How to stop a new squeaky floor

Horlock

I've just installed a new chipboard floor in a room. But one of the panels squeaks a lot. So does anyone have any good ideas for how to repair.

Floor has been installed with pva glue and screws. Screws are at every 400mm (on joists) and at least 3 wide (5 wide now at the squeaky bit - as I hoped just adding a couple of extra screws would solve the problem - it didn't).

At the moment the floor is still totally accessible. Ie can be accessed from above and from below - no ceiling fitted below the floor yet.

My quick google is suggesting it is because the floor is fitted with squeaky nails - there aren't any nails at all.

Any other ideas - obviously as glued I can't take the whole floor back up - I don't want to either:D

Thanks

Le_Kirk

Is it the board that's squeaking or the joists? Can you feel or see movement when walking across the panel. If it is the panel squeaking, maybe you could add some noggins between joists to support the weight.

Furts

The chipboard should be well glued to the joists and well glued on all tongues and grooves. It should also be the appropriate thickness - 18mm minimum on 400-450 centres thereafter 22mm for 600 centres. The joists should have been alligned and regularised timber used.

Have you followed these requirements?

Horlock

Furts wrote: »

The chipboard should be well glued to the joists and well glued on all tongues and grooves. It should also be the appropriate thickness - 18mm minimum on 400-450 centres thereafter 22mm for 600 centres. The joists should have been alligned and regularised timber used.

Have you followed these requirements?

Yes it's 18mm on 400 centres. C24 7inch timber spanning from wall to steel and steel to wall each length approx 2800mm

Horlock

Le_Kirk wrote: »

Is it the board that's squeaking or the joists? Can you feel or see movement when walking across the panel. If it is the panel squeaking, maybe you could add some noggins between joists to support the weight.

It hasn't been glued to the joists only glued to itself. I'll have another look to see if there is visible movement. There are two rows of noggins in the length of 2800mm (these are almost random - ie not measured so could easily be 1000, 900, 700 they were added by eye when installing the floor, but aligned with each other)

Do you think that an additional noggin below the offending board might help? Also I don't think the floorboards have been screwed to the noggins at all - might there be an advantage to this too?

Le_Kirk

If you follow Furts measurements you should be well supported. If a floor panel is squeaking it can only be because the tongue is rubbing against the groove or against something else, like a wall. Another way it can creak is if the board itself creaks but I assume you are using new panels. An additional noggin(s) to get to Furts specification will help, as will screwing boards down.

Furts

Le_Kirk wrote: »

If you follow Furts measurements you should be well supported. If a floor panel is squeaking it can only be because the tongue is rubbing against the groove or against something else, like a wall. Another way it can creak is if the board itself creaks but I assume you are using new panels. An additional noggin(s) to get to Furts specification will help, as will screwing boards down.

To back up this post I would second the sensible observation regarding binding against a wall. I did not mention it, but carpenters and builders are aware that a movement gap of typically 20mm should be present at the wall.

OP has already identified a defect with the floor by stating that the chipboard is not glued to the joists. This is a vital requirement, as are regularized joists - but this did not receive a response to my mention of it.