How Do You Repair Squeaky Wooden Stairs?

If you have squeaky stairs, inspect the stair treads. The squeaking sound is caused when wood rubs against wood, or when loose nails slide while being compressed. To fix this problem without having to remove the entire stair tread, use wood screws to secure the tread. The screws are counter-sunk so that they can be hidden by wood filler. Several types of wood filler are available, so choose one that matches your stairs' finish. Walk up and down the stairs to locate the spot where the stair tread is squeaking. Using a drill bit designed to counter-sink screws, drill a hole where the tread rests on the stringer. Only drill deep enough to allow the head of the screw to sink below the wood surface. The bit will allow the screw head to sink lower than the wood surface so that wood filler can be used to cover the hole. Place the screw into the counter-sunk hole. The screw should be long enough to penetrate the stringer at least ¾" once installed. Use a screw gun or drill outfitted with a ...  more