Before you start installing your new wood or laminate floor

Walk over the area you are going to work on and check for squeaks., before you start your home flooring project and it doesn't matter whether it is carpet, a laminate wood floor, linoleum or ceramic tiles.

It doesn't make any sense to put your hard earned money into a new decorating project and then only to have it make an annoying noise after it is finished. You can up to a certain point fix all squeaks in a floor.
If your ceiling isn't finished underneath the area you are in for an easier job. If it's finished it still can be done but it is a little harder. Fixing a squeaky floor that is going to have ceramic tile installed on it is the most important job you have to start with. Even if you are putting in a sub-floor.

Unfinished ceiling under floor:

what you need here is extra bracing into between the floor joists. You can buy prepaid bridging or metal cross pieces to do the job. What is happening is the plywood above is being allowed to shifts or move up and down on the seams. This is what causes the squeak.

Finished ceiling below the floor:

You have two choices here, either lift the plywood and fix the floor joists that way or re-screw the plywood down making sure that you hit the floor joist. That is probably the easiest way to go about it. If there is a hump in the floor you will have to cut lift the plywood and plane down the floor joist enough so that it is level in that spot with the rest of the floor.

Cement Floors:

Check for cracks and water stains. If there are cracks and they are not serious, you can get a sealer from your local hardware store and seal it in. For severe and deep cracks you may have to gouge it out and place a skim coat over it. This is usually needed if you are placing ceramic tiles over a concrete floor. Prep work is what will make it last.

• 
  Tools and Tips - to get the job done easier