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November 25, 2007
Strengthening steps and staircase
Has anyone done anything to strengthen their staircases? We had our basement stairs glued by our old contractor. For our nicer staircase going from the parlor level to the upstairs some of the steps are a bit loose and we want to have them tightened. Our new contractor said this could be done with glue and with large screws and bolts that would show on our nice woodwork. Just wondered if anyone has done anything that worked well and didn’t look bad, would appreciate any advice. Thanks!
Comments
Your staircase doesn't sound like it's in as bad shape as ours. We actually had to take the whole thing apart and support it from underneath...jacking it up while we were at it. Then we got a whole new staircase.
Here's a photo of the supports.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/castleandkeep/297754819/in/set-72157594378041657/
Did the glue work on your basement stairs? I wouldn't think glue would last too long if it's something you're stepping on all the time.
Posted by: rh at November 25, 2007 4:02 PM
I wonder about this job, too--we have some sagging, and the posts holding up the bannister are loose and often pop out. Would be fun to have one of those land on your head. This looks to me like a job for a serious specialist, no? Are they out there?
Posted by: guest at November 26, 2007 9:01 AM
I did stair repair about a year ago. Not many companies do this. But definitely call Anton [sp] of Soxco Stairs.
Posted by: 1910 at November 26, 2007 5:40 PM
I watched an episode of Ask This Old House where they did a nice stair repair job and it did not look that hard. It was on over the weekend and will probably play again, f you have a DVR you can set it to record. I did not spend much time looking on their website, you could probably find the video if you spend a little time.
Here is a an explaination on how to fix a creaky stair from their website:
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,229734,00.html
Posted by: guest at November 26, 2007 5:55 PM
Who did your stair repair? I am looking for someone and Anton is pretty expensive. Thanks
Posted by: guest at November 26, 2007 7:40 PM
RH, Please share the company that rebuilt your stairs. We too have a badly sagging staircase and your new staircase looks AMAZING!
Thank you, Jen in Bed Stuy
Posted by: guest at November 26, 2007 8:47 PM
Jen, Bill at Circular Stairs in Bed Stuy rebuilt our staircase. I highly recommend him! You can search the archives here for more praises. As far as jacking it up and the structural steel supports, my husband did that. He's a structural engineer but he's not for hire. ;) I'm not sure if stair guys can do all the structural stuff underneath, but my husband didn't trust anyone else with that because he's anal.
Posted by: rh at November 26, 2007 9:55 PM
I have done a number of stair repairs, and they have been time consuming to do tastefully.
There is usually a cause for the problems, that you may or may not be able to remedy. For example if the joists at the top have sagged, fixing your stair perfectly plumb will make the transition to a crooked plane well, er, crooked. I have in the past split the difference, fixing the stair one half of the difference. When the repaired stair is strong, clean and finished, the results will be unnoticeable to any but the trained eye.
The only other advice I have is that old stair restorations are not complex, they just require patience. There are some tricks (see post about This Old House, and you will need to make up a bunch of wedges. If you will paint the stairs afterwards, I like the dimensional poplar at Lowes. Grab up the 1/4,3/8,1/2 for use in combination to re-create almaost any size filler.
I also have been happier with ballusters newly turned (I use an oufit in Bushwick)made from a sample of the original. I always find a few mismatched from old repairs, so it makes your finished job sharper if they all are new. It also gives you the chance to switch to round peg form dove tail if your stair is quite old.
Posted by: guest at November 27, 2007 12:42 PM
Can't find any listings in the archives for Circular Stairs - or on Google, in Bed-Stuy.
Do you have any contact info., please?
Thanks!
Posted by: guest at November 27, 2007 6:30 PM
I am not the OP but here is the info you need: N.Y. Fine Circular Stairs, Inc at 884 Broadway, Brooklyn NY 11211. Telephone # is 718 218 9051
Posted by: guest at November 28, 2007 10:37 AM
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