How to Fix a Squeaky Floor (Hardwood and Carpet)
- Section
- Walls & Floors
- Read time
- 2 min
- Updated
Floors squeak when the subfloor or floorboards move slightly and rub against nails or the joists below. The fix is to stop that movement.
Quick answer
- Find the squeak by having someone walk while you listen.
- From below (basement or crawlspace): tap a glued shim into any gap between the joist and subfloor.
- From above: drive a squeak repair screw through the floor into the joist.
- For minor hardwood squeaks, work powdered graphite or talc into the seams.
In this guide
Find the squeak
Have someone walk slowly over the area while you listen and mark the spot with painter’s tape. Use a stud finder to locate the joist nearest the squeak.
Fix from below (best if you can reach it)
- Have someone step on the squeaky spot while you watch from below.
- Gap between joist and subfloor? Spread wood glue on a thin wood shim and tap it into the gap. Don’t force it, or you’ll lift the floor.
- Long gap? Glue and screw a length of 2×4 to the side of the joist, tight against the subfloor.
- Subfloor moving between joists? Drive short screws up through the subfloor into the floorboards. Make sure they’re shorter than the combined thickness so they don’t poke through.
Fix from above
Carpet: use a squeak repair kit made for carpet. It drives a special screw through the carpet into the joist, then the screw head snaps off below the carpet surface.
Hardwood:
- Find the joist with a stud finder.
- Drill a small pilot hole and drive a trim screw or a squeak repair kit screw at a slight angle into the joist.
- Countersink the head and fill it with color-matched wood filler.
Minor squeaks between boards: sprinkle powdered graphite, talc, or baby powder on the seam and work it in with a soft brush. Wipe up the excess.
Stairs
Squeaky treads can be fixed by gluing shims or wood blocks under them from below, or by driving trim screws through the tread into the riser from above.
When it’s more than a squeak
Bouncy or sagging floors, cracks, or soft spots may point to water damage or structural issues. Have a contractor take a look.
Safety first Turn off power or water before working on fixtures and appliances, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and call a licensed pro for gas, major electrical, or structural work.