I started building my own house last year, and I'm hoping to finish it by September. We paid for everything upfront, including the subfloor. Unfortunately, we underestimated how long it would take to get a construction loan, so the Advantech subfloor was exposed to the elements for several months. Because of a demanding new job, I had to subcontract a lot of the work. Now that we've finished the drywall, the subfloor squeaks a lot more—making cracks and pops whenever we walk across it. I'm considering renailing some areas, but I'd like to hear other suggestions before we finish the basement ceiling and lay the floors. Any ideas on how to quiet it down? Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
If the subfloor edges have swelled from moisture, that might be part of your issue. It’s too late to pull up the boards, but you can still add glue along the edges of the subfloor where they meet the trusses. That might help reinforce the bond, which could reduce the squeaks. Just make sure to let it dry fully before doing the final flooring.
It sounds like your subfloor was just nailed down. Do you know if any glue or screws were used during installation? Adding screws could help a lot since squeaks typically happen when the wood flexes and rubs against the nails. If you can, I’d suggest securing it with screws along with some liquid nails for extra support.