I have various squeaky floorbaords (chipboard) in my house. Having just had a new baby and being up at all the time the squeaks have to go. Unfortunately I dont know where the plumbing or electrics are running. What I'd like to be able to do is to take all the nails up and the use screws in those holes instead. The problem is, how on earth do you get nails out. Any advice on the nails or other tips or tricks would be appreciated.
Cheers Blakey
Drill and screw about half an inch from the existing nails. Should be ok
You use a nail puller, such as at:
J.B.
In article , Glen writes
FWIW the floor in our gaff is chipboard and squeaked like there was no tomorrow. We screwed it down with screws right next to the nails angled in slightly towards the nails, without any problems, and its been as quiet as a mouse ever since.
The mice are another matter however.....
With th emphasis on the *should*! If you had done that on the flat I just renovated...there is a *VERY* good chance you would have electrocuted yourself, ruptured a gas pipe, and flooded the flat below!
:O)
Glen
Is this an older house you live in? If so I would definately lift the boards before screwing down. Providing the boards aren't T&G this is dead easy to do. Crowbar, bolster chisel, clawhamer...things of those ilk. Slip down into the gap at the end of a floorboard and then lever it up. Once one end is up the board will come out very easily. Then obviously its a doddle to remove the nails, and to see where to screw the board in.
If you live in a more modern house...then there is less danger in screwing down the boards without lifting, althought not without risk. Also, you could try just resinking the nails that have risen...with a good nail punch. Obviously these will rise again at some point...but if you do it well should last for a good few years.
Glen
Spouse keeps saying that we have squeaky floorboards.
But according to him we also have squeaky grass and squeaky pavements ...
Mary
Seconded.
I have the Priory nail puller. It's in my "top 3 tools I've ever bought" category. Makes pulling out those damned annular ring shank nails (almost) a pleasure.
Regards, Simon.
Yeah, but his complaint about squeaky floorboards is supremely valid, and highlights a very common and very critical source of marital conflict.
How can he creep up to bed without waking you, after a late night out with the boys, if the boards squeak?
Did I say he complained?
We don't have that.
He doesn't like boys. He prefers a woman. Me.
I w Mary
In message , Glen writes
Sorry Mary - put it down to my own bitter experiences.
Me, creeping in at 2AM, after failing to miss the blatant sqeak on stair number seven - 'Shit!'
Her, on awakening when I enter the bedroom, 'What time is it?'
Me, lying through my teeth, 'Quarter to twelve love.'
Her, ' 'Night then.'
Me, ' 'night love.'
I suggest learning to count ...
Glad you're not mine.
But I suppose you are too :-)
Mary
Doh. :O)
Sorry 'bout that. Glen
Put a piece of scrap wood under the rocker, no damage...
Hi Beezer, the trouble is the jaws on these pullers, which need to be bashed into the timber (in the case of chipboard I use that term in it's loosest possible sense) so that the nail can be gripped. Some sorts do more damage than others, you may get a dent 1/2" long.
J.B.
It's not the rocker that will do the damage, but the action of using the slide hammer to get the prongs under the nail head.
HTH
John
I repeat - forget the nails, just drill holes and screw as close as possible to them
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