How to repair stair treads

Staircases can take a battering and if you’re looking to repair stair treads in your home, this is the guide for you. We’ll look at how to fix stair treads and how to repair stair risers so that they’re good as new.

Whether your stair treads are creaking, feeling wobbly underfoot or coming away from the riser, the sooner you repair them the better. Keep reading to find out what the damaged stair tread repair options are.

Common reasons to repair stair tread

There are a number of reasons why you might be looking to repair your stair tread. Here are the most common causes for homeowners needing to fix stair treads:

• Creaky stairs – Although not usually dangerous, creaky stairs can become incredibly annoying, especially at night, and are a popular reason for fixing stair treads

• Irregular steps – This is particularly common in older properties and cottages, where the stair tread is inconsistent and can make walking up and down the stairs a hazard

• Cracked stair treads – If you notice cracks or other damage to your stair treads you’ll want to get them fixed as soon as possible to avoid your staircase collapsing and potentially causing serious injuries

• A tilting staircase – Tilted stair treads are a sign that there’s something wrong with your staircase and should be repaired immediately

How to fix stair treads — Damaged stair tread repair options

There are a number of ways to repair stair treads, depending on what you’re repairing and the access you have to your staircase.

Here are some of the common options when it comes to repairing damaged stair treads:

1. Silence a squeaky stair with dry lubricant

If you have a creaky staircase getting on your nerves, a dry lubricant can often silence that squeak. Using a product like powdered graphite or talcum powder will stop the wood of the stair tread from rubbing together – hopefully eliminating the creaking sound.

A dry lubricant might not get rid of the creaks completely, but it should certainly make the sound a lot less noticeable.

To find out more, check out our guide on how to fix creaky stairs.

2. Fix a stair tread in place by screwing it down

The simple method of screwing down a stair tread can do wonders for keeping it in place and also fixing creaky stairs. Usually, three screws per tread should be enough to do the trick.

Just make sure any screws that you insert sit below the surface of the tread so that they don’t create their own hazard.

3. Secure a wobbly tread with nails

Nails can work magic like screws when it comes to repairing wobbly or creaking stair treads. If using nails to secure your stair treads, make sure you nail treads to the stringer board (the board that runs along either side of a flight of stairs) at a 45-degree angle.

And as you would with screws, you want all nails to sit below the surface of the tread – and then finish off by adding some wood filler to create a smooth surface on top of the nail head.

4. Mend a cracked stair tread with carpenter’s glue

For small cracks in a stair tread, you can use wood glue to fix the stair tread back into shape. However, if the cracks are large or seem to be affecting the strength of the tread when taking the load, you might want to replace the treads altogether.

How to repair stair risers

When it comes to repairing stair risers, one of the best ways to fix risers is to use quadrant moulding. Quadrant moulding is typically a long piece of wood with a cross section in the shape of a quarter circle – often used to cover up gaps and imperfections between stair treads and risers.

By fitting a quadrant moulding, you’ll be able to secure both your stair risers and treads into place better. Many homeowners choose quadrant mouldings to repair stair risers are they look nicer than having random screws or nails inserted into the stairs.

How to fix a gap between the riser and tread

Sometimes a stair tread can come away from the riser and create a gap, which can then affect the integrity of your staircase and potentially cause your stairs to creak.

If that’s happened in your home, here’s how to fix a gap between riser and tread:

1. Apply a run of paintable silicone caulk or wood putty along the gap between the riser and tread

2. Use a putty knife to press the caulk/putty into the gap and then smooth it until flush with the tread

3. Allow to dry fully and then use sandpaper to smooth the surface

4. Apply paint or varnish to match the rest of your staircase (or replace/fit the carpet, if needed)

How much does it cost to fix stair treads?

The cost of fixing stair treads will depend on the extent of the damage being repaired, the type of staircase you have, and which tradespeople you’ll need to carry out the work.

Most staircases in the UK are made from wood, or similar material, so you’ll need to call on the skills of a local carpenter. The average cost of a carpenter is around £300per day.

To find out more about costs, check out our guides on the costs for renovating a staircase.

Hire a professional to repair your stair tread

If you need help fixing your stair treads in your home, there are plenty of experienced local tradespeople on Checkatrade who can do the job for you.