How To Silence Squeaky Floor Boards
How do you silence squeaky floorboards?
A squeak is a floorboard flexing against a joist and rubbing as it moves. Stop the movement and the noise stops. Which method you use comes down to one thing: whether you can get underneath the floor or only work from above.
From below, you glue a thin wedge into the gap between the joist and the board using Selleys Aquadhere Durabond. From above, you screw the board down into the joist and fill the countersunk hole with Selleys No More Cracks Wood Filler. Both are within reach of a competent DIYer without calling a tradie.
Technical specification — Aquadhere Durabond
| Technology | Polyurethane, solvent free, moisture curing |
| Colour | Amber, dries yellow opaque |
| Working time | About 10 minutes, depending on temperature and humidity |
| Clamp time | Approximately 4 hours |
| Full cure | Up to 24 hours, depending on humidity and material porosity |
| Application temperature | Above 5°C |
| Heat resistance | Maximum 140°C |
| Packaging | 460 mL bottle |
Indicative data only, not intended for the preparation of specifications.
Why a polyurethane glue suits this job
Aquadhere Durabond expands and foams as it cures, and Selleys lists gap filling among its features. That is precisely what you want under a floor. The space between a joist and a board that has lifted is never a clean, close-fitting joint — it is an irregular gap of varying width. A glue that expands into it fills the void as it cures, which is why a thin wedge and this adhesive between them stop the board dropping onto the joist.
Two consequences follow from that expansion. First, apply a thin layer to one surface only; the glue will grow. Second, tighter clamping gives a better bond, and high humidity or damp surfaces can cause increased foaming and a weakened joint — so tap the wedge home firmly and, if you can, weight or clamp it.
The other characteristic worth knowing is that Durabond is moisture curing: it needs atmospheric moisture to set, and its use may be restricted in very dry conditions. Under a floor that is rarely a problem. For very dry porous surfaces, Selleys suggests wiping with a damp cloth for one minute before bonding.
What you need
If you have access from below:
- Selleys Aquadhere Durabond
- A thin wooden wedge
- A hammer
- Chalk
- Gloves — the adhesive bonds to skin
If you only have access from above:
- Selleys No More Cracks Wood Filler
- A stud finder
- A drill and bits
- Flat-head screws
- Fine sandpaper
Method 1 — access from below the boards
- Find the squeak. Identify the squeaking board, then get a friend to put pressure on it from above so you can see where raised boards are flexing against the floor joists.
- Mark it. Mark where the boards are raised from the floor joists with chalk.
- Glue and drive the wedge. Spread Selleys Aquadhere Durabond on a thin wooden wedge and tap it between the floor joist and the floorboards with a hammer. Choose a wedge thin enough that it just fills the gap but does not raise the floorboards — over-driving a wedge trades a squeak for a hump.
- Let it cure. Assemble within 10 minutes of applying the glue, and leave the wedge undisturbed. Clamp time is approximately 4 hours; maximum strength is attained in 24 hours, depending on humidity and material porosity.
Wear gloves throughout. Durabond bonds to skin, and it is not the kind of adhesive you want to discover that about mid-job.
Method 2 — access from above only
- Clear the floor and find the squeak. Move furniture and carpets, then locate the squeaky board using the pressure method above.
- Find the joists. Using a stud finder, locate where the floorboards cross the floor joists. This matters — a screw that misses the joist does nothing except add a hole.
- Drill a pilot hole. Drill through the floorboard and into the joist. Enlarge the hole at the top with a bit as large as the diameter of the screw head, so the head can sink just below the surface of the floorboard.
- Repeat at each squeak. Drill a similar hole into the floor joist wherever you find a raised board that squeaks.
- Screw the board down. Drive flat-head screws into the holes while someone stands on the floorboards, so the screws pull the boards down tightly. Make sure the screws are long enough to go at least 2 cm into the joist below.
- Fill the holes. Fill over the screw heads with Selleys No More Cracks Wood Filler.
- Finish. Wipe off any excess product, allow it to dry and sand back if required.
Filling the screw holes properly
No More Cracks Wood Filler Interior gives a durable finish on interior timber, is stainable and paintable, has excellent adhesion, and — unusually among fillers — can be nailed or planed. Its drying times at 25°C are 1–2 hours at 1 mm and 2–3 hours at 2 mm, with higher humidity extending both.
Press the filler in firmly with a blade and scrape off the excess to minimise sanding. For a perfect finish, apply a second thin coat once the first has dried, then sand lightly with very fine sandpaper. If you are staining rather than painting, note Selleys' warning that the final colour is not achieved until the varnish is applied — so judge your colour match after finishing, not before.
Limitations — what to watch for
Aquadhere Durabond
- Not recommended for structural applications. Wedging and gluing to stop a board flexing is a repair; it is not a substitute for sound framing. If boards are moving because joists or bearers have failed, that is a job for a builder.
