How to fix squeaky flooring joints along the wall
Squeaky flooring joints along walls often happen when plank edges sit slightly proud of adjoining planks. This movement creates annoying noises whenever you step on them, making it necessary to secure or adjust the affected joints.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 42.3× more often in r/Flooring than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Put some screws in itDid this help you?
- 2running a dehumidifier regularlyDid this help you?
- 3leaving the laundry-room door openDid this help you?
- 4Locate nails using a magnetDid this help you?
- 5Plan to pull up old vinyl to investigate underneathDid this help you?
- 6Removing the piece, cutting it a little wider and longer on the notched end.Did this help you?
- 7checking the subfloorDid this help you?
- 8getting a humidifierDid this help you?
- 9controlling indoor humidityDid this help you?
- 10getting a sand and refinishDid this help you?
- 11Shooting trim nails through the grains and putting putty over the holesDid this help you?
- 12cutting leftover flooring to fit and filling gaps with brown caulkDid this help you?
- 13using wood filler or bondo colored brown to mask gapsDid this help you?
- 14Pulling out the original nails instead of just adding screwsDid this help you?
- 15Finding the exact joist line to ensure new screws actually anchor into the beamDid this help you?
- 16Driving long screws at a steep angle underneath the baseboardDid this help you?
- 17Applying non-expanding foamDid this help you?
- 18Accepting the noise and learning to live with itDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Could somebody please help me figure out how to fix the squeaky noise coming from the joints when standing on them?”source ↗
“after checking, I found that the squeaky noise is coming from the joints along the wall”source ↗
“I added #8 2 inch screws to an area on my second floor to try to get rid of a squeaky area.”source ↗
“This is how some of the door casings in my house are and what i dont understand is the casings are already notched to slide the flooring underneath so it’s like why did they not do it.”source ↗
“There are many boards where the joints between them are very rough, mainly in the living room/kitchen.”source ↗
“Visually, I don't think it looks great for brand new flooring. Is this normal? Am I being too critical?”source ↗
“We’ve just had engineered hardwood installed last week by a contractor and immediately noticed this squeak/flex area in the middle of our 2nd bedroom.”source ↗
“He has since not responded to my request to come out and inspect it.”source ↗
“Screwed down almost all of the subfloor when carpet and old flooring came up buth there are a few areas that have a slight squeak that no amount of screws or nail removal could eliminate.”source ↗
“Mostly silent upstairs now but you cant get everything unless you rip up everything and start laying down glue on the joists but that was not worth the effort.”source ↗
“How can I fix the second pic here?”source ↗
“the corners came out bad around the trim and he suggested cutting up the left over flooring I have as best as I can and using brown calking to fit it in.”source ↗
“Should I follow his suggestion? Should I hire a pro to fix this?”source ↗
“Over the past few months, I’ve noticed that a few of the plank edges are sitting slightly proud of the adjoining planks — probably only a few millimetres.”source ↗
“Why would I have to start over? Wouldn't just these pieces by the door need to be pulled out and recut since we started from the other end of the floor?”source ↗
“There is no fix.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2How to fix an H-pattern in installed flooring without tearing it all up
- 24How to fix a gouged or cut floor
- 10How to fix a flexing wood floor without replacing it
- 18How to fix a poorly installed floor transition strip
- 10How to fix dull worn spots on laminate flooring
- 11How to fix gaps under door jambs after new flooring