- 1). Fix squeaks for which you have no option of getting underneath the house to reach the flooring by using powdered graphite in the seams of the flooring. Apply generous amounts of the graphite powder over the seams causing the squeaks, and then cover the area with a few rags. Walk back and forth and all around on top of the rags, thereby working the graphite into the seams. Repeat a few times if necessary. Clean up what is left with a vacuum and a damp cloth.
- 2). Nail the floor down if there is a lot of movement in it (for example, you can see it). Drill pilot holes in the place where it is squeaking, no closer than 1/2 inch to the edge to avoid hitting the tongue-and-groove section. The pilot holes should be through the floor, but not into the subflooring. Then nail down through the floor using 6d or 8d spiral flooring nails. Use a nail set to get the nail below the surface of the floor, and then fill it with colored wax wood filler that matches the floor.
- 3). Use square drive head (not Phillips head) screws and lubricate the threads with some soap or wax for additional holding power where you find that nails aren't doing the job. Drill pilot holes before and finish with filler just as you did in Step 2.
- 4). Go below the floor into the basement or crawl space, if possible, to make repairs. Have a helper walk on the floor while you listen, and pinpoint where the squeak(s) is coming from. Cover a wood shim with some carpenter's glue, and then tap it into the gap between the joist and the subfloor in the spot you have located. Add a 1 1/4-inch drywall screw at an angle up through the joist and shim and into the subfloor for extra hold.
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