Hello
I am new around hear. Nice forum, lots of good info. Sorry for the length of my first post...

I have an original white oak floor installed in 1960 with 1 -5/8" boards measured from the top surface across -probably 2" TNG. I recently discovered it under the carpet, which is now fully ripped out. I have had 3 local contractors by to bid refinishing this floor, all of who said the wood was "better than Select grade, and in Great shape". But when I ask them about my concern over the squeaks, and pops you get from some board movement when you walk around most everywhere, worse in some areas, they all have various ideas on what to do, if anything. This oak is mounted onto 1'x6' diagonal boards running on top of 16" centered 2"6" Joyce, mounted on top of 4' centered 2-2"x6" nailed together stringers to foundation posts.

My Questions are:

1. Will this squeaking poping board movement crack or damage a 4 coat satan finish of Bona or Glitsa? (You can feel some boards move under bare feet when walking).

2. Can you fix the squeaks, n pops? How?

3. Is it OK to use 2 coats of oil based Bona or Glitsa as a sealer, then 2 coats of max or traffic water based on top of that? Was told oil based sealer will not lighten the white oak like the water based ones do, & top 2 water coats will be more durable than oil would be??

Answers I have gotten about squeaks. First contractor: "No worry about cracking finish from board movement, (Glitsa water based only - 3 coats) I can top nail the oak in a few locations to try and stop squeaks and some of the movement. No problem for finish.

2nd Contractor: "Never top nail, bad idea, use tough as nail glue(in caulk gun), from sub floor area, glue all cracks, push glue up into cracks between all boards as best you can with your finger, everywhere you can, but never re-nail / top nail it as the nail hole putty will eventually come out, ruining the finish. Board movement - hopefully will not affect the satin 3 coat Glitsa water based finish . -Hopefully-"

3rd contractor was shocked to learn there is NO felt between 1'x6" sub floor and oak flooring, no tar paper, nothing. Oak is just sitting right on 1x6's and he said it will probably always squeak due to that fact. (He was the first to ask about it, we looked up from the basement, through a crack in a 1x6, no felt / tar paper, and its just (under) nailed through TNG to sub floor). He said he would try top nailing in some areas, said the guy who said to glue it "was an idiot", and top nailing is the only probable solution. He said even top nailing probably will not really be effective anyway due to no felt / tar paper. He too was a bit concerned over board movement affecting finish, but said it should be ok. He is the one that suggested 2 oil base, 2 top coats of water based for best durability, least whitening of floor. (We like the way the 55 year old finish looks now, but its shot!

Any thoughts on the above?? Thank You!

I would consider securing the boards with trim head screws. A little more work to fill or plug holes but screws should be more secure over time. The noise is from the floor boards rubbing on each other or the nails.

If you can locate the squeakers from below you could also apply screws from below.

Thank You for the replies! I just found "trim head screws" on you tube after searching "fix hard wood floor squeaks", it came up with this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6ncOAbbBso

I am wondering WHY, after 5 different "professional" contractor bid's, didn't any of them suggest using trim head screws to fix the squeaking, crackling, 55 year old loose floor?? Time for a new thread with that question.

Nails are quicker to install and will have a smaller hole to fill. To use the screws you need to drill a pilot hole through the flooring, install the trim head screw, fill the 'larger' hole. The 6th contractor would have mentioned screws.