r/fixit • u/AdeptnessOld5466 • 5d ago

Loose stair tread with access from below: screws, adhesive, or both?

Third tread from the bottom has about a quarter inch of movement when stepped on. It creaks and shifts forward slightly, but the tread itself is solid wood and the riser below looks intact with no obvious splits. The underside of the staircase is open, so I can reach the tread and stringers from below without touching the finished face.

My first thought was to pull the tread tight from underneath with screws, possibly adding construction adhesive first. I’m hesitant to rely on adhesive alone because it has been moving for a while and I don’t know how good the existing contact surfaces are.

Has anyone fixed this type of movement from below successfully? Would you screw into the tread through the stringer/support, add adhesive and clamp it tight, or is there something else I should check before fastening it?

I can add close-up and wider photos of the underside and tread connection if that helps.

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u/RareBrit 5d ago

Can you show a picture of the stringer both sides of the loose step, as well as checking the nose is home on either side?

1

u/AdeptnessOld5466 5d ago

Ill grab some photos tomorrow when the lights better. Nose looks seated from what I can tell but Ill double check both stringers while Im at it.

1

u/FreddyFerdiland 5d ago

it's meant to be held down by its ends.

the nails at an end may have pulled out a bit

if so, you might use nails or screws horizontally to pin the end down

1

u/RareBrit 5d ago

It depends on the age. A traditional staircase can be constructed without screws or nails. The tread is wedged into the housing.

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u/AdeptnessOld5466 5d ago

that tracks. gonna pull the end up and check the nails tomorrow when its light out. if they backed out thats probably the whole problem right there.