How to Fix Squeaky Stairs can be found on Bob Vila's website.
By Bob Vila
In many scary movies, a stair creaks in the night, startling the homeowner into nervous wakefulness.creaky stairs are a common problem.The main cause is wear and tear on the wooden staircase components, which causes one wooden section to rub against another or against a metal nail or screw.It is best to fix the creak before it gets worse, because the resulting noise might be a way to keep track of your teen's comings and goings, or discourage you from that midnight trip down to the kitchen for a snack.
Most people can tackle a squeaking stair on their own.It's important to know the correct terminology for staircase components before starting.
You should locate the site of the squeak now that you know the lingo.Walk up and down the staircase, taking note of the steps.A piece of tape or a sticky note can be used to mark the culprits.Stand in the center of the noisy steps.Rock from one side to the other.Try and determine if the squeak is coming from the back, side, or front of the tread.As a rule of thumb, if there is a squeak from the front of the tread, it means it has come loose from its riser.
If you have determined the site of the squeak, consider these five ways to stop it.
One of the easiest ways to muffle a creak is to fill the crack between the tread and the riser with a lubricant.If you use an oil-based product, it can warp wood, turn sticky with dust, or leave things slippery.Put a piece of paper against the back of the tread, pour a small amount of powder onto the paper, and then use a stiff paintbrush to work the powder into the cracks between the treads.The powder stops the noise from the two wooden pieces rubbing together.
#8 screws are a good size for this purpose and can be found at any home improvement center.Start by drilling three pilot holes across the front of the tread.Make sure to sink the three screws below the surface of the tread.A screw sticking up from the tread is a sure way to hurt someone's foot.Once the screws are in place, use a bit of appropriately colored wood filler to hide them.
8d or 10d nails are 212 to 3 inches in length and can be used to nail the tread firmly into its stringer.Start by making two small pilot holes on the side of the tread near the wall, they should be two inches apart and be drilled at opposing 45 degree angles so that the nails you insert next are aimed away from each other.There are two small pilot holes on the side of the tread.The nails should be directed at a 45 degree angle by driving them into the pilot holes.The tighter the tread, the harder it is to pull the nails out over time.If the nails poke up above the surface of the wood where they could hurt someone's foot, a few extra taps on the hammer should flatten them out.If you want to hide the repaired spots, cover them with wood or putty.
Many interior staircases don't allow easy access to the area underneath the stairs, but if yours does, you can silence squeaks from there for the best results.You will need glue blocks for each step.If you can't find premade glue blocks at your local store, make your own by cutting a two-inch wooden cube in half and creating two equal triangular pieces.After applying wood glue to the two shorter sides of each block, press the blocks into the right angle created by the meeting of the riser and the tread.There are three blocks in the center of the step and two at the opposite edges.As you position the glue blocks to push out the air bubbles, give them a slight wiggle.
If you want to secure the blocks further, you need to drive two screws into each block: one into the riser and the other in the tread.