We are tearing out all of the carpet on our second floor and the staircase going up. We have a very LOUD staircase. Every step can be heard by a very large squeak. There is a “closet” under this staircase and I can see from the underside that almost EVERY nail from the top of the tread missed the riser.
My question is this…
Can I just nail down all the treads again and make sure I hit the risers…should I do this from the under side? Is one way better than the other?
Any other tips?
Thanks!
Dark Magneto
Replies
Best to use screws long enough to penetrate deeply into the stringer. 2 options. From underneath glue blocks to the tread and the stringer. The glue in addition to the screws will provide plenty of holding power. You could also carefully pull up the treads and reinstall with a good bead of subfloor glue and screws. Depends on how much work you want to impart. Another thing, try to screw into the riser from the back for more support between the stringers.
Quality, Craftsmanship, Detail
nails won't help long term.
screws and glue
Dark,
Here is "another tip." After you quiet those stairs by following the fine advice you've already gotten, be sure to hang 5/8" drywall in that closet so a fire there doesn't immediately wipe out the stairs you'd need to flee the building. 1/2" is okay on the walls, but 5/8" or two layers 1/2" on the ceiling is a must. I'd do 5/8" everywhere in my house...in fact, I did.
Bill
I heard that Japanese construction included squeaks in the floor. This was a method a hearing intruders in your house while you dozed in bed at night. Keep the stairs as they are a cheap alarm system.
On the other hand if you could tap the treads and risers off the stringer and force glue back there then screw them down, but not nail, this would help.
Well, I pulled up the carpet on the stairs and found that the noise is coming from a crack in the stringer. The crack is running with the grain of the stringer. I'm not sure if this is a stringer or a side-board.
I'm thinking of calling a carpenter to come out and look at this. This is way above just glueing and screwing treads to risers.
Any thoughts? How serious of a problem is a cracked stringer? New staircase?
Dark
Any way you could post a pic? There might be an option or two for you before calling someone in. Of course, the only way to get it done "right" is calling in a qualified pro.
Try to get a pic, then we'll see.Quality, Craftsmanship, Detail
OK...here are pics. Both of the crack and then "under side" in the closet under the staircase.Dark
The stringer is what the tread and riser are attached to, this does not look split. There is a trim piece between the wall and stringer which is wider than the stringer and appears as trim above the stair, this appears to be split.By the looks of it you might be able to tap the treads and risers out and force glue in-between then screw them down. Other suggestions that have been posted will also work. I would fasten the split material to the framing then fill, sand and paint. The stairs appear sound otherwise.I would also screw the stinger more securely to the framing.
The skirt is what is cracked. It is just trim. No safety issue there. Just dress it up or replace it. As far as the squeaking, just follow the above recommendations.
I also had noisy stairs. Have removed carpet and 3/4 pine treads. I am going to install poplar treads with screws and glue. My risers were not nailed at the bottom from the back, just as in the previous pictures. Would screws and glue in this area be a good idea? Seems like it would help stiffen things up, prevent flexing and noise.
Check out these photos of some creaky stairs. After knocking out the plaster and wire mesh underneath I learned that they were practically floating. Unbelievable. I screwed and glued blocks with PL poly and there are no more creaks.
Billy
Thanks for the tips guys!
I think this one is going to be beyond my DIY skills. Anyone have a recommendation for the NW burbs of Chicago to work on this staircase?
Thanks!Dark Magneto
That's a very neat and ingenious repair! If it were my house I'd leave it exposed so everyone could admire it.
>>>If it were my house I'd leave it exposed so everyone could admire it.<<<
It is my house, it is still exposed, and my wife stopped admiring it long ago. ;-) It's another job I need to finish, especially for safety reasons.
Billy
Edited 3/7/2005 2:01 pm ET by Billy