How to stop floor squeaks thru carpet

[@samirsaad1604]

This is by far the best floor squeak video on you tube. Thanks a lot Bob.

[@MrJessesims74]

I'm a carpet fitter. People! Just think about hitting water pipes whilst doing this crazy thing. Just makes sense to uplift the carpet and do a proper quicker job. Really!

[@waynee28]

Wow great how-to. Well made Bob. As a couple FYI's, joists typically run parallel with the short walls of a house. And, I recently successfully used a kit from Lowes called "Sqeeeeeek no more" it does exactly what you show but in some fancy packaging and with a contraption to snap the screws off.

[@SideBerner]

Bob You are the Man! Without you I would of already burnt my house down. Thanks Bob!

[@MrJohnnyboyrebel]

I'm back and very happy to report that your technique worked! It took several screws, but I found and stopped several squeaks! Pure genius!

[@raybigto]

Amazing as usual Bob. Your videos on home improvement are the best.

[@pezzza16]

a top tip if your installing floorboards, use tongue and grove and glue all tongues and joist before useing 2 screws on every joist! top vids bob! from the UK!!!

[@chriszbodula1894]

Great video Bob. I learned another technique where you put a screw close to each wall and run a string across as a guide to to stay over the floor joist.

[@ClintL63]

I am aCarpenter and have been for as old as you are; I've always said"I will never know it all!" Thanks for the simple idea of a coat hanger! luv ya

[@taylorjole6899]

I bought a house that has several squeaky areas, figuring I could fix them. 4 years later, I haven't done it yet but am finally ready . I was going to buy a Squeek no more kit. But this looks just as good. So I'll start with this cheaper option. Thanks for this video explaining it.

[@jjlwis]

Bob- you NEVER cease to amaze me! smart very smart!

[@JackANDJude]

Very clear explanation, and the mock up floor was helpful in getting your point across.

[@TerryPagel]

Bob is the MAN! I love his videos.

[@venkateshbashyam]

Awesome video Bob. Thanks for those detailed instructions. Got to get started fixing those annoying squeeky floors immediately.

[@anorenbergs]

I drowe 5 pounds of 6 inch ring shank nails into the subfloor to stop the squeeks in our master bedroom in size of 15x15 feet before installing Pergo laminate flooring. I was very surprised when I disovered that builders in 1986 when building our townhouse complex, had tied down subfloor pieces to joists only with four or five medium nails. Believe me, Bob, I can sleep well at night due to job well done and due to no squeeks. Thanks, Bob, for this video. Aivars

[@rkgsd]

A buddy's house was broken into while sleeping. The person was awakened only due to a squeaky spot on the floor! That allowed enough time to jump up and startle the intruder who then ran away. So actually, floor squeaks may be life savors and not so bad afterall.

[@TheJimsock]

Now this was an awesome tip. None of this would have crossed my mind. I would surely have been in the basement tow screwing through the joist and splitting wood. Thanks!

[@xanducan]

shoot just rebuild the whole house every couple of years.. Bob this video is great..real helpful..you can tell you are no rookie..

[@roadwarrior2711]

EXCELLENT VIDEO! Precise, straight to the point, but with explanations as to WHY you use your techniques. Great Job!

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

For those of you viewers in the Cincinnati and surrounding area Houston Construction is one that I personally would highly recommend! Quality people and quality work! +++ Bob

[@Rylad1313]

Wow, amazing video, and very well spoken! I love your demo on the fake floor. Thank you for taking the time.

[@marc666foryou]

LOL at 11:38 "That floor squeak that's been here for years that kept me from getting my dessert is gone, tonight that pie is mine."

[@locoken]

Great tip, Bob. The only thing I would do differently is work my way from the furthest points on the floor joist on either side that is making the most noise and working my way into the squeaky spot. That way the pressure you have to put on the sub floor is less and it will take less pressure once you get to the squeak because you'll be pulling the sub floor down the whole way into the squeak. You will probably use less screws, too. Either way, this is still a great tip! Thanks, Bob!

[@lancelaughlin4834]

Just had to say that the hanger drill bit is the best idea out there for this little activity. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@SteveTremper]

Great video Bob. Can't read this in a book! Go enjoy your pie!

[@anfonyl]

Happy new year! Nice to have you back.

[@JarrettSimonds]

Best video of 15+ ones I have watched on this problem! Thank you SO much for making it, and describing exactly how to resolve this issue. It is to be my upcoming weekend project for sure!

