Wooden stairs that creaks badly .

jholmes · Post by **jholmes** » Tue Apr 16, 2024 9:58 am

We have a shared wooden stair leading from ground floor to our apartment 2nd floor entrance hall and door .
Built in the 60's , used to be carpeted but then ripped up by landlord as considered unsafe .
Creaks and echos now very time someone walks up or down it . What's can be done apart from wood oil put on it ? Any structural ideas . I thought of some thin wooden props put under the the worse sounding steps at intervals but will have to be secured properly and abit unsightly really but I don't have any more ideas .
Any tips suggestions welcome .

Can't post an image , won't allow external links .

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Tue Apr 16, 2024 10:40 am

jholmes wrote: ↑Tue Apr 16, 2024 9:58 amwon't allow external links

Yes it does.
I would guess the picture size is too big, see my signature for info of how to post pictures.

jholmes · Post by **jholmes** » Tue Apr 16, 2024 9:12 pm

Got it to Work , thanks

: IMG_20240416_110056476~2.jpg (112.02 KiB) Viewed 300 times

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Tue Apr 16, 2024 9:39 pm

theres a fair chance they bolstered the carpet in the joint at the back off each tread weakening the stairs
for the moment, do not try any oil
is there a gap at all at the back off the treads ??
can you get under the stairs and look at the tread and wedges??

jholmes · Post by **jholmes** » Tue Apr 16, 2024 10:00 pm

There are No gaps to even get a nail into . My thought too would be to see the underneath for a thorough assesment , just that it's covered with plaster board and I'm not responsible for it .
I didn't want a big job but probably the only way to assess as nothing is obvious on the face .

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Tue Apr 16, 2024 10:12 pm

can you get a screwdriver in at all between the back off the step and the riser??

jholmes · Post by **jholmes** » Tue Apr 16, 2024 10:33 pm

I'll get back to you tomorrow ... Goodnight .

jholmes · Post by **jholmes** » Wed Apr 17, 2024 7:58 am

I see what the problem is I think is at the side of the step .

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Wed Apr 17, 2024 8:17 am

The staircase would have been made from two stringers that would have deep routered housings for the treads and risers. These would have been glued up and cramped until dry. Older staircases had wedged joints to keep them tight. In your case I suspect the glue has become loose on some treads causing the creak. Working under these treads can be identified and beefed up with mechanical fixings. You could try squirting some PVA glue in the tread gaps which may help. These options may not be open to you and I feel your only recourse is to the landlord.

DWD

jholmes · Post by **jholmes** » Wed Apr 17, 2024 11:16 am

I think I've scratched my head enough on this one ,
Just like to fix some things . I'll Go back to my den with and my glue gun .
This needs a large restoration effort , not my speciality AT ALL .

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Wed Apr 17, 2024 10:21 pm

jholmes wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 7:58 am I see what the problem is I think is at the side of the step .

that gap can only be because off wedge problem [most likely cause ] or possible [very unlikely ] softening or decay off timbers