I love hardwood floors, but do you know what I don't love? Annoying squeaks. The squeaks in hardwood floors are usually caused by loose boards or gaps over the floor joists, which can worsen over time if left unchecked. Whether your floor is a century old or just a few years in place, addressing the common floor squeaks is simpler than you might think. Let’s look at effective ways to eliminate those creaks so you can step lightly again.

What Causes Squeaky Floors?

Floor squeaks happen when wood and/or fasteners shift, wood expansion due to changes in humidity, wear, or improper installation. Loose boards rubbing against each other or an uneven subfloor creates a squeaky joint. Sometimes, squeaks occur around flooring nails or loose fasteners that no longer hold tightly. Identifying the source is the first step to solving the problem. Walk across the floor, listening closely for creaks, and mark the spots with painter’s tape for easy reference. If you have access to the floor from the basement or space below, you'll need a partner to squeak the floor while you mark the exact location from underneath.

Hallway in a home with light walls, a natural pendant light, wood floors, natural fiber carpet runner, and oil painting on the wall.
In our former house, the hallway floors were always the squeakiest. Credit: BEHR

Quick DIY Fixes

Some minor squeaks require no power tools and minimal effort depending on floor type:

  • Sprinkle a dry lubricant like talcum powder, cornstarch, or powdered graphite around the squeaky area of the wooden floor. Work the floorboard lubricants down between floor boards to reduce friction.
  • Use wood shims to fill gaps between the subfloor and nearest joist from below. Apply wood glue or construction adhesive to the shim before tapping it gently into place to make the subfloor snug up against your finished flooring.
  • From above, drill an angled pilot hole and tap a finish nail through the squeaky board at a slight angle, sinking it into the plywood subfloor below. Be cautious with placement to avoid damaging your floor's finish and use a countersink to tap the nail heads below the floor surface.

Eliminating Squeaks with Counter-Snap Screws

Counter-snap kits (or breakaway screw kits), like Squeak No More kits are a game-changer for repairing squeaky floors leaving minimal visible marks. These specialized repair kits have special breakaway screws that break off below the surface of the floor once tightened, leaving hardly a trace. They’re an excellent option for hardwood flooring because they secure loose boards effectively and allow for discreet installation. They also work on carpeted floor and through linoleum.

Here’s how to use counter-snap screws in a nutshell (obviously, follow the instructions in the kit you use):

  1. Identify the squeaky areas and mark them.
  2. Identify where your floor joists are with a tape measure and joist finding screw.
  3. Drill a pilot hole through the hardwood floor into the subfloor.
  4. Insert the counter-snap screw into the hole using the provided driver bit. Tighten until the screw head snaps off below the surface.
  5. Fill the hole with wood filler.
two kinds of countersnap screws
Countersnap screws are designed to snap off, securing hardwoods to the subflooring and joists without leaving an exposed head. Credit: Emily Fazio

Addressing Squeaks from Below

Accessing the subfloor from the basement ceiling can sometimes provide the most effective solution, especially for persistent squeaks. Underfloor repairs from a basement or crawl space:

  • Shim the gaps: Use wood shims to fill gaps between the subfloor and nearest joist from below. Apply wood glue or construction adhesive to the shim before tapping it gently into place. When the glue dries cut off the excess shim material with a utility knife. This is one of the more effective methods.
  • Glue the joists to the subflooring: In some cases you can prevent subfloor movement by securing the subfloor or loose floorboards to joists with construction adhesive. Or glue a wood block up agains the subflooring and screw it into the joist.
  • Screw the subfloor to the joist: Use longer wood screws at an angle to pull the subfloor more tightly to the joists with screws at squeaky points.
  • Add bridging or bracing: Stabilize warped joists, uneven joists, or flexing boards with blocks or brackets between the floor joists.
Uninsulated rim joists exposed in a basement.
Add reinforcements below a hardwood floor to reduce squeaks. Credit: Emily Fazio

FAQ

Can I fix squeaky floors without removing carpeting?

Yes, squeaky floorboards under carpet can be fixed using counter-snap screws. Mark the squeaky spots, pull the carpet taut, and insert screws through the floor into the subfloor. The carpet surface will hide the screws once you’re finished.

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What if my floor only squeaks in winter?

Seasonal squeaks are common due to changes in humidity levels. Using a humidifier in winter can reduce wood shrinkage, which might alleviate the noisy floors. This might be a good case for working baby powder into the space between wooden floorboards. If the floor noise persists, consider more permanent fixes like counter-snap screws.

Are squeaky floors a structural concern?

In most cases, household squeaks are cosmetic issues, not structural issues. However, if you notice, bouncy floors, sagging or uneven floors, seek professional expertise to rule out a larger issue like major damage or underlying structural problems.