[@rsuave109]

Wow, excellent video. Great attention to detail. I'm gonna try this on my own carpet at home. It has tons of squeaky spots. I have a shallow bourbon carpet and I was worried that a piece of the screw might stick up thru the carpet but if i can break it off properly like u did in the video then I'm set. Thanks!!

[@CreativeSoulTV]

Bob, thanks for making this very helpful video. I will be trying this out on several areas in my home this weekend.

[@MrJohnnyboyrebel]

This is terrific stuff. I am going to resolve a 5 year old squeak this weekend! Thanks for the great advice.

[@spyyked]

Excellent tip as always!!! I always look forward to seeing a new video by home remodel workshop in my subscription list :)

[@marco1173]

Not bad at all. Pretty similar method to the "Squeeek No More" system from Menards that I used to get rid of some pretty bad squeaks in my kid's bedroom, and probably cheaper too. The SNM system worked fairly well, but some squeaks just wouldn't go away and I'm not certain why. I have to give credit to the video poster for thinking this out himself, if in fact he did.

[@SheetRockGirl]

That was so much fun to watch! The closed captioning was a riot.

[@jjlwis]

the best channel on youtube!

[@tronious]

Excellent explanation. Thanks so much for taking the time to post this. -tronious

[@KalebBroadhead]

Excellent video, great job explaining your methods and the reasons behind them. Quality stuff.

[@21234Bettyrt]

I loved your video...being a landlord for 25 yrs...when you hear a squeak under carpet you think oh no...do I have to tear up the whole floor so I don't hear the tenant over my head...???> thanks so much...the answer is so clear how to do it....xoxoxo

[@moviebizman]

@Bob (continued) and the carpet and padding was the last thing changed out before we moved in. I was so happy as the carpet installer was cool and patient for me to check out each area before laying down the new padding/carpet.... Before moving in and before the new tile roof was completed we had the house tented for termites... could anything weaken the 2nd level structure after the fumigation? Not likely right? Thanks again!

[@hunkatiel]

Good tips. Shows the lengths guys will go to sneak some pie.

[@F2FTech]

Great video. You presented it very well.

[@peterwyshneff2030]

Bob, Thanks! Worked out well. I got rid of a 7 year squeak.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

Good question., Basically its movement, foundation movement, weights and pressures of people and things flexing up and down on floor joist , and just age houses as with people things begin to sag from gravity over the years! +++Bob

[@thegafferlives]

Great tips Bob. I hope you went balls deep in that pie.

[@ericevans1373]

Fantastic video Bob. Thank You!

[@wwindsunrain]

Very neat. 1 - we could could start with a decent stud finder to locate those joists. 2 - there are nails that have a twist that can be nailed through carpet with a nail set. Wouldn't it be nice if floors were screwed instead of nailed in the first place?

[@roperuckus]

Best demonstration I've ever seen! Thanks

[@threeque]

Nice to see another vid! Thanks for the tip and happy new year to you.

[@paraglidingnut26]

Great video Bob, thanks.

[@whatwillbewillbeok]

This was incredibly helpful. Thanks for uploading this!

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

First you can try "liquid subfloor adhesive" at all corners available , press adhesive with shim or small block of wood into corners. Floor noise is generally space between the subfloor and the floorjoist allowing nails to rub against wood as the floor moves from weight above, allow to dry and see if you have improvement, This works very well on steps that are exposed from below. In bad cases there is another more involved way of dealing with it but try this first+++Bob

[@taunta]

great vid. Is there a way that this will work on carpeted steps?

[@2degucitas]

Enjoy that pie, Bob!! I have some floors to tend to! Don't know how it will work on the floors with vinyl flooring, but gonna try it anyways. The squeaks are bugging me.

[@knecht105]

Great Tip ... thanks for sharing it.

[@SauronsEye]

Nice...and how useful are wire coat hangers. Much is made of the invention of the wheel in Human development but how many things can a wire coat hanger become? The latest morph I've seen of a wire coat hanger was into a stand for an IPAD, so it was at the optimal movie watching angle.

[@gvoetberg]

Bob-Great video. I have a large upstairs bedroom that I can not get the squeak to stop under the carpet. I did get some spots to stop using your technique but the squeaks by the outside walls are the loudest. Any suggestions? Glen

[@eddiejr74]

I say an episode of This Old House or something along those lines a few years ago and they showed a method exactly the same as this but, the screws were made for this purpose and to snap off just below the sub-floor line. Have you heard of these? I'm thinking if these are specialty screws they would be more expensive? I don't know, never looked. Great video though Bob, I know that pie must have been so sweet!

