repair your Floorboards
Fix those creaky boards once and for all
Original floorboards always look beautiful, but they can develop squeaks when their nails get loose. this means that the floorboard isn’t firmly attached any more, so the pieces of timber can move and rub together. this is an easy job to fix, and doesn’t need any specialist tools.
YOU WILL NEED
Pincers or claw hammer drill Screws electronic pipe and cable detector
Find the loose piece First, work out which board is loose (and causing the squeak) by walking on it to see if there’s an area that moves. If the floorboard is in good condition, take out the nails (use pincers or a claw hammer) and screw the board back down using the existing nail holes. Screws will pull it down tighter and are easier to remove if you want to lift the boards again. FOR boards that ARE split If the floorboard is damaged and it’s not possible to nail in the existing holes, pull out the nails with pincers or a claw hammer, then lift the board up and have a look underneath for cables and pipes. If you spot any, mark their position on the board in pencil so you won’t screw into them. You could also use an electronic pipe and cable detector to do this job.
Repair or Replace Find a spot near the edge of the board that isn’t damaged (or above a cable or pipe) and drill a hole. Put a screw in the hole and secure it tightly, checking that it sits below the surface (countersink the hole so it doesn’t stick out). If you need to replace any damaged boards, look for replacement ones of a similar age. You could even take them from an area where the floorboards aren’t exposed for a close match.
tackle Gaps between boards this will help cut down on potential draughts. For really wide gaps, consider re-laying all the boards in the room so they fit more tightly together, and then laying a new board to fill the space left. If the gaps aren’t too wide, you can fill the space with narrow strips of wood, fixed into the gaps with wood glue. Let them stand proud from the surface, and then sand them once the glue has set.
TRY papier Mache Papier mache also makes a good, inexpensive filler for small gaps between floorboards. this is a traditional technique – simply tear newspaper into strips, allow to soak in wallpaper paste, then push down into the gaps, smooth off with the flat surface of a knife and leave to dry.
Still got a Squeak? try Sprinkling talcum powder along the joint line and work in using a knife