Tips & Tricks:

Proper Subfloor Installation Today Prevents Floor Squeaks Tomorrow

As you begin a flooring project, pay special attention to the Subfloor which, when properly installed, helps assure squeak-free floors later. The additional use of adhesive can be a very effective way to prevent those annoying squeaks by reducing screw or nail friction. Here are some tips for installing Subfloor using an adhesive-and-screw/nail technique.

1) Ensure the joists are free of dirt or debris.
2) Apply adhesive first, in a continuous ¼” diameter bead, and apply only enough to attach one or two panels at a time. Then, nail or screw the panels.
3) Inspect for shiners (screws/nails that miss the joist), which can also cause friction squeaks. Using a pneumatic nail gun sometimes makes it difficult to tell when shiners occur.
4) Avoid inferior adhesives that don’t have the holding power. Henkel recommends PL® Premium Polyurethane Construction Adhesive, which conforms to ASTM D3498 (AFG-01). It offers three times the strength of ordinary construction adhesive and twice the coverage.
5) In addition to preventing squeaks, PL® Premium Polyurethane Construction Adhesive also prevents “dead hand”. That’s because it extrudes easier than many other Subfloor construction adhesives.

Please visit Lowes.com's PL Adhesive page for more information.