[RossK08]

Hello,


I want to use this floor repair kit to remove floor squeaks. The floor is carpeted and runs outside/near the bathroom. Is it safe to use these screws (3 inches) without puncturing/damaging water pipes underneath (if any)?


Thanks

 

[JIMMIEM]

The way to stop squeaks is to use those screws to secure the sub-floor to the floor joists. You need to locate the joists. You may have to pull up the carpet to locate the joists. You may need a kicker and carpet tucking tool to re secure the carpet. You can buy these tools at Harbor Freight for not a lot of $.
Putting screws into the bays between the joists, where there may be pipes, would do nothing to secure the sub-floor and stop the squeaks.

 

[3onthetree]

You can never know if you'll hit something you can't see, so you minimize risk as much as possible. As long as you stay on the joist, assuming any holes for pipes and cables have been made lower than the required 2" distance from the top of the joist, you have 2"+3/4" subfloor of wood to go through. The 3" screw sits above the carpet to snap off so it should be clear.

Here's This Old House demonstrating that product: