Creaking stairs... God do they creak!

[andyfeeny]

Hi i've done a search but cant find the answer that'll help and i've read the how to section...

My current house had open stairs until the previous occupant made a cupboard underneath them and changed them. However over the last 3 years they have steadily got worse...

When they were enclosed they had 12mm MDF screwed to the back of each step and have 10mm x 15mm wood at the joint of the step. All screwed.

I cant make them stop! Nothing appears to be worn and so far i've tried to put more screws into the joints and that has made no difference...

Is there anything else I can do? Please...??!

 

[big-all]

what are the treads made from and how thick are they!!

are the new risers fixed to the string!!!

 

[andyfeeny]

The treads are approx 12-15mm wood but Im not sure what type to be honest as theyve been stained....

String? Have I missed something?

 

[big-all]

The treads are approx 12-15mm wood but Im not sure what type to be honest as theyve been stained....

String? Have I missed something?

lol the strings /stringers are the side rails off the stairs

if the treads are 15mm[the bits you walk on] are far to thin for an open stair they should be 25 to 32mm dependant on span[width]

 

[andyfeeny]

To be fair they must be thicker then as the entire estate we live on has a similar set up...

Thanks - I now know what the strings are!

The thing is they werent this bad before so there must be something I can do to limit the noise...

 

[big-all]

can you get to the back off the treads[steps]

 

[andyfeeny]

From what Ive read Im going to have to take up the carpet so yes!

 

[mattylad]

Forget doing all that.

Get a camera out and post some photo's first.


Then when people can see what your talking about they can advise you better.

Then you can do stuff

 

[andyfeeny]

Sorry for the huge delay...

Here we go!

At the moment I am trying to screw the tread into the upriser but that is also having little effect!

Ideas?

Untitled

• andyfeeny
• 11 Aug 2009
• 1

Untitled

• andyfeeny
• 11 Aug 2009
• 1

 

[Johnmelad502]

String? Have I missed something?

 

[big-all]

have the silly aarses forced the carpet between the stair risers and treads!!!

if so get it out then report back
the picture off the back looks like theres carpet underlay print showing on the top tread behind the triangular blocks!!

also are the treads and risers rebated into the strings

it looks like they are butted up to so extremly week !!!

 

[andyfeeny]

The bits from underneath are there from when they were open - there isnt any carpet there just the remnants of some of the tape and the odd but off fluff...

After speaking to a mate yesterday it looks as though the problem is as youve said that the supports arent into the string so basically Im stuck with it from what he could see! (Unless anyone has an alternative suggestion?)

I love people that dont do things properly!

 

[IJWS15]

It looks as if there are fixings showing under the tread when looking from the back. i.e. where the triangular fillets are.

If so then the tread and the riser are not fixed together and will creak when they move (as they will move independently)

Try re-enforcing the joint between the bottom of the tread and the top of the riser - try adding a piece of 1"x1" or bigger full length of the tread screwed ito the tread from below and from the front though the riser into the piece of 1x1. The more screws the better - if it works glue them as well.

You have the right idea at the bottom of the riser but if you countersink the screws too far you weaken the joint.

I would be surprised if the treads are not let in to the strings since the fillets apear to be added afterwards and without them there would only be a butt joint!

 

[big-all]

is there any gap at all between any tread and the top off the riser as seen from the back!!

if so and assuming we are talking 4mm or more i would remove the triangles cut a bit off 2x1" planed[20x44mm]the full length between the strings wide face top to bottom
screw at an angle into the string each end with 2 screws [4 in total]
screw at an angle into the bottom off the tread 4 or 5 screws
screw through the riser into the batton 4 or 5 screws

repeat on any tread that creeks or has a gap

if the gap is less than 4mm use 1x1"par[20x20mm]

use glue when screwing