Are your stairs noisy and squeaky? It doesn’t always mean that there is a structural issue. Sometimes, an adjustment or quick fix here or there can address the issue and give you quieter stairs. In some cases, squeaky stairs can be a sign of a larger issue and can indicate that your stairs might need to be replaced. When it comes to how to fix squeaky stairs, here’s what to know, and some tips for what to look for and what to do next:

1. Try to Identify the Source of the Squeak

If you notice that your stairs are noisy or squeaky, try to identify where the noise is coming from. Start with walking slowly up and down the stairs and keep an ear out for which steps make noise.

It may take a few passes to narrow it down because you’ll want to make sure you are stepping on the middle and sides of the stairs as well as varying depths to narrow down problem areas. Applying pressure to these different areas will help you narrow down which steps are squeaky and specific areas on those stairs that are causing the noise.

The Location of the Squeak on Stairs Can Mean Different Things

Where the squeak is coming from can indicate different things. Some potential issues in different areas could be as follows:

• Squeaks coming from the front of the tread could mean that the tread is coming loose or has come loose from the riser.
• Squeaks coming from the sides of the stairs could indicate that the balusters are loose or that the issue is with the side stringers.
• Squeaks coming from the back of the tread could indicate that a tread has started to separate or has separated from at least one of the stringers, if not more.

Being able to identify where on the tread the squeak is coming from can help you identify the problem, potential cause, and determine the next best steps. If something is loose, you can take a closer look and determine whether you need to tighten or replace fasteners, repair or replace specific treads or risers, replace stringers, or have the staircase rebuilt entirely.

2. Look Over Staircase Components for Obvious Issues

If you notice that your stairs are squeaky, take a look at them and check over the components you can see to see if there are any visible signs of issues that stand out. If something is warped, broken, or loose, that will give you an idea of what to do next to fix it. If there is a lot of visible damage or you see cracks in the stringers, then you know it’s probably a structural or installation issue that needs to be addressed with new stairs or new components.

4 Standard Staircase Components

A typical staircase will usually have the following components:

1. Risers: The “face” of each step, risers are the vertical boards installed between each step and form the front of it.
2. Treads: The part you step on; treads are the horizontal boards that form the top of the step.
3. Stringers: The pieces that support the stairs from underneath, usually with a saw-tooth design for the risers and treads.
4. Screws, Nails, and Fasteners: The hardware that connects and holds all the staircase components together.

3. See If You Can Identify a Specific Cause

As you are looking over components and identifying the source of the squeak, see if you can identify a specific cause. If you can narrow down to a specific cause, it makes it easier to diagnose and fix the issue. You may be able to determine that a loose fastener just needs to be tightened, or decide that it’s time to contact an experienced, reputable contractor for a conversation about your stairs.

8 Common Causes of Squeaky Stairs

Several different things can lead to squeaky stairs. Common causes of squeaky stairs can include:

1. General wear and tear over time
2. Loose joints or fasteners
3. Worn-out fasteners
4. Temperature or moisture changes that affect the materials of the stairs
5. Settling with new construction
6. Structural issues or structural damage
7. Outdated construction (i.e., older homes can have stairs built without glue)
8. Poor construction or installation

4. Determine the Best Way to Fix Your Squeaky Stairs

Once you have a better idea of what might be going on with your squeaky stairs, you can determine the best way to fix them. If you’re dealing with minor fixes and you’re relatively handy, you may be able to fix your squeaky stairs on your own.

If your stairs are older, you’ve seen other concerning things, you weren’t able to confirm a specific source, or you just don’t want to deal with minor repairs yourself, you can contact a contractor you trust to come out and take a look.

You can use handyman services to take care of minor fixes that you don’t have the time or energy to deal with. If the stairs require more work than that or need to be replaced entirely, a contractor will work with you to determine what the best approach is for your specific situation and will help you make sure it’s done right.

Fix Your Squeaky Stairs With Zephyr Thomas

These are some tips for how to fix squeaky stairs. Ignoring signs of upcoming repairs is one of the home maintenance mistakes to stop making. If your stairs are squeaky, it’s important to make sure it’s not a sign of a bigger issue and to take care of minor repairs before they become bigger problems.

Whether you want handyman services to help cross some home maintenance tasks off your list or you need to renovate or replace your stairs, Zephyr Thomas can help. If you’re ready to get started on your next home improvement project, give us a call at 717-399-4708 to schedule a free estimate!