How to Fix Stair Treads Separating From the Wall

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Things You'll Need

  • Drywall saw

  • Flashlight

  • Stud finder

  • Drill

  • Drill bit

  • Nut driver

  • Lag screws

  • Silicone caulk

  • Caulk gun

  • Utility knife

After many years of use, stair treads begin to show wear and tear. One of the most common problems are loose stairs that begin to pull away from the wall. This is one of the simpler stair tread problems to solve because it doesn't involve replacing the tread itself. With the help of a few lag screws, the tread can be pulled back tight to the wall.

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Step 1

Cut a 12-by-12-inch square out of the drywall ceiling below the staircase using a drywall saw. Take a peak inside with a flashlight to see what the frame inside looks like. Cut the drywall along the frame with a drywall saw and remove it.

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Step 2

Run a stud finder along the wall underneath the staircase. Mark the location of each wall stud you find.

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Step 3

Drill a pilot hole through the staircase's skirt board below the stairs and into each wall stud. Use a drill bit slightly smaller than the diameter of the lag screws you will be using. Attach a nut driver to your drill and drive one lag screw through each pilot hole to pull the stair treads tight to the wall.

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Step 4

Place a tube of silicone caulk into a caulk gun and remove the tip with a utility knife. Run a bead of caulk along the seam where the skirt board meets the wall.

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