Squeaky Floors: Causes and Fixes

A squeak is movement you can hear. Fixing it means stopping the movement.

Where Squeaks Come From

Boards rub on nails or on each other when the subfloor flexes. Seasonal changes in humidity loosen fasteners, and years of foot traffic add to the movement.

Stairs squeak when treads rub on risers or loosen from the stringers.

The Fix From Above

We find the joist lines and drive trim-head screws through the board into the joist, then fill the heads and finish them so they disappear. On stairs we add screws and glue at treads and risers.

From above, the fix does not require tearing anything up.

When It Is More Than a Squeak

A floor that is springy, sags or shows cracks may have a structural issue. We tell you honestly and recommend a specialist if it looks beyond a repair.

A walk-through lets us tell the difference.