I added a second floor to my home where carpet was laid over 3/4″ plywood decking. Somehow, it was not secured in several places and now makes a hollow sound when you walk over it. It is a good grade of Berber style carpet, sand color, stretched.
As a homeowner, this is very irritating since I personally drove screws in the plywood sheets before carpeting, and unknown to me, some sheets were lifted again for access by the contractor and the screws were not replaced!
How is the best way to find the edges of the plywood and consequently the 2x joist under the decking without removing or damaging the carpet?
Then, what is the best way to secure the decking, again, without removing the carpeting or damagine it? I have considered the following possibilities:
(1) Cross nailing (a pair of adjacent nails set at opposite angles) using small headed nails, driven through the carpet and sunk with a nail set.
(2) Screws (my preference) set through small (3/8″ +/-) knife slits in the carpet base, driven flush in the plywood. This is assuming I can make the cut without harming the weave.
Thanks,
RB-Arch
Replies
first off Welcome to the forum--I had the same problem with some carpeted areas and went to the homecenter--There I found a jig that released their special screw just below the carpet layer and then you snapped off the remaining head,
Works well--but you need to use their screws that come with the jig. they are scored to break off just below the wood surface so you don't need to cut the carpet.
I have the jig and the package out in the garage so if you need the maker let me know and I look at it for ya.
They also include in the pack a special reusable screw to put thru the carpet and subfloor to find the joist. Has like three threads that will grab the joist if there and get loose if you are in a joist bay.
Let me know if you need any more help--I found them easy to use and you only need a power drill to use it.
Mike
" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
Thanks for your reply. I recall seeing ads in magazines for a tool that would sink a screw through carpet (or other material, I suppose), but at the time I was not interested and haven't seen an ad since. I will certainly look into this option.
Thanks again!
Jfink is right on with what I have used--The tape trick is for Berbers because of the way it is woven--if you catch a pile you can pull it out and leave a line in the carpet--the tape prevents the screw threads from grabbing the pile.I would bet good money you will never find the 1/8" holes between the loops once you snap off the screw--I have Berber on my stairs and I can't find them and I put them there.Hope you are fairing well after the storm--Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
Mitremike:
Thanks for the follow-up. I was particularly interested in your experience with the Berber weave carpet and the use of the tape to keep the threads from grabbing the weave. You are right about the carpet unraveling. My daughter's young pup stayed at our house during Katrina and he chewed on everything, including an edge where carpet/tile meet. The young pup attacked this area and started a run in the carpet that grew and grew. I can see that a spinning screw thread will grab everything around it.
It just occurred to me, but maybe I could use something like a short section of a plastic soda straw to act as a sleeve so that I would not have to tape each screw. Considering it farther, it doesn't have to be that small in diameter or plastic, as long as the tube pushes the pile away from the base and shields the spinning screw shaft. I believe a little experimenting is in order.
Thanks for the ideas!
rbarch
You have the idea but look at it this way and you will see why taping the threads is the way to go--I know it is a pain--been there but the cost of new carpet is a little steeper than my tape budget.When the screw with the tape passes thru the pile the danger is not over--each pile or run is looped thru the jute backing--the straw would stop at the top of the jute leaving the under pile to get caught by the threads--You see why the tape needs to stay on till the threads reach the subfloor---Had the same thought of "How HO" I can come up with something better--Sit back watch the game and do a few each commercial and you'll be done before the end of the first quarter.Good luck---Beware the running line---Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
Thanks mike! You are right, the threads do go through the backing and could be a problem from below. So, going back to the tape on the threads - is the tape Scotch's (or equal) Magic Mending tape? And I assume the wrapping process is done with the tape starting at the tip and follows the threads up to the shaft. I also assume the tape should wrap counter-clockwise, when looking at the tip of the screw, to keep the tape from unraveling when driven in. Anything else you can think of?
Thanks again,
Rick B
The instructions come with the screws, but that's pretty much it. Neatness isn't a big issue.
You're well on your way---Hardest part is finding the joist--Glad to help---Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
I think what Mitermike is refering to is called "Cantsqueak" (or something like that) and is available through McFeeley's (and other places). Good luck.
it's actually called Squeak No More....check it out here: http://shop.store.yahoo.com/squaredrive/fasteners-screws-specialty-screws-floor-repair-screws-squeek-no-more-system.html
I've never used it on carpet, but they say to wrap scotch tape around the threads of the screw before inserting into the floor. This will prevent the carpet loops from getting caught in the screw threads and wrapping around the screw as it's drivin into the floor. I've used it on hardwood floors, and I actually just used it last night to repair some very squeaky hardwood stair treads...works like a charm.
Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
Yeah, SqueekNoMore is a pretty good option. I've also put diluted glue n a syringe and injected it through the flooring into the joint between sheets, to keep them from squeeking against each other.
Another good suggestion! I will try this technique if I can find the joints!
rbarch
Thanks for setting me straight. I have one in my car but was too lazy to go out and read the box. Just remember a black cat on the box and thought of a mouse. I bought it when a customer of the guy I often work with asked if we could stop his floor from squeaking. He isn't my customer, so I told my "boss" about it, but he refused to use it. Like most of my suggestions.
Thanks for the information and the link. I plan to order the "kit", as shown on the link, which will include the locating screw, and give it a try. I will be glad to follow-up with my results.
Although 190 miles inland from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we were in the path of Katrina, and experienced a Category 1 hurricane here - very scary! With power and communications out for 5 or 6 days, I found that I use and depend on the internet far more than I realized. For example, the information in these responses to my post is extremely valuable and much appreciated. This type of exchange was just not available prior to the internet, even through the magazines. The internet has helped me many times and this is just one more! Thanks to all that responded.
rbarch
wrap scotch tape around the threads of the screw before inserting into the floor.
This is a very good idea. I bet Wal-Mart will be bring in hand-taped screws very soon.
Thanks Danno! I am going to investigate this.
rbarch
RB,
You might try the SqueakNoMore suggested by other posters, though I have my doubts that it will hide well with Berber carpet. You might also just pull the stuff up, drive new screws, and then have it restretched. I think you'll be happier doing it that way: no holes in your new carpet, no risk of damaging it, and you'll be able to see where you need to screw (and you might also want to glue this time?). Having the carpet reinstalled isn't that expensive in the grand scheme of things, and you owe it to yourself to get a quote before you start punching holes in it with a screw gun.
Aimless,
You could be right about using the SqueakNoMore on carpeting, but I've used it on hardwood flooring and the hole is nearly invisible...and that's before you fill it with putty or a colored crayon. I can't imagine that if you put that hole in the middle of a carpet it would stand out...though, once again...I've not tried it on the carpet before.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
You should have no trouble hiding the SqueekNoMore in berber.
I have done a little exploratory probing in the carpet, and I agree. The pile height is about 3/8" and woven relatively tight, which I believe will cover the penetrations without leaving a tell-tale scar.
roll it back ...
hit the joists each and every time ...
unroll and stretch.
do it once ... do it right.
and don't worry about finding that one screw that broke slightly high with your knee.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I had to chuckle. I like your dry humor.
Thanks,
Rick B