How to Repair Squeaky Wooden Stairs
If you have squeaky stairs, inspect the stair treads. The squeaking sound is caused when wood rubs against wood, or when loose nails slide while being compressed. To fix this problem without having to remove the entire stair tread, use wood screws to secure the tread. The screws are counter-sunk so that they can be hidden by wood filler. Several types of wood filler are available, so choose one that matches your stairs' finish. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drill
- Counter-sunk drill bit
- Wood screws
- Screw gun
- Wood filler
- Trowel blade
Instructions
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1
Walk up and down the stairs to locate the spot where the stair tread is squeaking.
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2
Using a drill bit designed to counter-sink screws, drill a hole where the tread rests on the stringer. Only drill deep enough to allow the head of the screw to sink below the wood surface. The bit will allow the screw head to sink lower than the wood surface so that wood filler can be used to cover the hole.
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3
Place the screw into the counter-sunk hole. The screw should be long enough to penetrate the stringer at least ¾" once installed. Use a screw gun or drill outfitted with a Phillips bit to sink the screw into the wood. Make sure the screw gun or drill is set at a low speed with strong torque in order to secure the wood tread.
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4
Stop the screw gun once the screw head has sunk under the surface of the wood leaving a small indentation.
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5
Step on the tread to check for squeaking. If it is still present, use the screw gun or drill to sink the screw farther in, pulling the tread tighter to the stringer.
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6
Place a small amount of wood filler onto a trowel blade and slide it across the hole to fill it.
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Tips & Warnings
If the stair treads are carpeted, you don't need to counter-sink the screw head. Pull the fibers apart to expose the underlayment. Insert the screw through the underlayment so that it sinks into the wood material below.
