I need to practice dancing in a room upstairs but a hamster couldn't tiptoe across the floor without insane creakage.
I guess the floorboards need to be replaced? Or just fixed.. ?
Should I get carpet or some kind of wooden flooring?
I was considering wood because I need to be able to move very freely but I hate laminate flooring. I don't know if it would be noisier than bouncing on carpet? I think regular wood flooring would be too expensive but let me know if you think that is a good option.
Keep in mind this is purely about noise and movement level, not looks.
2007-02-19 02:26:01 · 7 answers · asked by snowflake 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
##PRACTICE DOWNSTAIRS##
2007-02-25 23:16:42 · answer #1 · answered by xxsanxx 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The problem here is the actual source of the squeaks. It is tough to figure whether it's the floor itself or the joists that the floor rests on. Under the carpet in the room, it is possible to screw the floor every 6" along each joist and then re-lay the carpet. If it's the joist, this is more difficult as the floor boards need to come up, the joists re-inforced and glued and screwed, then the floor back down, then the carpet.
Putting hardwood over the floor will strengthen the floor and make it more rigid but it may still squeak underneath due to the 2 above reasons as well.
Laminate is noisy regardless of application... very "clicky" to walk on and even with a sound-deadening underlay, noise will still pass through.
I would go with the hardwood and put tar paper in between the existing floor and the new hardwood.
Hope this insight helps... Good luck!
2007-02-19 02:47:12 · answer #2 · answered by 6kidsANDalwaysFIXINGsomething 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When Iwe bought our cozy 3-bdrm home all the floors squeeked. I determined where the floor joists were. Then using a framing nail gun, I nailed through the existing floor into the joists, with as many nails as it took to silence the squeaks. I then used water putty to level a few dips in the floor. After it was dry, I installed 1/4" luan plywood thrughout the home. I used a 1' staple iin a staple gun. (Compressor powered) It calls for a staple every four inches over the wholesheet. Now you can put down any surface you would prefer. Today's modern thin wood floating floors require a 1/4" foam pad to be installed before the floor is assembled. This should quiet the floor considerably.
2007-02-19 05:25:33 · answer #3 · answered by handyrandy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not very difficult nor expensive to remedy. what causes creaky floors is usually poorly landed nails typically called "shiners" these nails are not fully sunk into the floor joist but usually exit from the sides of the joist, when the floor is walked upon the pressure and release of pressure cause the nails to rub upon the joist below causing the squeaking sound. use some deck screws to re secure the sub floor to the joist and prevent the flexing which causes the noise
2007-02-26 15:55:03 · answer #4 · answered by czar242 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is going to sound nuts, but it worked for me. I used to live in an upstairs apartment with creaking floors. I sprayed the cracks in the spaces between the wood planks with STP and it worked great.
2007-02-19 02:34:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that you need your floorboards replaced. My house was bought new, and our floorboards creak -- especially upstairs. If you put down a carpet, the thicker the better, your floor won't squeak (or BARELY squeak!).
2007-02-25 02:09:43 · answer #6 · answered by je suis mode 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
sprinkle talcum powder into all the joints of the boards and you'll be amazed how the squeeking goes away!
2007-02-25 12:10:55 · answer #7 · answered by ruffus51 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