Tips for adding screws to chipboard floor

[Ljc1980]

We have been in our house 18 months and the creaky floors are starting to drive me mad, so I thought I would have a go at fixing it.

It’s all chipboard flooring which looks like it has been nailed down. I intend to drive some spax screws in to see if this helps. I’ll do a test in the hall first and if it works will then do the livingroom (the worst room for creaking) and the bedrooms.

From a quick look in a cupboard under stairs (pic below) and a small corner of hall where I pulled carpet up it does look well laid with tight joins and has never been touched since house was built 20 odd years ago.

My main worry is avoiding pipes and making sure I hit the joists with the screws.

Has anyone ever used one of those cheap inspection cameras to look under a floor? I was hoping I could fit it down maybe where radiator pipes come up and see which way joists are running etc

 

[blup]

You should be able to tell which way the joists run from the nailing pattern, radiators and sockets will give some clue as to the route, but be aware that joists are notched to take cables and pipes. Inspection cameras are very useful but you will have to drill a few holes because of the joists. If you can get a battery torch between the joists the additional lighting makes a big difference in how far you can see via the camera.

 

[Odds]

The old fashioned method would be tapping the boards with a hammer, or you could use a stud finder without drilling random holes.

 

[Ljc1980]

Thanks that would be my preferred method as don’t really want lots of holes in the floor, but just paranoid about pipes & wires.

Hopefully once I lift the carpet, where the pipes are will be marked like on that picture from inside the cupboard

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

My main worry is avoiding pipes and making sure I hit the joists with the screws.

Has anyone ever used one of those cheap inspection cameras to look under a floor? I was hoping I could fit it down maybe where radiator pipes come up and see which way joists are running etc

Work out which way your joist run, as a first step, then the existing nails will provide clues as to where the joist are. A metal detector, might help you find cables, and pipes.