Squeaky hardwood floor - No Sub Floor - 1930s house

Hi,

I have recentky purchased a 1930's house with hardwood oregan pine floors, howwver there is no subfloor. The floors are squeaky in certain areas which is annoying. I wantedt to know what is the best method to get rid of the squeaks.

As I am not the most skilled DIYer i had a few flooring contractors come out to have a look with differing opinions.

1 contractor suggested adding more joist in between the current joist and the nailing the floor boards into the joists.

Another suggested screwing the floor boards into the existing joist and in really bad areas to add support from under the floor with additional joists.

From what i can see, someone has tried to fix the floor by trying to nail the boards into the existing joists, howvere there are still squeaks in areas where this method was tried.

Please can you let me know what will be the best way to fix the squeaks.

P.S I am from South Africa and there are not many individulas with experience in fixing hardwood floors, particularly floors that date so far back and with no subfloor.

Thanks

 

If you don't mind seeing the nail heads, try to find spiral shank flooring nails. Smooth shank nails will loosen up eventually. If you can get easy access to the underside, pump some construction adhesive between the joist and the boards or nail some 1X with a bead of adhesive on the top edge to the side of the joist, pushed up tight to the floor.

 

The squeaks are caused by movement, so if you can control the movement you can control some of the squeaking.

What are the size and spacing of the floor joists? What is the unsupported span or length of the floor joists? Is there blocking in between each floor joist? How thick are the individual pine boards?

Lot of questions, but all important to offering a solution.