If you’ve ever had the pleasure (or displeasure) of walking on a deck’s squeaky floor, you’re probably familiar with the many “DIY” solutions that are floating around on the internet. There’s nothing more frustrating than wasting time and money on fruitless DIY attempts that, at best, will give temporary relief and, at worst, destroy your deck’s floor.
This blog post will discuss each of these popular methods and explain why they won’t solve your squeaky spot problem. Keep reading for tips on how to fix a squeaky hardwood floor!
DIY "solutions" that don't work on your squeaky floors
1. Spraying WD-40 or any other lubricant on the floorboards
This is one of the most simple DIY solutions to repair squeaky hardwood floors. People believe that spraying a lubricant on the floorboard will help them move more freely and stop the annoying squeaks. However, this method does not work.
The WD-40 will eventually evaporate, and the wood floor will start making noise again. In addition, this method can damage your hardwood flooring if you use too much lubricant or seep into the floorboard’s cracks.
2. Hammering nails into the floorboards to secure them
Another popular solution is to hammer nails into the floorboards to secure them.
However, this method is ineffective because how would you know how much force is required without causing damage to your floor and how many nails you need? Too few or too many can cause more harm than good!
3. Using baby powder On your deck's floor
Many homeowners sprinkle baby powder or talcum powder on the floorboards and then sweep it into the gaps. This method is supposed to work because the powder fills in the gaps and creates a smooth surface, which prevents the boards from rubbing against each other and making noise.
However, the solution rarely works, and it is incredibly temporary when it does.
The baby powder method doesn’t work because it completely fills in the gaps. The powder can also be messy and difficult to clean up. Additionally, the powder can become slippery and dangerous when the wood subfloor gets wet.
4. Putting felt pads under the furniture
The fourth most popular DIY solution for fixing squeaky floors is to put felt pads under the furniture. It doesn’t look like a big deal. The pads will reduce the friction between your floor and its feet, thus stopping any squeaking caused by movement on top of it.
However, this method is ineffective because you don’t know how much the pads will last, causing more damage to your floor.
5. Sanding down the floorboards
Another most popular DIY solution for fixing squeaky floors is to sand them down. The idea here is that removing some of their thickness will reduce how much friction there exists between your floor and its feet, thus stopping any squeaking caused by movement on top of it.
However, this method doesn’t work because you don’t know how much you need to sand down the floorboards without causing any damage.
6. Wedge shims between joist and plywood subfloor
Wedge shims between joist and subfloor is a popular do-it-yourself solution for fixing a squeaky floor. The idea is to wedge a thin wood shim or metal between the two surfaces to create more space and stop the squeak.
However, this method does not work! The wedge will eventually slide out or get pushed out of place, and the floor will start to squeak again. In addition, this method can damage your floor, floor joists, or entire wood blocks if you use too much pressure or if the wedge slips into the cracks of the floorboard.
This is how to fix a squeaky hardwood floor
1. Replace the damaged parts of your squeaky floor
2. Add a layer of wood
A second way to fix squeaky floors is by adding an extra layer of hardwood flooring. You will need some carpentry skills for this project because you don’t want to start any structural issues!
3. Tap the boards into place
The third way to fix wood floors is by gently tapping the panels of your wood flooring into place. You can do this using a hammer and nail gun, but you will need some carpentry skills for this project!
4. Nailing down wood floors
5. Patching Gaps with Wood Filler
6. Silicone caulking
We can fix our deck’s gloor by using silicone caulking. This method is best for fixing small gaps between boards. Simply apply a thin line of caulk with a caulking gun to the hole, then smooth it out with your finger or a flat piece of plastic. Once dry (about 24 hours), you can paint over the caulking if desired.
7. Drilling into hardwood floors
Another way to fix your floor is to drill into hardwood floors. This method is best for fixing significant gaps between boards. Simply drill a hole into the floorboard, fill it with glue and clamp down until dry (about 24 hours). Once dried, use wood putty to cover any visible holes left behind by drilling.
8. Calling a professional to fix squeaky floors
The best way to fix a squeaky deck floor is to call a professional contractor. It can be frustrating and might make you want to spend hours researching how-to DIY solutions to get rid of the noise for good!
You need some expert help from an experienced technician who knows how these things get fixed.
In general, there are many different solutions for fixing a squeaked floor – some better than others – but the only thing that guarantees success is if the job is done by someone who knows what they’re doing from the get-go. Companies specializing in hardwood floor installation not only provide expert installation services but can also assess and resolve deeper structural problems that might be causing the noise.
This is why it’s best to contact a professional contractor or technician if your floor is giving you trouble. They’ll have the tools and knowledge necessary to assess the problem and take care of it in the most efficient way possible – so you can finally get some peace and a finished floor!
Conclusion:
There are many ways to fix squeaky wood flooring, but some methods are more effective than others. This article discussed some popular solutions and explained why each one does or does not work. If you’re having trouble fixing your floor yourself, consider hiring a professional carpenter to do the job for you.
We hope you found this blog post helpful. If the methods we’ve discussed don’t work for your squeaky floor, and if it’s not just a temporary problem that will go away on its own, then please get in touch with us so we can help! HankinsDecks is ready to fix any deck flooring issues and recommend solutions based on what we find during an inspection.
