What makes the stairs creak? The noise usually comes from loose treads (the surface of the steps you walk on) or risers (vertical boards that join the steps). This is normally due to the natural shrinkage of the wood stair components over time. The adhesive that was originally used to attach the risers and treads may also have failed.
There are several methods for tightening the steps to reduce or eliminate creaking. The best way is to work from under the ladder, as the results will not show and you can usually do a stronger repair. If this is not possible, you will have to approach the problem from the other side.
Repair creaky stairs from above
There are three main methods for tightening loose parts of stairs:
1. Bolt on treads
The best way to securely attach treads to risers is by screwing them together. Normally three screws per tread are sufficient. Drill pilot holes through the tread in line with the riser, ideally using #8 x 38mm countersunk screws, then drive the screws under the tread surface. If there is no stair mat to hide the blemishes, coat the screws with matching wood putty.
two. nail loose footprints
A simple repair is to drive nails into the edge of the tread at a center point where it connects to the riser. For best grip, drive nails in pairs so they are angled toward each other over the squeak point. Drill pilot holes first to prevent splitting of the wood, then drive the nails below the surface and cover with wood putty.
3. Paste on a molding
Try adding a piece of quadrant (quarter circle shaped) molding to give the tread additional support. You can secure it at the top or bottom of the riser, or both. For best results, glue the molding to both the tread and the riser. This method is more aesthetically pleasing than using screws or nails; however, if your stairs don’t have carpet, you’ll need to add molding to every step, not just the creaky ones, so they all look the same.
Repair creaky stairs from below
If you can get under the ladder, you may be able to make more effective repairs, but remember to wear eye protection as you’ll be spending a lot of time looking up. There are several options:
1. Insert blocks or supports
A good way to reinforce the joint between the tread and the riser is to use small triangular wooden dowels, known as glue dowels. Place a block at each corner of the step below the tread and against the riser, and glue it in place. Secure with screws: put two up, in the tread, and two horizontally, in the riser. If possible, get a helper to stand on the tread while you drive the screws.
Alternatively, you can secure small rectangular blocks of wood, known as string blocks, to the corners of the steps to hold the rungs to the strings (support boards that run along the side of the stairs). If needed, you can use these in addition to the glue blocks for added strength and rigidity.
two. replace shims
Make sure that the wooden wedges, which are used to lock stair treads and risers into their corresponding grooves, have not fallen off or started to slip. Replace missing or damaged shims and glue loose ones in place before tapping them firmly with a mallet.
Small ‘slipper’ shims, or shims, are another effective way to tighten the joints between risers and treads. The wedges should be around 30mm long and 3mm thick, tapering to a point. Glue in place, then use a sharp chisel to shave off the protruding ends.
