Replies

1. 
   Gabe_Martel | Oct 24, 2001 12:33am | #1

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   The screws should work fine, probably won't need to pull the nails, you need only hammer them down while you screw the hell out of the sheet.

   HOWEVER....it would be adviseable to gain access from below and shim the spaces between the joists and the subfloor. That is, assuming that the joists are uneven and not overspanned and flexing to all getout. Always better to fix the cause of the squeek instead of applying bandaids.

   Gabe

1. 
   piffin_ | Oct 24, 2001 01:41am | #2

   *Like Gabe said, the screws should do without needing to pull the nails.But be sure also to let the customers know that while this is ninety five percent likely to fix the squeeks but the only way to give a 100% gaurantee is to spend an extra $____- to pull it all up and glue down new.

1. 
   Ken_Layfield | Oct 24, 2001 02:53am | #3

   *Steve, if you have access to the joist from underneath, I would recommend using PL Premium construction adhesive. It has a good gap filling quality and it will save you having to rip up the floor or carpet. Make sure they don't walk on the area for 24 hrs. to let the glue cure. I've used this many times with no squeeks afterwards

1. 
   James_DuHamel | Oct 24, 2001 03:10am | #4

   *You could screw the screws in so that the heads of the screws actually grab the head of the nail and pull it down too. It depends on how big the head of the nail actually is, but I use this technique sometimes with great success.Just a thought...James DuHamel

1. 
   Steve_Merrette | Oct 24, 2001 04:35am | #5

   *I didn't mention that the carpet is already ripped out. the owner is looking to put in new carpet down after the squeaks are fixed. the floor is acccesible from below. there is a drop ceiling and I pulled a few panels to have a looksee. I couldn't see any movement of the joists and the deck seems to be fairly tight to the joists. tight enough that putting in shims would only make matters worse I think. ripping out the subfloor and deck would be a pretty wasteful proposition as the woods in real good shape the nails are just not tight enough. I actually could feel the subfloor movement when I straddled a joist and rocked back and forth and put my finger on a few of the nail heads. you can see it too if you look real close.

2. 
   xJohn_Sprung | Oct 24, 2001 09:50pm | #6

   *As for being 95% sure of stopping the squeeks, walk around until you find a particularly bad area, put in a dozen screws or so, and walk around again and listen. This quick test should give you confidence in your solution.-- J.S.

3. 
   piffin_ | Oct 25, 2001 02:08am | #7

   *My popint was not to try selling him on ripping it all out, just to save you from an unhappy customer if only one little ole squeak remains.Also, if I remember right, the standard used to be 5/8" ply with 1/2" PB underlay - which makes this a little under built, structurally.

4. 
   Steve_Merrette | Oct 27, 2001 02:53am | #8

   *Doesn't matter now, owner called and said she's going to have a friend do it. then she actually said to send her a bill for my time and ideas. imagine that, there still are some halfway decent folks around.

2. 
   Steve_Merrette | Oct 27, 2001 02:53am | #9

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   I'm going to be working up a bid on a job where the decking and subfloor are squeaking real bad. the deck is 1/2" plywood and the subfloor is 1/2" particleboard. they are attached to the joists with spiral shank nails but when you walk on them they ride on the nails and squeak. I'm thinking that they were put in damp and then dried and shrank. it's the whole floor of a bi level, about 830 square feet. I was thinking of pulling all the nails and putting in mcfeely's promax screws. they have about 1 1/4" with no thread at the head to eliminate bridging so I could pull things down real tight. any thoughts? ideas?