Screws on 3 kite stairs loose

[rhlee]

We have a 3 kite stairs in our house that is attached to two internal walls and one external. We noticed that some of the screws holding the staircase onto to walls have come loose and cannot be tightened (they just keep on turning). The stairs have been here since we moved in, in 1983.

Is this a job we can do ourselves?
I was thinking of replacing the wall anchors.
Or should we get professionals help?

 

[rhlee]

Forgot photo

 

[foxhole]

Look like ordinary wood screws? Remove and tap in a scrap wedge of timber and replace with thicker screws .

 

[conny]

A short length of the appropriate diameter hammered into the screw hole, (after removing the screw of course), cut flush with the board. Drll a pilot hole into the new dowel rod and secure with bigger screws.
I would suggest running them in with a cordless screwdriver until the last half inch and then tighten by hand. Unless your driver has a torque setting you can overtighten and strip the thread.