Answer: There’s a very good chance your new floor will squeak too if you don’t fix the subfloor before installing the new flooring. The good news, however, is that it’s an easy fix.
The reason the floor squeaks is because the connection between the plywood subfloor and the joists have loosened. It could have happened because the framing was installed wet and over the years, the wood simply shrunk or moved, but the nails did not. Or, if it is a high-traffic area, the subtle up and down movement of the floor over time may have wiggled the nails loose. Or it could be both those factors combined.
The fix is straightforward: re-nail the plywood. If you’re itching to get or use your framing nailer, this is a great opportunity. Hand-nails also work great. In both cases, use ring or spiral shank 8D nails. If you really want to ensure a squeak-free future, screw it down. Also, I would do the entire floor, not just the problem areas. Nails are cheap and the work is fun.
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