Title: Creaky Stairs and Floors - Red Box Tools
No, you don’t need to call Ghost Busters, your creaky floors and stairs are most likely due to imperfections that occurred when they were first installed. However, before you run to the nearest store to purchase a set of earplugs, you may be surprised to find out that with the proper tools required, a working knowledge of construction, and a weekend’s worth of time, you can make those repairs and put an end to the noise.
First, you will need to ensure that you have the tools required to complete the project. These include:
- Knee Knicker
- Drill
- Circular Saw
- Chisel
- Flat Head Screwdriver
- Hammer Stapler
- Goggles (or Safety Glasses)
After you have assembled all of your tools, you will begin by using the Knee Knicker to gently stretch your carpet. The goal is to roll back the carpet, and underlying pad, so that you will have access to the floorboards underneath. Typically, creaky stairs and floors are caused by the floorboards being installed too close together, not being secured with screws, or having too many openings between floorboards. It is common for wood to have a certain amount of natural expansion during the day. If your floorboards are too close together when the wood expands you will hear a creaking noise. If the boards are not securely fastened or if there are gaps in between them, they will shift and move as they expand creating noises as well.
Your first step will be to lift the carpet and pad off of the tacks to fully expose the subfloor. Remove all of the staples with a screwdriver. The key to working with your carpet, pad, and floorboards is to use a gentle hand. You will need to replace all of these items so deal with them carefully.
Once the floor is exposed you can determine the cause of the creaking. If the problem is that the floor has not been secured properly, you will need to add screws to make the floor stable and secure. You will begin by drilling screws through the floorboards and into the underlying joints. The screws should be spaced about 6” apart. You always need to remember that you must allow for natural expansion. If the floorboards were put too close together, then you will need to cut expansion joints into the floorboard seams. You can accomplish this by using a circular saw. It is a good idea to use a blade that is the same thickness as your floorboards. This will ensure that you will only make surface cuts into the wood and not cut through the boards. The cut that you will make is called the Plunge cut. Remember to always wear safety goggles when you are working with wood and power tools.
Finally, after you have reinforced the floor, secured loose boards, and cut grooves along the expansion joints, it is time to test the floor. Carefully walk on the floor and listen for creaking and noises. Once you are satisfied that your floor is quiet, you can replace the padding and the carpet.
Author: RedBox Tools, Inc.
RedBoxTools is your source for Wholesale Contractor Tools at a Discount
