A wooden floor has always made an apartment or house unique and exclusive. Well-groomed and well-placed floorboards add beauty and history to a property, but a wooden or parquet floor wears out over time, loosening, causing an irritating squeaking effect when walked on. Contrary to appearances, creaking floorboards are a defect that is quite easy to repair and does not require the use of specialized tools.
How to fix creaking floorboards?
To fix a creaky wooden floor, it is sometimes enough to drive 50 mm screws next to the existing nails. Additional fastening will help keep the board in place. Alternatively, you can remove the nails and screw the board back using the existing holes. The screws will tighten the wood to the ground and it will be easier to remove them in the future when you need to raise them again. It’s also a good idea to apply some lubricant like WD-40 to the nails to reduce the squeaking. You can also sprinkle talcum powder on the joint line of the boards and rub it in the edges. The last thing is to put a piece of cardboard or fabric between the boards, although this is quite a temporary and short-term solution.
How to repair or replace a floorboard?
If the floorboard is damaged and cannot be screwed into the existing holes, remove the nails using pliers or a hammer with a hook. Then lift the board and look underneath for cables and pipes. If you notice any, mark their location on the board with a pencil so you don’t drive a screw into them. You can also use an electronic pipe and wire detector to do this job.
Find a spot near the edge of the board that is undamaged and use a drill to make a hole in it. Insert the screw into the hole and tighten it firmly, making sure it is below the surface. If you need to replace damaged boards, look for replacements of similar age. You can even take them from where the floorboards are not exposed to get the closest fit possible.
What causes a floorboard to creak?
One common cause is loose boards or improper installation. It can also be a seasonal problem as wooden floors tend to expand in the summer and cause the floor to separate from the supporting floor. If this is a problem, you can reattach the floorboards with glue or extra nails mentioned earlier. A sealant must be applied to prevent the problem from reoccurring. When examining your floor, it is also important to check the stability and support of the beams. If the beams are the wrong size, they may need to be completely replaced.
Are creaking floorboards a construction problem?
It depends on the type of floorboard. There is no construction problem with a wooden board – here we are simply dealing with the movement of the wood relative to each other. The problem may arise with plywood or chipboard. If the floorboards are in good condition and the squeaking sound only occurs when you walk on them, it is probably just the result of natural age-related wear and tear.
