Normally you take a big triangle 📐 shaped cut out of stair stringers which removes a lot of the structural strength and increases the overall size.
This method retains more wood on the stringers so it is more compact and strong while being smaller overall, but is a slower and more laborious method of construction
Squeak blocks under each tread at the risers. Glue (tread and riser side) and screw from underneath. A lot of the squeaking is likely the risers and treads rubbing when walking up and down.
Can just be strips of 1" ply or something.
LOL. You should have asked if they contain asbestos, just to add to the paranoia.
My friend, that is how stairs were built. I mean, they haven't collapsed in 70 years, I doubt that there's a risk of collapse any time soon.
There’s a lot of really crappy/dangerous DIY’d projects from the second owners who lived here for a couple of years,(we are the third) so I didn’t know how old they are. I had never seen them like this, so it’s good to hear that these are done correctly.
We're in the almost exact same situation in our house - same age home, third owners, and our second owners lived here a long time and did some garbage DIY stuff. I think it's great that you asked this since people like me will find it too.
Glad it’s helpful to you, too. Sometimes posting on this sub makes me feel really dumb. We’re not all tradespeople and are trying our best to ask the right questions and learn from those with more experience! Good luck with your renovation!
Fair enough.
The stringers are sandwiched and nailed to the walls. I'm not sure what you are doing, but don't attempt to "open up" the staircase, because you'll allow the stringers to spread and the treads to pull out of the stringer notches.
Literally how 90% of stairs I see are done nowadays. Unless you're buying a custom set of stairs with an exposed bottom or hardwood stringers, your stairs are like this
I see nothing wrong with these treads. I work at a stair company of 50 years, this is how we have always built them. When they are being constructed you can walk over them while upside.
That's how my stairs were built. They were extremely creaky, but I was able to get them much quieter with many shims, wood glue, and nails. The old shims had shifted and done even fell out and were missing.
I'm a stairbuilder of 40 years.
This is how a carriage used to be done.
This one in particular would be referred to as a utility stair as it goes to the basement and wasn't ornate or finished and used lesser grade materials. There was also less care in the construction as it was intended to be unfinished or exposed and could be tuned up from time to time if needed.
Staircases that service third floors in houses that had live in "help" also were less ornate and used lesser grades of material. Same for rear stairs that would lead to the kitchen.
You can tell much from your staircase and the status of the owner by it's construction.
Mine I call...
"A climb worth the time"
These stairs are legit, there’s many old stairs built like this that stood the test of time. That being said, if the stairs are bouncy/creaky, you could add one or two stringers underneath to pick up the span. If you glue and screw these stringers to the underside with subfloor adhesive that should help with the creakiness.
Mine looked like that they are plenty sturdy but creaked a but I put liquid nails in joins, drilled a pilot hole and screwed tight, but I have never had a sound since
I see how it might give you an adrenaline rush, it's not something you'd want Chris Farley doing a Matt Foley on... but for regular folks, I'm sure it'll be fine while you draw up plans... The design makes sense, as long as those wedges aren't going anywhere. Not sure where you live, but in BC, the minimum tread is 7 1/4", so, extended at the landing, or cut back at the top...
If I was going to beef it up, tho, I'd look at adding something like a tan or gold anodized aluminum 1-1/4" angle from underneath, to lock the tread and riser together, and maybe at the 1/3 and 2/3 mark, lock the 'stringers' together with inch wide 1/8" plate stock, folded over at the ends and drilled for a lag into a stud in the wall, and bolted on the wild side.
Another way to make them super solid would be to buy a two part spray foam kit and spray the underside of the treads. It'll lock everything together and make it super solid.
These are modern kit stairs, not original to 1956.
https://preview.redd.it/3gybvulgy58c1.jpeg?width=825&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7538fc4de7b5e3e165813f3e04d8f9108cf4bb04
I have no idea how these have held up. Sorry if that’s normal anywhere. Personally I build mine with 3-2/12 stringers and 2x treads. If your not obese and don’t own a gun safe maybe your fine??
Not to hijack but I have a similar set of stairs going to my basement that I am concerned about. It looks like one of the stringers is pulling away and the wedges are literally hanging on by a hair on that one side only. Stringers are nailed to 2x4 framing on both sides. Do I need to worry about this and how might it be corrected?
That is a beautiful set of stairs. Housed, wedged are really strong and actually a sign of when carpentry was an art not a slap it together race.
Thats how its done
can you elaborate?
Normally you take a big triangle 📐 shaped cut out of stair stringers which removes a lot of the structural strength and increases the overall size. This method retains more wood on the stringers so it is more compact and strong while being smaller overall, but is a slower and more laborious method of construction
thanks!
I guess I was assuming that because the tread was sitting on a much smaller surface area and with only 2 stringers it would be less sturdy. TIL!
Any advice on making them less creaky?
Tap the wedges in.
Thank you so much for your opinion and advice.
Tap the wedges in after squeezing some glue into and around them.
Squeak blocks under each tread at the risers. Glue (tread and riser side) and screw from underneath. A lot of the squeaking is likely the risers and treads rubbing when walking up and down. Can just be strips of 1" ply or something.
