LESLIE: Frank in California is calling in with a squeaky floor. Tell us about it.
FRANK: I have a rear deck and it keeps on squeaking when I walk over certain joints.
TOM: (overlapping voices) OK.
LESLIE: (overlapping voices) OK.
FRANK: I was wondering, what do you think about that? You think it’s ready for a new deck when it starts squeaking like that?
TOM: Not necessarily, Frank. You said it’s a wood deck, so we’re talking about the exterior deck?
FRANK: It’s a wood exterior deck, yes.
TOM: (overlapping voices) OK. Very simple solution. What you want to do is identify those boards that are squeaking and you want to add some deck screws to those boards. There are probably nails holding the boards down now?
LESLIE: (overlapping voices) Yeah, there’s probably not a screw in there at all.
TOM: Yeah. And you want to add some deck screws to that. Now, a deck screw is going to be about three to three-and-a-half inches long. It’s going to have a wood thread on it and you put it in with a power drill, with a little screwdriver tip on it so it’s very easy to put in. And that will tighten those deck boards down and stop them from moving and that will stop them from squeaking. Because the movement of the deck board rubbing against the joists, rubbing against the nails going in and out of the joist below, that’s what’s causing the squeak. So if you screw those boards down, you’ll find it’ll quiet up very, very quickly and easily.
FRANK: OK. Very good.
TOM: Alright, Frank. Good luck with that project. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT and we hope that that helps you quiet down your neighborhood.
I read the post about the deck screws! Brand New porch all wood deck screws . It’s squeaking when I walk on it !! I know the screws are in the joists, Now what???