Repairing squeaky loose floor boards under carpet problem

[mattmedia]

Hi all, first post, need help.

I'm attempting to fix seemingly loose and squeaky floorboards without lifting the carpet using the squeeek no more kit. (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Squeeeeek-No-More-Floor-Repair-Kit-19594/203429611)

I live on the top floor of a three level apartment and my issue is twofold.

1: I just purchased a Zircon StudSensor L50 (3.8cm depth) to find the joists, and all i'm getting is a bunch of random marks on the floor, i cant find any joist continuity.

2: using the joistfinder that came in the kit (fitted to drill in pic) i cant seem to advance and confirm presence or absence of a joist. It feels like its hitting sheet metal.

Hugely frustrating. What is going on here?

If anyone can offer some insight I would be most grateful

Matt

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Why not just lift the carpet? You'll be able to actually see the joist positions by the nails or screws, otherwise you are just stumbling around like a blind man. As to stud finders - complete waste of time and money. Never seen or tried one which worked reliably enough to consider keeping and I know of no other tradesman who uses them either (for similar reasons)

 

[mattmedia]

Why not just lift the carpet? You'll be able to actually see the joist positions by the nails or screws, otherwise you are just stumbling around like a blind man. As to stud finders - complete waste of time and money. Never seen or tried one which worked reliably enough to consider keeping and I know of no other tradesman who uses them either (for similar reasons)

I would but the room is bordered with heavy furniture and not alot of free space to move it. but your right i may have to, i didnt think the stud finder would fail so much through carpet. Any idea why i wouldn't be able to drill through the carpet? would an apartment floor have anything different (like sheet metal) that might stop my drill?

 

[Burnerman]

The carpet needs to come up I'm afraid but the fun doesn't stop there. ....there could be pipes or cables notched into the joists below and you don't want to pierce those!
John

 

[mattmedia]

The carpet needs to come up I'm afraid but the fun doesn't stop there. ....there could be pipes or cables notched into the joists below and you don't want to pierce those!
John

darn. okay, looks like a much bigger task than anticipated. thanks

 

[bernardgreen]

Definately a carpets up job. If this is a new build then you might have a chance of getting the builder to pay for all the costs involved of having the carpets lifted by a carpet fitter, floor boards refitted and carpet relaid. In the UK with a bit of pressure from the house owner that can happen. Maybe in New Zealand it is different.

 

[vinn]

Floors squeak for various reasons.
You are presuming that the floor is not fixed properly but you dont appear to know how it was fixed or what is under the top finished floor.
It could be that the flooring has no room for expansion & is pressing against an abutment such as a wall as it tries to relieve expansion pressure.

There should be an expansion gap all the way around the flooring - typically of 10mm or 3/8"