My dad swore by (and sometimes at) using resin-coated finish nails to quiet
squeaks in floorboards.
My understanding of the "why" is that either nails pull loose from the joist
below the floor, or the the floorboard softens, giving slack. Over time the
board lifts a little, and moving up and down on the nail results in the
noise. Resin, heated by the friction of driving, melts and adheres the nail
to both the floorboard and joist.
I realize that if rot has occurred in the joist where the nail is secured,
this eliminates all simple nail-replacement solutions; other solutions are
possible, though, in this case.
Are resin-coated nails still the best solution for squeaks? Indeed, are they
still available?
Thanks,
--
DaveC
[email protected]
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group
As a former homebuilder, I now realize, there must be a lot of Japanese
floor installers.
Preston
"TexasFireGuy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Jim Wilson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > DaveC wrote...
> > > Over time the board lifts a little, and moving up and down on
> > > the nail results in the noise.
> >
> > That is sometimes the case. In new construction, glue to avoid.
> > Otherwise, screw to fix. Screws don't always work. Sometimes the squeak
> > occurs where blocking or bridging members are nailed between the joists.
> > These are hard to fix without access to the floor joists. There are some
> > other, more obscure causes of floor squeaks, too.
> >
> > Jim
>
> Not this is any help at all, but the Japanese war lords of old used to
have
> their floors built to squeak on purpose. They did this so nobody could
> sneak up on them in their homes.
>
>
"Jim Wilson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> DaveC wrote...
> > Over time the board lifts a little, and moving up and down on
> > the nail results in the noise.
>
> That is sometimes the case. In new construction, glue to avoid.
> Otherwise, screw to fix. Screws don't always work. Sometimes the squeak
> occurs where blocking or bridging members are nailed between the joists.
> These are hard to fix without access to the floor joists. There are some
> other, more obscure causes of floor squeaks, too.
>
> Jim
Not this is any help at all, but the Japanese war lords of old used to have
their floors built to squeak on purpose. They did this so nobody could
sneak up on them in their homes.
>
> My understanding of the "why" is that either nails pull loose from the
joist
> below the floor, or the the floorboard softens, giving slack. Over time
the
> board lifts a little, and moving up and down on the nail results in the
> noise. Resin, heated by the friction of driving, melts and adheres the
nail
> to both the floorboard and joist.
>
> I realize that if rot has occurred in the joist where the nail is secured,
> this eliminates all simple nail-replacement solutions; other solutions are
> possible, though, in this case.
I have a book here that suggests running a bead of silicone/caulk along the
joints of the squeaky boards to eliminate the noise.
Never tried it, but I'd imagine it may work.
Just another option.
--
Regards,
Dean Bielanowski
Editor,
Online Tool Reviews
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Latest 5 Reviews:
- Veritas Shelf Drilling Jig
- Ryobi CID1802V 18v Cordless Drill
- Workshop Essentials Under $30
- Festool PS 300 Jigsaws
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------------------------------------------------------------
Direct answers to your direct questions.....something this group has a
tendency to miss...(in jest y'all lighten up)
Are resin-coated nails still the best solution for squeaks? No. A screw is
best and if a nail is to be used a VCS vinyl coated sinker is better.
Indeed, are they still available? Yes they are still available but hard to
find. The process of coating fasteners with a cement resin has been
replaced with vinyl. Vinyl is what holds the various fasteners together in
strips used for nail/staple guns. What the nail gurus noticed was it
provided a lubricant for driving the fastener and increased holding power.
You can now find hand drive nails in various sizes with the same coating.
VCS vinyl coated sinker has for the most part replaced CCS cement coated
sinkers.
I heard there are nails that you drive thru the carpet and break the
head off. Not sure where to get, or if they even exist.
"SawEyes" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> >
> > My understanding of the "why" is that either nails pull loose from the
> joist
> > below the floor, or the the floorboard softens, giving slack. Over time
> the
> > board lifts a little, and moving up and down on the nail results in the
> > noise. Resin, heated by the friction of driving, melts and adheres the
> nail
> > to both the floorboard and joist.
