How to Fix Creaking in a Bamboo Floor

Bamboo, one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet, is an economical and earth-friendly material for building walls, roofs and floors. Bamboo is an attractive replacement for wood; unfortunately, like wood, it sometimes squeaks when walked upon. Squeaky bamboo floors are annoying but there are a few ways to get the noise to stop. Most creaks are preventable if you install the flooring correctly. If the floor is already installed and you can get underneath it, one of several modifications will silence the squeaking.

Shims
Construction adhesive
2-foot by 8-foot wood board
Talcum powder

Instructions

- 1
  Ask someone to stand on the bamboo floor while you stand beneath it. Have your partner walk around on the floor to identify squeaky areas. Look for movement as your partner walks. Mark the exact area under the floor where you heard the squeak or saw movement.
- 2
  Slip two shims between the subfloor and the joist where you saw the floor move. Gaps between the joist and the subfloor are a common cause of squeaking. Shims fill in the gap and stop the creaking.
- 3
  Cut a 2-foot by 8-foot wooden block and coat the top with construction adhesive. Slip the block between the floor joists to stop squeaking.
- 4
  Apply construction adhesive to gaps between the joists and the subfloor. This is an ideal way to stop squeaking when you cannot easily determine the exact noise source.
- 5
  Spread talcum powder over the bamboo floor, if you cannot get underneath. If there are cracks between the bamboo floorboards, work the powder into them. The talcum powder reduces friction and squeaking. Vacuum up excess powder after you finish.

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