Stopping stairs squeaking

robatwork

Just took the carpet off the stairs with intentions of painting them, but before I do a lot of the treads squeak. Is it best to nail them back down or screw them?

Either way where are the stair treads attached to something solid to actually nail into?

If nails then can you recommend which type of nail is best for this

many thanks

PasturesNew

I have heard that talcum powder can stop them squeaking; worth a try if you've got some lying around.

Jaynne

I believe you want screws with the thread going all the way up to the top for this job as nails are slick and the stair will just move up and down them eventually.

Do you have a cupboard under the stairs that might give you an idea where to screw? I'm pretty sure ours only have support at the front and back where the risers are.

oldskoo1

Screws for sure but make sure you screw them in the right place into the beams below and but ultra careful you dont hit a pipe or cables.

Gloomendoom

Loads of squeaky stair info here...

http://www.pearstairs.co.uk/pages/squeaking_staircase/default.aspx

Cash-Cow_3

robatwork wrote: »

Just took the carpet off the stairs with intentions of painting them, but before I do a lot of the treads squeak. Is it best to nail them back down or screw them?

Either way where are the stair treads attached to something solid to actually nail into?

If nails then can you recommend which type of nail is best for this

many thanks

Mission impossible. Only solution is to move.

robatwork

oldskoo1 wrote: »

Screws for sure but make sure you screw them in the right place into the beams below and but ultra careful you dont hit a pipe or cables.

Surely pretty unlikely to be pipes under the stair treads?

Kel_1981

Glue and screw :-)

gibson123

Cash-Cow wrote: »

Mission impossible. Only solution is to move.

I agree with this post, I screwed and gorilla glued my stairs, a slight improvement but still squeaking.

robatwork

Anyone know any tunes I can whistle in time with average walking-up-stair pace then?

globalds

I tried it on my stairs ..I only succeeded in moving the squeaks around ..It seems they are part of the house ..and like energy can never be destroyed ..just changed