Squeak No More: Repairing Noisy Wood Chairs

If you want your chairs to squeak no more, you have to see where the problem lies, and make the needed changes, so that your chairs are comfy and silent. Wooden chairs can make noises when you change your position while sitting on them, because of loose legs, joints, dowels, spindles or rungs.

Step 1 – Identify the Problem Areas

Inspect the chair closely, to identify all the problem areas that make your chair squeaky. See if there are any loose nails or screws. Check all joints and the back rest and arms, if your chair has them. Check the dowels. Press the legs and the back rest inward and outward, to check how much they move.

Step 2 – Position the Chair

Position the chair so that you have easy access to the problem area. Turn the chair so that the legs are up, and you may use another chair on which you put the chair you are working on. In this manner, you can work easier without, having to continually change the position of the chair.

Step 3 – Apply Glue

If you spotted a loose joint, you can fix it easily by applying some glue to it. Force wood glue into the joints, and let it dry completely before you start using the chair again.

Step 4 – Apply Wood-Swelling Liquid

If the problem is more serious than a loose joint, you will need to take the joint apart. Use a stiff-blade putty knife, and gently disassemble the joint. Generally, wood chair joints are held together by dowels, small nails or screws. If the problem is caused by the dowels, apply wood-swelling liquid to them. Let the liquid work for a few moments. It will secure the dowel into the chair.

Step 5 – Replace Nails

If the problem is caused by nails, take them out and replace them. You can insert screws from above, through the chair’s seat, directly into the chair’s leg. The screw’s threads prevent them from pulling out. Screws will safely pass through the chair’s seat, even if it has upholstery.   

Step 6 – Put Metal Angle Braces

If your chair needs more reinforcement, you can also use metal angle braces beneath the seat. Before you place the metal parts, make sure the joints are fixed tightly together. Use screws to fix the angled braces on the chair’s frame, connecting it to the chair’s leg. The screws you use should be long enough to make a stable construct, but should not come out on the other side.

Step 7 – Fix the Back Rest

If the back rest needs mending as well, you can first try to glue loose parts. In case the problem is located in the area where the back rest meets the seat, you can repair it by inserting some screws, through the seat, into the back rest.