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

In the US we have building codes that require plumbers and electricians to place pipes and wires in the framing allowing room for anchoring subfloors, and when that is not possible they have to place protective plates to stop penetrations.+++Bob

[@bobcatt2294]

Extremely helpful, much gratitude.

[@Marnhullvillage]

I don't know about in USA but we have heating pipes and electric cables under floorboards. How do you avoid drilling or screwing into them?

[@TomSawyerPainting]

Thank you for this vid Bob. Now I can get some rest.

[@moviebizman]

Hi Bob, I was ahead of the game not needing to do this. (2nd floor of our home) before the new carpet and padding was installed we walked the floor without padding and carpet and no floor squeaking. (Staircase too). Then after adding premium Shaw patterned carpet and premium Shaw Triple Touch 10 lb. premium padding, and now the floors creak, squeak and crackle! What do you think happened? This is all within a year's time. Could the new padding cause all these squeaks in the floor?

[@tankthis85]

Great Vidoes, my wife loves me more becuase of your vids :D now she trustes me more with home repair becuase I did something that works LOL very informative

[@alutious]

Tonight that pie is mine!! That is awesome. I have the exact same problem... but with cake. I am going to try this. But i am going to score the screw a little bit. I love the coat hanger thing. The most underestimated tool that youth will miss. I am lucky though, I know where my pipes are. Now as long as they ran all the electrical up the walls I should be set.

[@slhender1]

@HomeRemodelWorkshop I don't know the thickness for sure. It is what I would call standard tongue and groove hardwood, brazilian cheery, about 6 years old. I do have access to the bottom side of sub-floor from the basement.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@SauronsEye The guy that invented the coat hanger never made a dime.He came in to work one day to the wire company and made it quickly because there were no wall hooks available and he did'nt want his coat to get wrinkled hanging over his chair.Before too long everyone in the plant made one, the owner noticed, got the patent and the rest is history. P.s the employee quit went to California and started his own wire company. This is as close as I recall what I read. History Channel book.

[@ConshyKid71]

Excellent video Bob - one question maybe someone could help with an answer. We have hardwood flooring underneath the carpet and then the sub-floor. Would you need to do anything differently? Thanks in advance, Brian

[@HatRatt]

Will this method work for my 60 yr old maple floors? They are attached directly to the joists with water pipes (for heating) running between the joists. How about this: 1) Locate the joist 2) drill those screws through the flooring and into the joist 3) break off the top of the screw 4) fill in the hole with wood filler.

[@SatTriv]

Hi Bob, Great Vid. I am in the UK and a complete novice at most of the DIY stuff. My prob noise is louder than just squeak. I want to try your recommendation but am worried if there could be hot water pipes (radiator ) running under the floor that I may accidentally pierce through ? There are radiators right in the center of one of the walls of the room ?

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@silas132 True, I too have been in houses where your nervous to put in drywall anchors to hang a picture, Maybe I just have to accept that risk as part of working on homes. If this carpet had been removed and you were not able to see below, to nail or screw the floor is still risky but most homeowners are not willing to destroy the room below or pay for new subfloor to pull it up and check it out. We all have to have some trust that most people who work on homes have some scruples. Thanks Bob

[@moviebizman]

@Bob...hmmm I wonder? Because I am baffled otherwise! This was my pet peeve (no squeaky floors) when buying the house. I walked the house and there was little to NO squeaks at all (bought house in mid 2010) It's a 32 year old house and built pretty solid. I'm in Southern CA, and have had the roof changed to an Eaglelite Tile roof, changed all windows to Milgard Dual Pane... Would these things trickle down and cause issues with floor? But then again... these were already installed...and

[@dracowing14]

does this work with Berber carpets as well, my only concern is because the carpet is made with loops instead of straight threads like the one in the video, that the screw will catch and pull the threads easier.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

Hey Glen, Sometimes you may have to bite the bullet and pull the carpet back from the wall, fix the squeak, and pay a carpet man a minimal fee to re-stretch and tuck the carpet, Get a few bids and schedule a date allowing yourself some floor repair time! +++Bob

[@HFIntegrale]

Exactly what Avishai said!! Thanks! Motty

[@dslynx]

Dang! Thanks so much! I've always heard you could do this.. and I'm redoing some floors, so I'm working on the subfloor and can see where the joists are. I tried adding some screws and it didn't help at all. I didn't know I needed to add so many. I'm going to go back and add a ton more screws and see if that takes care of my problem.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@slhender1 Two questions 1. Do you have access to bottom side of sub-floor from below? 2. How thick is hardwood 3/4 inch? +++Bob

[@silentscribes1905]

That video was legit man Thank you. ..

