Fixing a squeaky floorboard

Squeaks come from boards rubbing against each other or against loose nails. Most can be cured in minutes.

Find the board

Walk slowly over the floor and mark the noisy spot with tape. Check for pipes and cables below with a detector before you drive in any screw.

Fix it

• Screw the board down into the joist with a countersunk screw.
• Dust a little talc into the joints for small squeaks.
• Replace split boards rather than patching them.

Under a carpet, special squeak repair kits let you fix the board without lifting anything.