How to Fix Subfloor Problems
Many people love to have wooden floors as they allow a comfortable feel to the feet when one walks on them. They also allow a better temperature control in comparison with traditional floors or tiled floors.
The foundation for a house that has wooden floor through and through is different from one with a traditional floor. It is supported by joists underneath it. Solid bridging and use of diagonal bridging is also done.
Sometimes the wooden floors start to make noises due to various reasons. Mostly it is because of the effects of the weather that can make various part of the floor to be contract in various ways. Nails used in the flooring too sometimes get lose and the squeaking kicks in.
It is not a major issue and can be removed with some simple remedies. Guidelines listed in the article provide you information about ways out to fix Subfloor problems.
Instructions
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1
Type of Floor
The first step is to see if you can access the joists and whether they are concealed or exposed. The procedure you use will vary in both cases.
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2
Concealed Joists
In case they are concealed, you will need to drill holes on 45 degree angle into floor boards. Then you will need to drive in either cement coated or ring-shank nails. The idea to using these nails is that the smooth nails can get loose and the squeezing issue can comeback after a while. Â Afterwards, countersink the nails head an eighth of an inch below the surface of the floor. The holes can be filled with wood putty. Once it dries, sand off the excess putty and you will have a smooth finish.
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3
Exposed Joists
In case that you have access to the joists, it becomes relatively easy to do the same job. You can watch the movement as someone walks on the floor. If a sub-board moves, you can tighten it with the help of a tapered shim.
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4
Pull Down Loose Boards
If there is no movement, it indicates that the floor is loose and needs to be nailed down. You can pull down the loose board with the help of an inch and a quarter inch round headed screws. You will need to drill holes and use washers to make sure that the screws do not pull through the sub-floor.
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5
Strengthening the Bridge
If the bridging between the joists is loose, you can drive in a larger nail at an angle to fix the issue. The squeaking issue should be fixed once the above steps have been done.
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