Squeaky Stair-Help!

[angie55]

The bottom step of my stairs squeaks everytime I go up or down the stairs. What's the best solution? a nail or a screw. Is there anything I need to aware of-I assume there won't be any pipes below the stair? Thanks

[vulcan42]

sprinkling Talcum powder on the squeak sometimes works.

[vulcan42]

angie, just in case you thought I was also trying to be funny, here's a link.

http://www.proconstructionguide.com/how-to-fix-squeaky-stairs/

[angie55]

vulcan42-thanks. No I didn't think you were being funny, far from it. I had heard about talcum powder before but thought a nail/screw would be better. Thanks again.

[Khandro]

Conventional stairs are constructed by having 'Strings' - the side supports, 'treads' - the board you stand on, and 'risers' - the upright boards between the treads. The treads and risers are housed into the strings in grooves, and the treads are tightened into the grooves by wedges. If you could get to the back of the stairs (which you probably can't) you could hammer the wedge in tighter. The reason it is squeaking is because the timber has dried and shrunk allowing slight movement somewhere.
I doubt if knocking in nails willy-nilly would solve the problem. There is a German product called 'Holzfest' (trans. woodfirm) made by Uhu.

https://translate.google.de/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.uhu.com/de/produkte/holzleime/detail/uhu-holzfestholzquellmittel.html%3FcHash%3Ddd82f7b023ac7e58c2064743c7ab966d&prev=search

Which is a thin viscous glue that seeks its way into loose joints and then dries and sets. If you can obtain some, you could try to apply it all around the joints between the strings, treads, and risers and step on and off the tread to allow the liquid to penetrate.

It might work - I hope!

[The Builder]

I had no idea that our friend Khandro knew so much about stairs. ;o)

He's absolutely right. This is quite common, and the usual remedy is to go under the stairs and hammer in wedges to tighten the joint between treads and string. A spot of glue keeps it permanent.

[The Builder]

I should have made it clearer ... The wedges go UNDER the tread to jam it up tighter to the string housing.

[vulcan42]

The Builder, I certainly agree the usual repair is under the stairs but this is the bottom step, not always accessible, mine isn't.

[angie55]

Yes I've got no chance of getting access to the underneath of the bottom stair.

[angie55]

Should have added, as I can't access the understairs, is the best idea talcum powder or nail or screw? Thanks

[The Builder]

Ok, yes, I should have noticed that.

In that case, I would drive a screw (maybe a 50 or 65mm) into the top of the tread where it joins the string.

Skew the screw at roughly 45 degrees from the vertical, so that it goes into the string.

The only downside to this is that you may open up a slight gap between tread and string, but it will stop the movement which is causing the squeak.