[tstex]

Hello to all,

We had about 2000sqft of carpet installed upstairs and had noted 5-6 places where the floor squeaked. All but one place is fixed now. The installers came back this Saturday and still could not fix it. There's probably 40-50 screws at the plywood seams now.

The area in question about 2-3 steps after you go up the stairs. It's over the foyer area. Anyone have any suggestions on what to do? I can send pics or a sound bite if anyone thinks this would help. House was built in 2005, zero foundation issues and no cracking of sheet-rock anywhere.

Thank you,
tstex

 

[de-nagorg]

Baby powder. :devil3:

Laugh all you want to, but it works for a few years.

Probably too late now, with the carpet installed, but working the powder into the joint, will shut it up quite well.

ED

 

[tstex]

Baby powder. :devil3:

Laugh all you want to, but it works for a few years.

Probably too late now, with the carpet installed, but working the powder into the joint, will shut it up quite well.

ED

Thanks Ed...how does one work baby powder into the plywood joint?

I can have the installers come back to temp remove the carpet if required. Either way, I am looking for a permanent sol'n.

 

[Nealtw]

Thanks Ed...how does one work baby powder into the plywood joint?

I can have the installers come back to temp remove the carpet if required. Either way, I am looking for a permanent sol'n.

You are assuming it is a problem with the plywood to the joist problem.


More often is is a screw or a nail that missed and is rubbing the side of the joist. It can also be a joist that flexes more than the rest. In the winter there is also a possibility of truss lift causing a problem with a non bearing wall near by, where the wall stays up while the floor can flex and it is the nails in the bottom plate making noise.

 

[de-nagorg]

Thanks Ed...how does one work baby powder into the plywood joint?

I can have the installers come back to temp remove the carpet if required. Either way, I am looking for a permanent sol'n.

Use powder (obviously), in a dispenser like a plastic picnic ketchup bottle sold for a $ at all $ stores, with a pointed tip, that dispenses a bead of powder.

Remove the carpet, and squirt the powder in the seam between the sheets, and walk on it, to force the powder deeper, add more powder in the areas that still squeak, step on the area , repeat until you are satisfied that you can add no more.

The squeak will be gone for an indefinite time, but it will be gone.

A permanent fix means tearing out the subfloor, and replacing the joist, or it's hanger .


ED

 

[Nealtw]

Use powder (obviously), in a dispenser like a plastic picnic ketchup bottle sold for a $ at all $ stores, with a pointed tip, that dispenses a bead of powder.

Remove the carpet, and squirt the powder in the seam between the sheets, and walk on it, to force the powder deeper, add more powder in the areas that still squeak, step on the area , repeat until you are satisfied that you can add no more.

The squeak will be gone for an indefinite time, but it will be gone.

A permanent fix means tearing out the subfloor, and replacing the joist, or it's hanger .


ED

I forgot the hangers as a major problem too.

 

[tstex]

Thanks Neil & Ed.

I believe now it's time for the sawzaw and to remove some plywood and investigate

Here's a pic of the area that is squeaking

 

[de-nagorg]

Dollars to Doughnuts, you are going to find a loose hanger or two.

In that case the powder trick is iffy.

Hey nice place you got there.


ED

 

[tstex]

Thanks again Neil & Ed..

 

[tstex]

Called the builder and he referred me to his key framer. He's coming over this Wed to take a look / I'll post back w findings & pics too. And sorry "Neal" for the above misspelling.

 

[Nealtw]

Called the builder and he referred me to his key framer. He's coming over this Wed to take a look / I'll post back w findings & pics too. And sorry "Neal" for the above misspelling.

Not a problem, I have been called worse.

 

[de-nagorg]

Not a problem, I have been called worse.

I remember back 6 years ago, I misspelled your name too.

And corrected myself.

I'm sure that most of us have been called worse.


ED

 

[Nealtw]

I remember back 6 years ago, I misspelled your name too.

And corrected myself.

I'm sure that most of us have been called worse.


ED

Ed, you have some memory I have only been here for 3 years. :vs_laugh:

 

[de-nagorg]

Ed, you have some memory I have only been here for 3 years. :vs_laugh:

Then it was less than three years ago. :wallbash::wallbash:

Neil is my BIL's brother .

That is the only reason that I remember that I mistaken-ed your name.

ED

 

[Nealtw]

Then it was less than three years ago. :wallbash::wallbash:

Neil is my BIL's brother .

That is the only reason that I remember that I mistaken-ed your name.

ED

I have met 7 guys with the same first and last name as me, non of us spell Neal the same. Some had 5 and 6 letters in the four letter name. :vs_laugh:

 

[Mystriss]

I bet the latter are French, that's a thing, they add silent I's and stuff

 

[tstex]

The builders framer came out and after he walked on the area, he concluded that there was not enough glue used to secure the plywood to the joists. I asked him the thickness of the plywood and he stated 11/8". Where can someone buy this type of plywood? The joists DTC is 14" per framer.

He's going to give me a quote for the job when he sources the material(s). I have to get the carpet company to come back out and lift up the carpet...then reinstall when he's done.

After reading a few other posts, is this the process for removing "bad" subfloor and installing a new one that will not squeak:

Remove existing screws and nails and go back one extra joist than what squeaks.

Via jigsaw, cutaway the plywood area(s) that squeak and remove any plywood and glue from top of joists.

Once there are no squeaks around the perimeter area that surrounds the cut, get a general measurement of plywood needed.

where there are no joists to install the new plywood, install perpendicular joists where needed and "sister" add'l joists where needed [do I need brackets or can I use 3" screws to install perpendicular joists?

once the sub structure of joists are correct, cut the appropriate amt of plywood to fit the open hole as tight a possible, premarking where any joists were installed- lay patterned plywood down to test cuts.

If all cuts are good, apply ample amts of subfloor wood glue to joists, lay plywood w 3" screws and screw down plywood every 6" [will new glue raise the plywood higher than already existing plywood that's already glued?)

where there are any gaps btw new and old plywood subfloor, apply a subfloor patch/repair filler -

Note: I will use my level to insure any installed joists are level w nboring joists.

Finally, do I need to be cautious w anything below the joists when securing the plywood and any excess glue drips down?

Thanks,
tstex

 

[Nealtw]

We use 1 1/8" for stair treads, never on a floor. Not sure it comes Tongue and groove.

They may have used that to solves some height problem but making that squeak would be some trick, I think. 14" OC, usually it would 16" OC so the space between them would be about 14 1/2.


So I think it safe you will find out what you have when you get into it.

The first thing you do near the squeak but not above a joist drill a big enough hole so you can measure the thickness. Then you can set the depth on a circular saw for cutting the plywood.

 

[Nealtw]

I bet the latter are French, that's a thing, they add silent I's and stuff

They have a K on the front or an E on the end and then you have ea, ei and ee in the middle and all the combinations you can come up with.

 

[tstex]

Found the problem

Was a bad I-Joist top...it was defective in the area where the plywood was nailed to it.

When we pulled out the 11/8" plywood from the I/joists, all the nails came out cleanly everywhere except at this part of the I-joist that squeaked. Pic 1 is an overall and pic 2&3 are zoom in's...the top of the I-joist came up w the plywood.

I "sistered" (2) 2x10's on each side of the I-joist in ques the full length (6'10") of the exposed I/joist and, then ran (6) (3 each side of open hole) 2x6's perpendicular btw 3 1-joists. Once I had all the floor support boards in, coated the tops w subfloor glue and both nailed down, then screwed down the plywood. No more squeaks anywhere