In an older home in Albany, New York, a persistent floor squeak showed up every time someone walked past the hallway. Instead of tearing up the floor, a simple DIY fix solved it.
Step one: Locate the squeak. Walk slowly and mark the noisy spots with tape.
Step two: Find the joist. Use a stud finder or measure from the wall to locate framing below.
Step three: Secure the floor. Drive a trim screw at an angle through the subfloor into the joist. Keep the head slightly below the surface.
Step four: Finish clean. Fill the screw hole with wood filler and sand lightly once dry.
This method tightens the floor to the joist and removes movement, which is what causes the noise in the first place.
DIY fixes work best when they address the real problem, not just the symptom.