At home or at the cottage, constant creaking justifies looking for tips to repair a creaky wooden staircase. Rest assured, there are several ways to stop your wooden stairs from complaining. Stairs are made of 3 key elements: the tread, the riser, and the stringers. The stringer is the structure that supports the treads and risers. If your wooden staircase is creaking, there’s a good chance that one of these elements is responsible.
Why repair a creaky wooden staircase?
Before thinking about tearing everything out, keep in mind that wood is a very resistant material. Even if damaged, it is more advantageous to renovate your staircase. Moreover, as there are only three elements in a staircase, it is quite easy to locate the flaw and repair it without having to review the entire installation of your staircase.
The main causes behind creaking stair treads
The main culprit for a creaking staircase is moisture. Seasonal changes and fluctuations in humidity levels are responsible for the swelling and shrinking of wooden treads, which creates an imbalance and causes the stair treads to creak. Besides moisture, daily use of the staircase deforms the wood, its structure, and its support points. Start by determining which treads creak. You just need to go up and down the stairs to identify them.
Our tips for repairing a creaky wooden staircase
Installing a staircase is an expensive project. Although the noise is annoying, we do not recommend dismantling the staircase. Wooden staircases have a lot of value and character, it would be a shame to get rid of them.
1. Using paraffin or talcum powder to repair a creaky wooden staircase
Wood absorbs paraffin and talcum powder in the same way as black soap with linseed oil. Apply talcum powder to all treads and risers. Talcum powder easily inserts into all cracks, which helps to reduce stair creaking. As for paraffin, it lubricates the creaking treads. Use it on all your noisy treads.
2. Nailing diagonally into the riser to reduce creaking
This technique is mainly used on wooden floors, but it has also proven effective with wooden staircases. Nail diagonally into the riser at the level of the noisy tread.
The diagonal position is very important. Then cover the nail heads with wood filler and repaint your staircase.
3. Blocking the treads with wooden wedges
This technique is one of the most effective for reducing stair creaks. Here’s what you’ll need to repair a creaky wooden staircase using this method:
- Wooden wedges
- An acrylic coating product (or wood glue) with a cartridge gun
- A hammer and a wood chisel
Steps to follow:
- Place the wooden wedge or a batten between the faulty tread and its riser
- Apply and smooth the coating product in the gap
- Let it dry
- When the product is dry, remove the wooden wedges using the wood chisel. If there are holes, use your acrylic coating to fill them and let it dry.
4. Repairing a creaky wooden staircase with black soap and linseed oil
For an inexpensive solution, choose black soap with linseed oil. Paint all treads and risers with a brush and don’t use the staircase until the oil has been absorbed by the wood. When the treads are dry, use your staircase and enjoy your new tranquility.
Call in an expert
For any questions regarding wooden staircase repair or for professional assistance, contact the specialists at L’Artisan du Plancher. We are delighted to help you regain your peace of mind. Our wooden floor and staircase specialists are here to help you find the source of the problem and advise you on your repair.
