Author Topic: Silencing squeaky stairs  (Read 1805 times)

geekette

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Silencing squeaky stairs
« on: April 15, 2016, 02:01:00 PM »
Our decades old carpet is finally being replaced.  The old stuff has been stripped off the stairs and we have the weekend to attempt to make 'em quiet.  Can we do it without pulling up treads?  I don't wanna!  Just some wood screws or something?

Fishindude

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Re: Silencing squeaky stairs
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2016, 02:04:08 PM »
You can probably tighten them up with some screws, if you are going to re-cover with carpet.

geekette

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Re: Silencing squeaky stairs
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2016, 02:37:20 PM »
Yes, recovering with carpet Monday morning. There are no screws visible, so I don't know where to add screws. Along the sides?  The nose edge?

Fishindude

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Re: Silencing squeaky stairs
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2016, 02:57:43 PM »
Screw whatever is loose into the framing behind it.

RunningWithScissors

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Re: Silencing squeaky stairs
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2016, 11:35:16 AM »
Squeaking = movement.  However, simply screwing into a solid wood tread won't fix anything if the tread itself is flexing.  If you have access under the stairs, you can glue and screw lumber or strips of at least 3/4" thick plywood under each tread to give it a thicker effective depth. Just make sure the screws aren't so long that they poke up through the top of the tread.

You can also use a heavy duty construction adhesive like PL 400 to reglue the joint where each tread meets the stringers.