squeaky floorboards

[Helen Joan]

I live in a straight ranch with oak flooring in each room (except kitchen). All areas are carpeted. Squeaking occurs in a straight line starting in the kitchen into the dining room, down the hall and into a bedroom at the end of the hall. This is the heavy traffic area in my house. I cannot handle this job myself and am wondering if anyone can give me an idea of what a fair price would be to complete this repair. I will be putting the house up for sale next spring and want to address these types of problems beforehand. I imagine the squeaking would turn off a potential buyer. Many thanks for your advice.

 

[big-all]

heeeelllooo and welcome Helen Joan




assuming its flooring on joists
and assuming you can get talcum powder in america


rub it into the the gaps inbetween the boards and your squeeks are likly to greatly reduce or dissapear providing its board to board contact causing the problem

the long term solution is to tighten the screws or nails
if its hidden fixings then its a pro job to repair

 

[gcol]

Only in America would someone cover oak with carpet.

 

[gcol]

Daft forum error - gave me this

then posted a double post. What do we pay our money for?!

 

[Deluks]

Daft forum error - gave me this then posted a double post. What do we pay our money for?!

Easy there 'lightning fingers' Collier!! Now I know what gcol means

Helen, is there any 'bounce' in the floor?

 

[Helen Joan]

Hi. Thanks for your reply. No. I do not notice a bounce in the floor.

 

[Symptoms]

Helen - which way do the boards run? At right-angles or parallel to the route you walk? Do you have a basement so you can see the underside of the floor and joists? Do the joists/beams span large distances unsupported? My guess is, because your squeak is happening in-line, the problem is being cause by a deflecting joist or beam.

 

[Helen Joan]

Good day!

To answer your questions, the floor boards are parallel to the route I walk and are nailed to joists that are 18 inches apart. If it makes a difference, there is a steel beam that runs down the center of the basement supported by two steel poles. The joists rest on this beam across the width of the basement. The boards look (to my untrained eye) pretty secure and tight.

Thanks for your help.