How do you fix creaking floor in a Mobile home? Is it different from a regular floor?

Answer 1

Most mobile home floors will consist of 2x6 floor joists with 5/8" particle board used as a combination subfloor-underlayment. There will be a vapor barrier attached to the bottom of the floor joists and R-19 insulation between the vapor barrier and 5/8" particle board. Some mobile homes were built with plywood subfloors, but not many. There are 2 kinds of vapor barrier. The most common is a plastic sheeting made of woven polyethylene. The other is called buffalo board which is like particle board only made of cardboard instead of wood. It will have an asphalt impregnated black side exterior.

The first place to check for a squeak is the outriggers. These are metal bars that will be bolted from the the bottom of the metal I-beam frame to the 2x6 rim joist under the wall. These things loosen over time and just need to be tightened. The second place to look for a squeak are the lag bolts that go through the top of the I-beam into the 2x6 floor joists. Again just tighten. We call them I-beams but sometimes they are actually a C-channel.

To get to these bolts, you will have to get through the vapor barrier. You need to be careful in how you cut through this material so it will be easy to put back. Going sideways across the floor, you want to cut right down the middle of a floor joist, so you can reattach it when you are done. The link below will show you where to get some repair tape (Flex-mend) and additional vapor barrier if you need it.

After tightening the bolts, if you still have a squeak, that mean that there is a small gap between the subfloor and floor joist. This can be caused by a home not being level, not releveled properly or an old repair that was not fastened down real good. If the squeak area is over carpet, you can fasten the subfloor down by going through the carpet as another poster said. I use 16d finish nails like they use to install prehung doors though. You can locate a floor joist by measuring the squeaking joists from a front or back door from underneath, then use the measurement from the top using that door as a reference.

If this squeak is over vinyl flooring, you may want to just deal with the squeak until you are ready to replace the vinyl flooring. At that point, nailing through the vinyl is no problem since it will be covered with new.

You do not want to use wedges between the floor joist and particle board. That will only make the squeaks worse. Also do not use the product called Squeak-enders or similar products that screw into the bottom of the particle board and into the floor joist. This may work on a plywood or solid wood floor, but will just give if it is used in particle board. There is a product that uses a special screw that is screwed through the top of the floor and uses a device to break the screw off below the surface of the wood. This product will work, but again, I do the same thing with a large finish nail and a nail set.

Again, the link below has mobile home repair materials if you need them. You will also find a mobile home repair forum where people helps folks repair floors all the time.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Hello from Texas the mobile home capital of the modern world! OK check under the trailer for floor rot, usually the support beams under the decking are metal with a nailer of wood on the top, most of the time these nails work loose, so you would peel back the carpet or tile once you locate the loose boards and try to re screw1 very important use screws, if its wood rot the decking will have to be rep[laced back to good wood, and always use treated wood, also check to make sure the trailer is level that can cause creaking too, good luck Ed

Answer 4

Most of the mobile home floors are glued down then nailed with staples. If h it has worked loose. Take and find the floor joist and screw it back down with finish screws throw the carpet. If you do not have any finish screws you will have to pull the carpet back and use regular grabber screws

Answer 5

They are different than most floors in that the quality is terrible. No offense. the only way is to find the squeaks and drive more screws through it.

Answer 6

Get underneath and pound wedges into the loose spots. have someone on top walking so you can hear them from down below.