We've almost completed a wholesale renovation of the basement in our 1959 ranch/rambler. One of the issues we wanted to address was the squeaky oak floors on the first floor of the house. We figured that the squeaks could be eliminated (once the ceiling in the basement was open) by driving screws through the sub-floor into the wood planks, thus strengthening the connection between sub-floor and floor. But no matter how many screws we used, the squeaks persisted. So now I'm really stuck. My only remaining hypothesis, which I'll be testing next week, is that the original floor was installed too tightly to the wall, and is therefore slightly bowed in the center and unable to "relax" enough to sit flush against the sub-floor. Perhaps once we eliminate the pressure (by shaving off the ends of the boards against the wall), the boards will relax and the screws will hold our floor steady enough to eliminate the squeaking.

But I have no idea whether (a) this hypothesis is right, or (b) whether there's some other explanation for such persistently squeaky floors. I'd appreciate ANY ideas about what the problem is, and how to solve it!

Thanks.

Fix from Above?

Not the right answer

Ah, Now I Understand