists move, adding noggins or packing and strengthening them makes the floor firm again.
Always check for hidden pipes and cables before fixing anything through the floor.
The best time to fix squeaks is just before sanding, so repairs blend into the new finish.
Combining repairs and restoration
Planning a sand? That is the best moment to deal with creaks. Repairs are completed before sanding, so everything blends into the fresh finish. It also means the floor is sound and secure, which gives a better sanding result.
Tired of creaks and squeaks? Our floorboard repair service fixes squeaks across Croydon, whether on their own or as part of a full restoration. Take a look at our guide prices for squeaky floor fixes.