How To Repair Broken Stairs

While your new staircase may last for quite awhile before replacement will be required, the length of its life will be dependent on how much you take care of it. This is why it is so important that you act quickly whenever you notice minor damages. Leaving even a minute damage or crack on a tread or on the riser can lead to more serious damages later on. If you intervene and repair the damage early, you may effectively avoid more work and more costs later on. That said here are some tips on how to perform repairs on your stairs. Bear in mind that these tips are applicable for stairs made of wood since most are made of it.

    Determine the problem areas. This is definitely the first step. Normally, you will notice squeaks and creaks, not to mention unstable treads when walking up and down the stairs. Your weight on each step will be the first test that you will need to do. Simply walk on a step and sway from left to right. If you feel that the tread board is loose or hear a creaking sound, then that particular step will need repairs.
    To test the riser and well as the stairs foundation, you will want to bounce on each step. If the stairs wobble or vibrate too much, then it could be a problem with the riser or the actual foundation of the staircase.
    Finally, you will want to inspect each part of the staircase as it is highly possible that cracks and gaps in the wood may have developed over time.

    In any case, make sure to take note of each part that needs repair. These will be your focus during the entire activity.
    Repair each step. Now that you have determined the damaged steps on your staircase, the next phase will be to prep each step for repairs. What you will need to do is clear the step and riser of any loose nails. Remove them by prying them out. If all the nails need replacement, then so be it. You will virtually be able to pull the tread board right off of the top of the riser.
    In any case, to repair a step, all you will have to do is hammer in the new nails onto the board towards the riser. This will make the step sturdy. Lacing the bottom of the board, the one that will lay on top of the riser, with wood glue is highly recommended as it will enhance stability.
    Now, if the step or the riser has small cracks, chips, or gaps, consider filling those with wood filler or cement. You can find these at any hardware store. You may also use wood glue if that is the only thing available to you.
    On the other hand, if the board or the riser is damaged beyond repair, consider replacing the step with a fresh board, one that has been cut down to the same specifications and dimensions. Hence, a little carpentry work will be in order, nothing that you can’t handle on your own.


On the off chance that the actual foundation of the staircase is damaged, then you will probably need a carpenter or contractor to fix the problem, since replacement will be your only option.