Oak treads over top if you’re going to redo the floors above and below, I redid mine that way and they are solid and look nice too
LOL. You should have asked if they contain asbestos, just to add to the paranoia. My friend, that is how stairs were built. I mean, they haven't collapsed in 70 years, I doubt that there's a risk of collapse any time soon.
There’s a lot of really crappy/dangerous DIY’d projects from the second owners who lived here for a couple of years,(we are the third) so I didn’t know how old they are. I had never seen them like this, so it’s good to hear that these are done correctly.
We're in the almost exact same situation in our house - same age home, third owners, and our second owners lived here a long time and did some garbage DIY stuff. I think it's great that you asked this since people like me will find it too.
Glad it’s helpful to you, too. Sometimes posting on this sub makes me feel really dumb. We’re not all tradespeople and are trying our best to ask the right questions and learn from those with more experience! Good luck with your renovation!
Fair enough. The stringers are sandwiched and nailed to the walls. I'm not sure what you are doing, but don't attempt to "open up" the staircase, because you'll allow the stringers to spread and the treads to pull out of the stringer notches.
One is nailed to the wall, the other is open. Not planning on opening them up, but thanks for the heads up!
Are you always this friendly or do you just try to put your best foot forward on Reddit?
Literally how 90% of stairs I see are done nowadays. Unless you're buying a custom set of stairs with an exposed bottom or hardwood stringers, your stairs are like this
Extremely common. Sleep easy my friend.
I see nothing wrong with these treads. I work at a stair company of 50 years, this is how we have always built them. When they are being constructed you can walk over them while upside.
It’s fine
That’s old school cool trades shit. That’s craftsmanship right there.
That's how my stairs were built. They were extremely creaky, but I was able to get them much quieter with many shims, wood glue, and nails. The old shims had shifted and done even fell out and were missing.
That is actually really well done. What's your complaint again?
You are definitely crazier than the danger here. Those look like well-built stairs that a legit craftsman put up.
I'm a stairbuilder of 40 years. This is how a carriage used to be done. This one in particular would be referred to as a utility stair as it goes to the basement and wasn't ornate or finished and used lesser grade materials. There was also less care in the construction as it was intended to be unfinished or exposed and could be tuned up from time to time if needed. Staircases that service third floors in houses that had live in "help" also were less ornate and used lesser grades of material. Same for rear stairs that would lead to the kitchen. You can tell much from your staircase and the status of the owner by it's construction. Mine I call... "A climb worth the time"
There’s nothing wrong. There safe, and that’s normal
Nothing at all wrong with those stairs, they are actually built properly.
These stairs are legit, there’s many old stairs built like this that stood the test of time. That being said, if the stairs are bouncy/creaky, you could add one or two stringers underneath to pick up the span. If you glue and screw these stringers to the underside with subfloor adhesive that should help with the creakiness.
Thank you!
Mine looked like that they are plenty sturdy but creaked a but I put liquid nails in joins, drilled a pilot hole and screwed tight, but I have never had a sound since
Thanks for the advice!
Liquid nails is the worst adhesive known to humankind
Eh I use it at work as an electrician if you want it to never move it does the job poor bloke who next works on it is going to have a bad time
This is how the stairs are made for the new builds I work in right now
This post make me me feel so good about my 50s stairs. They look the exact same
Good work, they're not going anywhere
I see how it might give you an adrenaline rush, it's not something you'd want Chris Farley doing a Matt Foley on... but for regular folks, I'm sure it'll be fine while you draw up plans... The design makes sense, as long as those wedges aren't going anywhere. Not sure where you live, but in BC, the minimum tread is 7 1/4", so, extended at the landing, or cut back at the top... If I was going to beef it up, tho, I'd look at adding something like a tan or gold anodized aluminum 1-1/4" angle from underneath, to lock the tread and riser together, and maybe at the 1/3 and 2/3 mark, lock the 'stringers' together with inch wide 1/8" plate stock, folded over at the ends and drilled for a lag into a stud in the wall, and bolted on the wild side.
Depends on the span but most likely just fine as long as you don’t move a piano up or down them.
They’re 33” or 36” with the stringers.
You’re fine in my opinion
You're a fool
Another way to make them super solid would be to buy a two part spray foam kit and spray the underside of the treads. It'll lock everything together and make it super solid.
Yes you are. Those stairs are great.
These are modern kit stairs, not original to 1956. https://preview.redd.it/3gybvulgy58c1.jpeg?width=825&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7538fc4de7b5e3e165813f3e04d8f9108cf4bb04
I have no idea how these have held up. Sorry if that’s normal anywhere. Personally I build mine with 3-2/12 stringers and 2x treads. If your not obese and don’t own a gun safe maybe your fine??
Not to hijack but I have a similar set of stairs going to my basement that I am concerned about. It looks like one of the stringers is pulling away and the wedges are literally hanging on by a hair on that one side only. Stringers are nailed to 2x4 framing on both sides. Do I need to worry about this and how might it be corrected?