Need help with floorboard squeak removal

Discussion in 'Builders' Talk' started by Saru, Jan 16, 2018.

  1. WillyEckerslike

    WillyEckerslike Screwfix Select

  2. Dr Bodgit

    Dr Bodgit Super Member

    I simply don't see the need to insulate pipes if they are running under the first floor, as they act as underfloor heating. No heat is "wasted".
     
  3. Saru

    Saru New Member

    that's true. I thought if I insulate them they'd contract slower when heating turns off - thus move slower, but then when the heating turns on they'd heat faster so it's the reverse of the same problem.

    I'll try to wrap the pipes under the ground floor though, and only do that under the first floor if it seems really easy at the time - but from your comments it seems that I'll just push some of it between the pipes and the joists and call it done :) Thanks!
     
  4. sospan

    sospan Screwfix Select

    Yep been there before, on my knees wrapping this around pipes and trying to stop it unravelling - eventually put the stuff in the bin . The stuff from Wickes is like someone has used sellotape to get fluff off a jumper and rolled it up

    If you want to stop the pipes rubbing cardboard or polystyrene works well
     
  5. Saru

    Saru New Member

  6. sospan

    sospan Screwfix Select

    Most of it to be honest - whilst it is laudable to have a go at things yourself, a lot of this is way over the top. it may be cheaper and quicker to get someone in to do it for you.
     
    Saru and Jord86 like this.
  7. Saru

    Saru New Member

    Probably you're right, but it would help me more if you could be a bit more specific :) any of those to remove completely? or reduce in quantity / replace?

    The only thing I really don't want - to make things worse.. other than that I'll take as a learning experience.

    (And thanks for the honest answer btw :) )
     
  8. WillyEckerslike

    WillyEckerslike Screwfix Select

    One third of your cost is the joist tape which I don't think you'll need. Their website intimates that the squeak is because of movement between board and joist which wouldn't happen if the board was securely fixed down. In my experience the squeaks and creaks generally come from the nails which have either worked very slightly loose or the boards have shrunk/dried around them - usually a combination of the two. This can invariably be cured by punching the existing nails in properly and supplementing with some decent flooring screws although you need to take extreme care not to hit any pipes or cables which may be under the floor. This risk will be minimised if you are lifting the boards and if you are doing that, you would be advised to buy or hire some floorboard clamps and be prepared to fill the resultant gap when you get to the other side of the room.
    As Sospan says, good on you for having a go and good luck with it.
     
    Saru likes this.
  9. Saru

    Saru New Member

    hehe, I first thought that it would be nice to put something under the floor board/joist connection and then found out that there is such a thing (that tape).. but it seems like no one is actually using such a thing and I should just drop it from the list (especially as the underlay will help with stopping the sound transmission) - thanks!

    re floorboard clamps - I noticed that some of my current boards (attached image) are a bit bent to sides - as they are quite old (I guess same as the house :D) I expect this is natural.. and they already have a small gap between them - would floorboard clamps improve the situation in this case? in the first floor I'm going to put an underlay and carpet, so I guess small gaps shouldn't be a problem.. downstairs - haven't completely decided yet but in longer term I'll probably put additional flooring (boards on top of these boards) so that it looks nicer (and stops the cold coming from the gaps)..
     

    Attached Files:

  10. Saru

    Saru New Member

    Not putting the tape would also save me from moving the skirting boards.. The part that horrifies me the most :D although I'm sure it's doable.
     
  11. CGN

    CGN Screwfix Select

    Friends parents had put up with a very squeeky floor for 30 years and asked me if I could sort it before fitting laminate. Couple of hours later and a few boxes of screws and voila...silence. They couldn't believe it!
     
    Saru likes this.
  12. Saru

    Saru New Member

    Last edited: Jan 17, 2018
  13. Joe95

    Joe95 Screwfix Select

    The majority of that heat isn't coming through the floor. If there are air bricks that vent the void, most of that heat will escape.

    I tend to use the cheap stuff from screwfix, and just throw a few cable ties around it, but it does make a notable difference if all pipework goes from uninsulated to insulated. The boiler isn't doing as much work, so you save on gas too.
     
    Saru likes this.
  14. Dr Bodgit

    Dr Bodgit Super Member

    No vent bricks.
     

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