Questions about squeaky floorboards.

MrCheeseman

I've just moved into a house that was built in the 1960s and there are a some squeaky floorboards, to the point that if you walk from room to room upstairs there's a squeak every other step.There's one floorboard which has actual give, and I'm planning on getting someone to replace it. But I'm wondering...

1) Should I be worried about squeaky floorboards at all? Or is this just a consequence of an older (but not ancient) house?

2) I'm going to be taking the carpet up in one room, to replace it with a new one. Is there any point in trying to fix the squeaks in that room? I'm not much of a DIY expert, though I gather it involves screwing boards to joists. Could I make matters worse if I mess up?

stuart45

Just be careful about any pipes and electrics which may run through the top of the joists. 

FreeBear

MrCheeseman said: ) I'm going to be taking the carpet up in one room, to replace it with a new one. Is there any point in trying to fix the squeaks in that room? I'm not much of a DIY expert, though I gather it involves screwing boards to joists. Could I make matters worse if I mess up?

Screwing the boards down should fix any squeaks. But do check to see if there are any pipes or cables running just under the boards first.

Squeaky floorboards are often an indicator that they have been lifted at some point to allow for the installation of central heating or a rewire. It was common practice to notch the joists and lay cables/pipes just under the boards without any protection such as steel plates over the notches.

So, lift the squeaky board, check for cables or pipes, then use screws to fix it down again - Also clean any muck off the top of the joists..

twopenny

In my Edwardian house the nails holding the floorboards down had worked a wider hole around the nails so they were loose and that made the boards unsecured and squeeky. It's nothing to worry about.

I did add a nail or two beside the old ones (knowing that's where the joists would be) to the squeeky areas that solved the problem. But I knew the house and where the pipes and cables went.

You can buy a little gadget that will help you locate any that maybe under them. I had to get one for my new place. But find a good one. They come with instructions that will baffle you at first but practice sorts that. Or you could get someone in to do it when they lay the carpet. Have you asked the carpet fitters if they could do it? It's a long shot and you might get some indignation or they might say they will. Don't ask don't get