Say Goodbye To Squeaky Floors With A Simple Solution From Your Hardware Store

Good flooring is quite literally the foundation of a comfortable home. As you're going about your daily chores or just hanging out at the house, a quiet floor adds comfort and stability to your space. But when your floor starts making squeaky noises every time you walk across it, it can quickly become annoying and put a damper on the time you spend at home. Still, squeaky floors are common, especially if you have wooden flooring. It might be distracting and leave you with the impression that you have a structural issue on your hands, but it's not the end of the world. Among all the ways to fix those stubborn squeaky wooden floors, one easy and effective solution is to treat them with some construction adhesive.

What it really means when your floors squeak is usually that there is a lot of friction, be it between floorboards or between the floor and subfloor. This kind of friction can affect many flooring types, including laminate, tile, and even carpeted floors. Wood is just the most notorious flooring type in this sense because it's more prone to expanding and contracting, and this movement leads to more friction — which can result in more squeakiness. Construction adhesive helps by securing the floorboards more tightly to the subfloor and joists, reducing movement and friction. It's a quick fix that doesn't require breaking the bank or using any complicated tools — you just need a bit of patience and one product from your local hardware store.

To fix your squeaky floor issue using this method, you'll need to be able to access your floor's underside — for example, from a basement or crawl space. If you have that opportunity, start by identifying the squeaky area of your floor from below. Before you start applying the adhesive to the problematic joists, make sure they're dry and dirt-free to ensure proper adhesion. Next, fill a caulking gun with construction adhesive and apply a 1/4-inch bead between the joists and the subfloor. After applying adhesive to all problem areas, let it sit for a day or two to allow the adhesive to dry, fixing the joists and subfloor in place to reduce movement and friction.

While this might be the fastest fix for squeaky hardwood floors, it's always better to prevent any issues than to deal with the fallout. To stop your floors from becoming squeaky in the first place, some simple tricks can go a long way. For example, laying down area rugs in high-traffic zones can protect your floors from coming loose with heavy use and ward off squeakiness. Additionally, mg consistent indoor temperature and humidity levels can reduce the likelihood of your floors developing squeaks, as it stops them from expanding and contracting. Finally, prompt spill cleanup and avoiding cleaning with too much water can protect your floors from excessive moisture, which reduces gaps that enable movement and friction.