I finally fixed a squeaky floor without pulling up any carpet

My hallway has had this one loud squeak right by the bedroom door for like 2 years. I tried the regular tricks, powder lube, screwing down from above, nothing worked because the subfloor was lifted. Last weekend I drilled a tiny hole from below in the basement, shoved a shim in with wood glue, and hammered it flush. Squeak is completely gone now. Cost me maybe $3 and 20 minutes. Anyone else have a random trick that worked way better than the standard advice?

2 comments

2 Comments

lucas_jenkins2d ago

Did you have any trouble getting the shim to stay in place while the glue dried? I had a buddy who did basically the same thing for a squeak in his dining room, except he used a plastic shim and construction adhesive. He said it worked perfectly, but he told me later he forgot to clamp it or hold pressure on it, so the shim came loose overnight and he had to go back and do it all over again. He ended up sticking a heavy cinder block on top of the spot from above for a few hours until the glue set. Made me laugh because he was so proud of that fix the first time.

carr.xena2d ago

Heard a pro say painters tape works to hold shims in place while glue dries, @lucas_jenkins.