Show 0 TL JF 1 I J BiraS 0 U 51 ar labb V id roger B whitman 0 0 to h 01 SQUEAKY SQUEAKS STAIRS THE HE treads and risers of a flight of stairs ire are supported in grooves cut into the side pieces they are held in the grooves by slender wedges glued into place with shrinkage the wedges loosen and there may be a squeak as they slide in the grooves when stepped on in springing away from the riser there is still more of a squeak when a weight on a tread forces it back into place when the under side of a staircase is open as it may be when over a cellar stair a squeak can be taken out by driving the wedges more tightly and securing them by nailing light finishing nails can be used and they need not go all the way in when the under side is not exposed a squeak can be taken out by preventing a tread from moving on top of its riser the first step in this is to take oil off the strip of molding that is under the overhanging front edge A wedge such as the thin end of a shingle is then driven in between the upper edge of a riser and the tread above the tread will thus be prevented from moving the wedge is cut off of and the molding returned when a staircase is open on one side it occasionally happens that the outside sidepiece side piece becomes warped and springs away from the treads and risers it is sometimes possible to force the side piece back into place by wedging against an opposite wall this however is a job that should be undertaken by a carpenter who is familiar with stair construction 0 by roger B whitman service |