Creaky floorboards are usually caused by movement between the boards and the subfloor or joists, and you can often fix them with simple DIY methods like tightening fasteners, adding adhesive, or shimming gaps.

Quick Scoop

  • Main causes
    • Loose nails or screws letting the board flex against the subfloor or joist.
* Gaps between the board and joist, or between two boards rubbing together.

* Seasonal movement and moisture changes making timber shrink, swell, and squeak.
  • Safety first
    • Before drilling or screwing, work out where pipes, cables, and heating pipes run; many DIYers stress “check what’s under the floor before nailing or screwing down boards.”
* Wear eye protection and a dust mask when drilling, and test any lubricant or adhesive on a hidden spot to avoid staining or damage.

Step-by-step fixes

  1. Find the exact squeak
    • Walk slowly, marking noisy spots with masking tape or chalk.
    • Have someone else walk while you listen from below (if you can access a basement or crawlspace) to see if the movement is at a joist, board edge, or nail line.
  1. Tighten or replace fasteners
    • Where boards are screwed down, try gently tightening loose screws; avoid over‑tightening, which can strip the wood and worsen squeaks.
 * Where nails are lifting, drive them back firmly or replace with screws driven at a slight angle into the joist or subfloor; if there’s a visible gap, add wood glue first.
  1. Fill gaps with adhesive (drill‑and‑fill)
    • For hollow-sounding or flexing boards over a subfloor, a common modern fix is drilling small holes and injecting a flowable flooring adhesive that fills the void and bonds the board down.
 * After filling, wipe off excess, weight the area for about 24 hours while the adhesive cures, and then touch up the holes if needed.
  1. Shim from below (if you have access)
    • From a basement or crawlspace, look for tiny gaps between joists and the underside of the floorboards.
 * Tap in a thin wood or plastic shim coated with wood glue until snug (not forced), then let it dry; this supports the board and stops movement.
  1. Lubricate board joints
    • For creaks from boards rubbing together on the surface, sprinkle powdered graphite or talc into the joints, then work it in by gently tapping or walking the area and wipe off the extra.
 * Some guides also mention light oils (like WD‑40) for gaps, but these can make surfaces slippery and may stain, so they should be used sparingly and always wiped thoroughly.

Fixing creaks under carpet

  • Some DIY resources describe fixing squeaks through carpet using special screw kits that drive through the carpet into the subfloor and snap off below the pile so the carpet stays intact.
  • If you are not confident locating joists or you suspect structural problems, most experts suggest calling a professional rather than pulling up large areas of carpet.

When to call a pro

  • Persistent creaks in many rooms, visible sagging, or signs of damp or rot in the subfloor are all red flags that point to a deeper structural or moisture issue.
  • In those cases, flooring specialists can assess joists, subfloor, and humidity levels, and may recommend more extensive repairs rather than simple DIY noise fixes.

TL;DR:
Find exactly where the squeak comes from, then try: tightening or replacing loose nails/screws, injecting flooring adhesive to fill voids, shimming gaps from below, or lubricating board joints. If the noise is widespread or you see damp, sagging, or damage, bring in a professional to check the structure rather than just chasing individual squeaks.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.