An old wooden staircase is an eye-catcher in any hallway. The building material wood is so popular because it is characterized by its stability and strength and is particularly environmentally friendly. Wood has a high load-bearing capacity with a relatively low dead weight, has good insulating properties and also looks good. No wonder, then, that the natural building material is so popular with many homeowners. Since wood has the property of contracting and shrinking over the years, creaking or squeaking noises can occur when climbing a wooden staircase.
The good news is: Relatively simple measures can remedy the situation and make the stairs noiseless again. Since the wooden steps sag over time when stepped on, it is important to restore stability. As the wood shrinks, it expands into the grooves cut in the stringers when a load is applied. If a thin wooden wedge is pushed into the free space between the stringboard and, for example, the wall or the steps, the free space is eliminated and the wood can no longer expand. As a rule, the disturbing noises then also stop.
If it is an exposed staircase, the stair treads can be subsequently screwed with a threaded rod. The screw should be long enough to pass through both stringers and firmly connect them. For closed staircases, you can additionally firmly connect the riser to the tread on the back side of the staircase. Further tips on how do-it-yourselfers can counteract creaking noises or how impact sound insulation can be installed can be found by interested parties on the website of the online portal "Wohnglück".
Source: Housing Happiness
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