[@SubieSean]

About how much would this cost if your nervous to do this work yourself? Also, what if your carpet is not this thick?

[@H4NDCRAFTED]

I'm in the UK, the average house doesnt have a basement. Can I take my carpet up and just screw next to the original nails ? I worried about hitting plumping pipes. Never had to deal with this before.

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

You are very welcome, please let me know how it works for you +++Bob

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

On the carpeted area it will work the same only adjusting the screw lenghth by 3/4 inch longer, The hardwood floor itself you would need to have access from below. do you? +++Bob

[@HeartLover0420]

What if there is a concrete slab under the carpet and padding? ~I was thinking about fixing some of those infernal squeaks in upstairs apartments, but there is a slab of concrete under the carpet/pad instead of plywood, or hardwood. Could this method still work, or not? ~I've heard once that the squeaks are from the broken concrete, or deep cracks that were put in that concrete slab over time. Don't know if that's true or not. I have my doubts, lol.

[@ChrisMum]

Eek! I've just got a new lounge carpet down, so don't fancy drilling loads of holes in it. Also, we have no basement to go into underneath the subfloor........reckon I'll need to put up with the squeaks. The annoying thing is, I paid a local joiner to stop the squeaks "before" the carpet was laid........sadly he didn't do it properly.

[@slhender1]

How would you recommend fixing squeaks under wood flooring?

[@fungiuse]

I used the kit "no more squeak floor" (home depot, $20 for carpet) but it did not work! I did it correctly for sure. The joists are 21 and 24 inches apart -- My home is 27 yrs old. So, WHAT ELSE DO YOU SUGGEST? Thank you much.

[@Edgardopadua]

Thanks man. I hate that squezze.

[@TortureBot]

Tonight, that pie is mine! Lol! Great video.

[@lmogden1]

great video

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

Never heard of this before, +++Bob

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

Make it a big slice!+++Bob

[@silas132]

@HomeRemodelWorkshop agreed totally. I've been to many jobs and found nothing is to code. for some houses this could be dangerous. great tip though, im just saying be careful :)

[@iWillRule3000]

Hi. Can a countersunk screws will do the job instead?

[@videostarish]

What I do to find joists/wall studs is 'scan' the floor/wall with a strong neodymium magnet, & it sticks to the nails/screws....simple! But sometimes you have an 1/8th inch ply covering the floor boards, which is nailed at 4"-6" centres!... So would be mind boggling! Another way would be to bore a very small hole & inject some glue into it ontop of the general joist area, probably polyurethane glue is best...but very messy in this situation.

[@BadRonald1]

I like the hanger in the drill....good idea

[@3224victor]

? all joists run in the same direction in all the room or could go different thanks

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

The first thing I would do is get some liquid nail and caulk between the floor joist and the subfloor the take a shim or a paint stick and press liquid nail in as tightly as possible into the corners. Wait 24 hours or so for glue to set up then measure improvement. If you are satisfied with floor then stop there however if there is still a need for more improvement let me know and there is one more thing you could try.+++Bob

[@avishaishitrit]

thank you thank you you are so helping i lorned a lot from you avishai

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@iSarahize From below your bedroom floor (in basement maybe) can you see the floor joist from there? +++Bob If so you can buy an inexpensive caulk gun and some Liquid Nail and squirt it where the plywood and the floor joist meet in corner. Rub liquid nail in tightly with small block of wood to try to force the adhesive into any gaps. Hope this helps!!!

[@thouston1970]

Excellent! Love your videos! Have you ever thought of doing 1st person tutorials? I envision a helmet cam recording exactly what we do every day. Would require a little editing :) but I think the 1st person concept could work great for you, although probably on a new website geared more for young tradespeople. Terry

[@8486elcocruzzer]

the bob villa of youtube hahaha love it

[@HomeRemodelWorkshop]

@slhender1 Ok, The reason I ask these questions is: if your sub-floor is 3/4 in.and cherry is 3/4 in. Then with someone above squeaking floor for you you can predill hole 3/4 in. deep thru( sub-floor from bottom) slightly bigger than shaft and threads of 1 1/4 in. drywall screw (fine thread) and run from bottom up into hardwood. After putting in 6/8 screws from bottom in squeaky area spreading them at least 2-4 in. spread if squeak persists write me back for more suggestions+++Bob