- Not suitable for below-waterline applications or continuous submersion.
- Not for polyethylene or polypropylene plastics — test other plastics first.
- Requires atmospheric moisture to cure, so use may be restricted in dry conditions.
- Cannot be used below 5°C.
- High humidity and damp surfaces can cause increased foaming and a weakened joint — clamp or weight tightly to reduce foaming.
No More Cracks Wood Filler Interior
- For interior timber only.
- Do not use below 5°C.
- Where movement occurs, use Selleys No More Gaps. A filled screw hole in a board that is still moving will crack open again.
Clean up
Clean tools and uncured Durabond with acetone or turps immediately after use — once cured it must be scraped, cut, chiselled or sanded off. The wood filler cleans up with water before it dries. Store Durabond in a cool dry place with the nozzle wiped and sealed tightly; the product is humidity sensitive.
Common questions about squeaky floorboards
Why does a floorboard squeak?
Because it is flexing against a joist and rubbing as it moves. Both methods here work by stopping that movement — one by filling the gap, one by pulling the board down.
How long do I have to work with Aquadhere Durabond?
About 10 minutes of working time, depending on temperature and humidity. Assemble within that window.
How long until the glued wedge is holding?
Clamp time is approximately 4 hours. Maximum strength is attained in 24 hours, depending on humidity and material porosity.
Why does the glue foam up?
It is a moisture-curing polyurethane and it expands as it dries. That is useful for filling an irregular gap, but it also means you apply a thin layer to one surface only, and clamp tightly — excessive foaming from damp surfaces can weaken the joint.
Do I need gloves?
Yes. Selleys' first direction for Durabond is to wear gloves, because the adhesive bonds to skin.
How thick should the wedge be?
Thin enough that it just fills the gap without raising the floorboards. Driving an oversized wedge lifts the board and creates a new problem.
How deep should the screws go into the joist?
At least 2 cm.
How long does the wood filler take to dry?
At 25°C, 1–2 hours for a 1 mm fill and 2–3 hours for 2 mm. Longer in humid conditions.
Can I stain over the filler to match my floor?
Yes, No More Cracks Wood Filler Interior is stainable and paintable. Bear in mind that the final colour is not achieved until varnish is applied.
Can I use the wood filler on an outdoor deck?
No. It is for interior timber only.
The squeak came back after a few months.
Either the fix did not stop the movement, or there is more of it than one wedge or screw can hold. Where movement continues, Selleys directs you to a flexible product rather than a rigid filler — and persistent, widespread movement in a floor is worth having looked at properly.
It is cold under my house — does that matter?
Yes. Aquadhere Durabond cannot be used if the application temperature is below 5°C, and the wood filler should not be used below 5°C either.
What products does Selleys recommend for fixing squeaky floorboards?
Selleys recommends Selleys Aquadhere Durabond (used to secure wooden wedges between the floor joist and floorboards) and Selleys No More Cracks Wood Filler (used to fill screw holes after repairs).
What tools are needed to silence squeaky floorboards?
The tools needed are a thin wooden wedge, a hammer, a stud finder, a drill, and flat-head screws.
How long does it take to fix squeaky floorboards according to Selleys?
The total time for the project is estimated at 60 minutes (PT60M).
How do you fix a squeaky floorboard if you have access from below the floor?
First, have a friend apply pressure to the squeaking floorboard while you observe from below to identify where the boards flex against the floor joists. Mark these spots with chalk. Then spread Selleys Aquadhere Durabond on a thin wooden wedge and tap it between the floor joist and the floorboards with a hammer, choosing a wedge thin enough to fill the gap without raising the floorboards.
How do you fix a squeaky floorboard if you only have access from above?
Move furniture and carpets out of the way and locate the squeaky board using the pressure method. Use a stud finder to locate where the floorboards cross the floor joists, then drill a pilot hole through the floorboard into the joist, enlarging the top of the hole with a bit as large as the screw head diameter so the head can sink below the surface. While someone stands on the floorboard, screw in flat-head screws long enough to go 2cm into the joist below. Finally, fill the holes with wood filler, wipe off excess, let it dry, and sand back if needed.
Why is it important to choose a wedge that is the right thickness when fixing floorboards from below?
The wedge needs to be thin enough to just fill the gap between the floor joist and the floorboards without raising the floorboards, ensuring the repair holds the boards in their proper position.
How long should the screws be when securing floorboards from above?
The screws should be long enough to go at least 2cm into the joist below the floorboard.
What is the purpose of using a stud finder in this repair process?
The stud finder is used to locate where the floorboards cross the floor joists, so pilot holes and screws can be correctly positioned into the joists beneath the boards.
What should you do after screwing down the floorboards to finish the repair?
Fill the holes above the screw heads with a quality wood filler such as Selleys No More Cracks Wood Filler, wipe off any excess product, allow it to dry, and sand back if required.