Thread: Flexing & Creaking floor

talcum powder can fix the creaking, pour over floor then sweep up..............bob

Unfortunately, there are very very few gaps between the floor boards, have tried the powder option but does not help and so I suspect it is the flex of the joist that is causing the problem

some of the boards may be lose is it only a small section or the whole floor.

its the entire floor, we recently had the floors polished and at that time all nails were punched down however the creaking still continued.

The floorboards flex because the groove or the tongue (or both) that holds adjacent boards in alignment has split away from the board. When you step on that section of the board it will flex independently of it's neighbours either side.

Best way to fix the problem? Don't know....I have ideas but I am waiting for a higher authority to contribute.

Originally Posted by prozac

The floorboards flex because the groove or the tongue (or both) that holds adjacent boards in alignment has split away from the board. When you step on that section of the board it will flex independently of it's neighbours either side.

Best way to fix the problem? Don't know....I have ideas but I am waiting for a higher authority to contribute.

What are some of the ideas...I jacked 3 joist up yesterday - very slightly and walked over them, but the creak was still there. I have also noticed that sometime when I walk on the floor the boards about 3 feet away will creak...which now sounds like the possible reason you mentioned broken TG, how would i fix such a problem.

what space is tehre between the joists

I have fixed a couple with WD40, spraying from underneath, squirting everything that stood still, dont forget the ends of the joists where they bear as a squeak can travel along the joist from the end & seem like it is coming from the middle of the floor.
Also with that span you would need solid or herringbone blocking at the ends & midspan which would reduce some flexing
regards inter

The space btw joist is 450 and the joist span is 3.9m unsupported.

To reinforce than span what would you recommend, is LVL stronger than oregon, also read somewhere that use plywood on the underside of the joist would give it addational support thereby reducing the flex in the centre of the joist. What are your thoughts

I would do the simple things first then get into heavier stuff later, if the joists are HWD they are within span from the standard, if the joists are not blocked at all then thats a good place to start
regards inter

Hi InterTD6, when you say blocked is that the same as noggings, there are two blocks of timber across each joist. I will try to get a photograph and post it tomorrow,hopefully.

Happy easter to you all

hi yul, can you tell me what type of joists you have?

e.g. are they hardwood or softwood?

once you tell me this, i can tell you a lot more...

regards, justin.

Hi Justin, Unfortunately the joist are painted over and I cannot say what they are, they are fairly easy to drill into- if that helps in anyway.

I have attached some pictures of the underportion of the floor hopefully that helps, alternatively I will rip off one of the noggings and take it to the timber mart and ask someone to check for me