Steps make a ton of noise.
#1
04-05-17, 12:35 PM
Steps make a ton of noise.
It doesn't bother me all that much but my wife has decreed that it shall be my next project 
The steps appear to be solid pieces of wood which are either nailed beneath the plugs or just glued.
Here is a pic.
And here is a video with sound so you can hear the creaking https://youtu.be/nscXz6Lwc-Y
So, any ideas? What causes this kind of creaking and, to start with, how do I take it up with out damaging it?
The steps appear to be solid pieces of wood which are either nailed beneath the plugs or just glued.
Here is a pic.
And here is a video with sound so you can hear the creaking https://youtu.be/nscXz6Lwc-Y
So, any ideas? What causes this kind of creaking and, to start with, how do I take it up with out damaging it?
#4
04-05-17, 03:43 PM
What do you mean by concrete...... poured, precast? The wood steps sit on top of concrete steps? Can you drill out a plug to see if there is a nail or screw under the plug? Creaking can occur when the wood step rubs against the nails that are securing them.....but right now you don't know if nails are involved. Need more info on the step framing, etc.
#6
04-05-17, 04:36 PM
I don't know how it's attached. That's why I'm wondering what the best way to take them up without damaging them, so I can inspect what's going on.
How would I drill out the plug?
How would I drill out the plug?
#9
04-05-17, 06:56 PM
The plugs could be made from solid wood or are a wood filler. They can be replaced. Depending on how they were installed e.g. glued solid plug or a filler the hole may have to be cleaned up or slightly enlarged if it gets chipped or dinged. You can replace them with another plug or filler. If there are screws or nails under the plugs you will have to deal with them as part of removing or fixing the stair treads.
#11
04-06-17, 05:31 AM
I'd try taking a flat bar and carefully pry the treads up. You need to make sure you don't pry hard against the risers and damage them. Might need a block of wood resting on the tread below to pry off of.
#12
04-06-17, 08:35 AM
Are the treads nailed into concrete or wood? Not sure what will happen if you try to pry up if you don't know if there is adhesive in addition to the nails. To minimize possible damage you could get a hole saw slightly larger than the plug and cut around the nails.
#15
04-06-17, 03:43 PM
Before trying to pry a tread up maybe try this. Drill out all 4 plugs on a noisy tread. Take a nail set and hammer each nail head. Test the tread for noise. If this stops the noise use some countersunk trim head screws to hold the treads tight. It is possible that the treads are moving up and down on the nails and making the noise.
