Sometimes when you walk across the floor, you find the floor to be squeaky. A noise is produced whenever the floor has someone walking on it or something being moved on it. Squeaky floors can be a nuisance for any household. They can even be found in commercial areas and workplaces.
In case, you have carpeting over a noisy floor it can make the matters a bit more difficult. You might well consider the tiring procedure of removing the carpet and then fixing it. However, you can actually repair the squeaking floor through carpeting as well. There are a few simple steps that you need to follow to diagnose the cause behind the squeaking and also fix it in a matter of time.
Locating a Floor Joist
The first important step of diagnosing the cause of a squeaking floor is to find a floor joist. Locating and drilling screws into the joists are among the first steps of fixing the floor. You may use a hammer to locate it underneath the floor. Tap the floor over the carpet with the help of a hammer. You can easily hear a thud where the joist would be underneath. Mark that area with a sticky note. This would be the first joist that you have located underneath the floor.
Drill a hole through carpeting into the joist
The joist located needs to have a hole drilled into it using a drill machine. You need to push a joist screw through the carpeting and subfloor and then into the joist. There are chances that you might miss out on drilling a hole into the joist in the first place. Make another attempt by moving two inches or more away from the incorrect hole. This can be repeated a few times before you finally drill a hole into the joist through the carpet.
Locate the next joist
Now you need to locate another floor joist underneath. For this, you need to measure over 16 inches from the first joist. You will be able to locate the next joist around this area. You need a tripod shaped alignment that needs to be pressed in this area. Along with it, a depth control fixture also needs to be pressed with pressure over the joist. The entire procedure is performed through the carpet itself. A screw needs to be drilled right through the centre of this fixture.
Fix the joists at both ends of the room
Once you have found the joists at both ends of the room, drive screws into the joists. This will help in keeping the joists firmly in place. The screws at the ends need to be joined with taut strings. This will help in measuring the distance between the screws in a straight line. Screws need to be driven along the strings at a distance of 8 inches from one another. This further provides strength to the floor joists underneath the subfloor.
In the final step of fixing the floor, you need to hook each protruding screw with the screw gripper of the fixture. You need to move the fixture back and forth a few times. This will help in snapping off the screw heads from the screws. Thus, the screws would not be conspicuous through the carpet.
This procedure can be followed along with a helper. You might also need an expert professional if you are not well versed with operating a drill machine or need assistance in locating joists underneath the floor. You may also consult a flooring specialist to determine any other cause behind the squeaking floor.
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