How can I fix a squeaky floor under carpet in Texas while avoiding pipes or cables, and what precautions should I take?
Asked by Dhruv Manjunath 
6 months ago
Last Updated: June 16, 2024
Hey, does anyone know how to tackle the slightly squeaky floor under my carpet? I’ve been checking out some YouTube tutorials, but I’m not sure if they’re all relevant to the US – we might have different setups here. I’m also concerned about hitting any pipes or cables. Any tips on that? And are there any important things I should keep in mind while fixing this? I’m in Texas, by the way. Thanks for any help!
When installing carpet, drive screws through the carpet into the floor joists. Then, use a utility knife to make a small incision in the rug for the screw head to go through. Lift the carpet slightly and rake the fibers with your fingers to cover the hole. It may seem simple, but I’ve been using this trick on new home punchlists for years and no one has ever found the screws. Just make sure any pipes or cables are at least 3″ down on a 6″ joist, so using 2″ screws will ensure they go through the subfloor and securely into the joist.
That’s a great suggestion, John! 👍
It’s not common to have pipes or wires under the subfloor, unless it’s drain lines on the first floor or speaker wires that I personally installed there. Regardless, the squeaking noise is usually caused by the subfloor rubbing against the joist. The solution is to drive a screw into the joist to secure the subfloor. It’s not dangerous to screw into the joist, but the challenge lies in finding it when there’s carpet in place. You could try using a “stud finder” that detects nails, as a row of nails usually indicates the location of the joist. I totally understand how annoying squeaks can be, it’s like a real-life “Caddyshack” adventure trying to quiet down the floor.