Squeaky Floorboards

[mollymoo43]

I need some ideas about how to stop some squeaky floorboards from driving us mad.
They are upstairs in the bathroom & on the landing. We have considered replacing them but this would be a massive & messy job.
People going to bed late wake everyone else up & shift working hubby wakes us all at 6am when he comes in from a nightshift. We have all tried walking around the offending boards but this is almost impossible.
There must be some alternatives to ripping them up. Anyone out there got any suggestions.

[crisgal]

lift back the carpet and liberally shake talc all over the squeaky area. Put the carpet back. Sorted!

[Hgrove]

I did not know about the talc but I once literally screwed down several of my floorboards (you must use screws, not nails);  I must have used a hundred screws.  In the end my palm was bleeding.  (I should have invested in an electric screwdriver).  You are supposed to lift them up to check there aren't any electric wires in the way.  I did not do that and a friend said I had taken a big chance.  In any event, it sorted it out.  The talc, however, sounds like a much better option!

[smudge]

crisgal - you beat me to it. I also once read that sprinkling talc between floorboards, stops squeaks. How true it is I do not know. Good luck though molly.

[brachiopod]

If the cause of the squeaking is the boards rubbing against eachother, then as crisgal and others have said above, talc, or better still, graphite powder, will work wonders.

(You can get graphite powder from a good 'lock-smith shop' - (for want of a better word) - sort of shop that specialises in locks rather than a general DIY store)

[mollymoo43]

Thanks all. I have already tried talc but it has made no difference at all - and it was Johnsons baby talc too !
We are gonna give the screws a go next.
Thanks again.

[landie]

Be careful with nails or screws. Check for pipes and cables with a detector first.

[wood2u]

Talc will only be a temporary fix. Usually the cause of the squeeking is the floorbord rubbing againt the nails that are holding the floor. The best way to fix the problem is to either screw the boards down or to hire a portanail face nailer and use 2 inch serated floor nails. (Primatech or Portanails). These nails are designed to permanently fix the floor and will stop the floor squeeking. Make sure you check for pipes and cables first.