Absolutely Outstanding Product
[[ASIN:B002AI6DVA O' Berry 3137 Linoleum/Hardwood Squeeeeek No More At Joist Screws 50 ct]][[ASIN:B0006IK8YE [[ASIN:B0006IK8YE O Berry Enterprises 3233 Squeek No More Kit]]]][[ASIN:B000H5WV1Y O Berry Enterprises 325[[ASIN:B001L1FRW8 O'Berry Squeak No More Kit With Additional 250 bonus Screws]]1 Replacement screws]][[ASIN:B004LY9CF0 Counter-Snap Kit Replacement Screws - 500 pack]][[ASIN:B002AI6DVA O' Berry 3137 Linoleum/Hardwood Squeeeeek No More At Joist Screws 50 ct]]<br /><br />This is an outstanding product that solves an otherwise insoluble problem--squeaky hardwood floors.  The white oak hardwood floors upstairs in my 1936 house were so squeaky that we could not go anywhere upstairs unaccompanied by the sound of groaning and squeaking floors. Several contractors told me there was nothing that could be done to correct the condition--which turned out to be wrong, thanks to this product.<br /><br />To use this system successfully, however, you have to know exactly what you are doing. The descriptions in Amazon.com about which products to buy and how to use them is confusing and incomplete.  On my first try I got it wrong and placed more than 40 screws with very disappointing results.  I then watched the process as demonstrated by Patrick O'Berry on YouTube ([...]) and I saw right away what I was doing wrong.  I then proceeded to drive about 400 screws into 1500 square feet of hardwood floors using O'Berry's method and solved my squeaking floor problems completely.  I could barely believe it: I went from having a major problem to having no squeaking problem at all.<br /><br />One essential step is to place the screws where the hardwood grain will conceal the screw holes. Oak grain has plenty of places where the screw holes will not be visible. Other essential practices--all demonstrated in the O'Berry You Tube clip--include the step of drilling test holes to make sure you are hitting the joists before you start trying to screw the hardwood down. The test hole is necessary because a stud finder, even a very sophisticated one, won't reliably locate a joist through 1-1/2 inches of hardwood and subfloor and the random pattern of nails that pin the hardwood to the subfloor.  Also notice carefully the differences between the at-the-joist and between-the-joist screws and the respective stand-off tools (O'Berry calls these tools "jigs" or "fixtures") used for each type of screw--they are superficially similar but each tool is designed to snap the screws at different locations.  These differences are mentioned in the O'Berry You Tube demonstration. Unfortunately, Amazon at present supplies only a carpet kit and one of the two necessary types of standoff fixtures for hardwood floors (for the at-the-joist screws), so you will need to purchase the between-the-joist standoff jig from a specialty online supplier of squeaky floor tools.<br /><br />I got equally good results eliminating squeaks in carpeted floors laid over 3/4 inch plywood subflooring.  Again, Patrick O'Berry's You Tube demonstration makes the process very clear. ([...]). The carpet standoff jig looks like a three-legged crab, but it uses the same kind between-the-joist screws as are used for hardwood floors.  Also, in this case, a stud finder should be able to locate the joists because there is only one nailing pattern and one layer of wood, if that's what you have.  Carpeting over hardwoods, however, would need to be screwed down using the hardwood method.<br /><br />While getting the hang of the process I also called O'Berry Enterprises with some questions, and Patrick O'Berry answered the phone. So good help is available if you need it.
Rating: 5 stars