> >
> > I realize that if rot has occurred in the joist where the nail is secured,
> > this eliminates all simple nail-replacement solutions; other solutions are
> > possible, though, in this case.
>
> I have a book here that suggests running a bead of silicone/caulk along the
> joints of the squeaky boards to eliminate the noise.
> Never tried it, but I'd imagine it may work.
> Just another option.
>
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Dean Bielanowski
> Editor,
> Online Tool Reviews
> http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Latest 5 Reviews:
> - Veritas Shelf Drilling Jig
> - Ryobi CID1802V 18v Cordless Drill
> - Workshop Essentials Under $30
> - Festool PS 300 Jigsaws
> - Delta Universal Tenoning Jig
> ------------------------------------------------------------
DaveC wrote...
> Over time the board lifts a little, and moving up and down on
> the nail results in the noise.
That is sometimes the case. In new construction, glue to avoid.
Otherwise, screw to fix. Screws don't always work. Sometimes the squeak
occurs where blocking or bridging members are nailed between the joists.
These are hard to fix without access to the floor joists. There are some
other, more obscure causes of floor squeaks, too.
Jim
The Febuary 2004 issue of the magazine titled "The Family Handyman"
has a very good article on fixing Squeaky floors. If you can not find
it let me know and i will lend you my copy.
The December/January issue of the same magazine had 2 squeaky floor
fixes featured in its "new Products section".
www.improvementscatalog.com
Product # 105064
http://www.improvementscatalog.com/product.asp?product=105064zz&dept%5Fid=10940
and product number 110189 which is similar to the break off screws
already posted..
http://www.improvementscatalog.com/Parent.asp?product=110189x&dept%5Fid=10900&subdept%5Fid=10940
I have included the item numbers in the event that the links do not
work for you. I hope this is of help.
Dusty
"A man without a wife is like a fish without a bicycle." unknown
.....whether they were aware of their ancestry or not, right?
"Preston Andreas" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> As a former homebuilder, I now realize, there must be a lot of Japanese
> floor installers.
>
> Preston
>
> "TexasFireGuy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Jim Wilson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > DaveC wrote...
> > > > Over time the board lifts a little, and moving up and down on
> > > > the nail results in the noise.
> > >
> > > That is sometimes the case. In new construction, glue to avoid.
> > > Otherwise, screw to fix. Screws don't always work. Sometimes the
squeak
> > > occurs where blocking or bridging members are nailed between the
joists.
> > > These are hard to fix without access to the floor joists. There are
some
> > > other, more obscure causes of floor squeaks, too.
> > >
> > > Jim
> >
> > Not this is any help at all, but the Japanese war lords of old used to
> have
> > their floors built to squeak on purpose. They did this so nobody could
> > sneak up on them in their homes.
> >
> >
>
>
"DaveC" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My dad swore by (and sometimes at) using resin-coated finish nails to
quiet
> squeaks in floorboards.
>
> My understanding of the "why" is that either nails pull loose from the
joist
> below the floor, or the the floorboard softens, giving slack. Over time
the
> board lifts a little, and moving up and down on the nail results in the
> noise. Resin, heated by the friction of driving, melts and adheres the
nail
> to both the floorboard and joist.
>
> I realize that if rot has occurred in the joist where the nail is secured,
> this eliminates all simple nail-replacement solutions; other solutions are
> possible, though, in this case.
>
> Are resin-coated nails still the best solution for squeaks? Indeed, are
they
> still available?
>
> Thanks,
> --
> DaveC
> [email protected]
> This is an invalid return address
> Please reply in the news group
>
In new construction, the main cause of floor squeaks over properly designed
floor systems using dimensional lumber joists is shrinkage due to reduced
moisture content. Any subfloor that was not installed with glue (and some
that have been!) is likely to develop squeaks.
If the space below is unfinished, I prefer to glue and staple 1X1's to the
joist (both) sides. If the space below is finished, I'd try the break-off
screws made for just this purpose. Here's an example (never used them)
http://www.squeaky-floors.com/kit.htm