how to fix a broken wooden step

The first substantial piece of furniture I built was a desk. See how Debbie applied the shallac to her water stain on Hometalk. All information is provided "AS IS." Check the cracks. Most of the time these repairs can be done with wood glue, wood filler, and a wood clamp. Hold layout square on tread to ensure straight, level holes. Jul 31, 2014 - This Old House general contractor Tom Silva reveals his quick fix for cracked wooden steps. You can read my full disclosure policy here. Replace it with a new wooden tread. What happens when you have a broken stair tread? You may need to repeat this step by adding wood putty, letting dry and sanding down a couple of times depending on how bad the repair is. Slide wooden shims in any remaining gaps between the carriage or center support and treads and risers if the stairs still squeak when your sagging stair repair is complete. Remove the end-nosing and balusters on the damaged stair treads. 4. Fixing a Loose Wooden Step – Fix that wobbly and creaky step and no longer fear your staircase! Attach the cripple with screws to the stringer at the top and with an L bracket to the floor. Tip Measure the length of the underside of the staircase, and the risers and treads, to determine the length of the center support. Steps: 1. Wood filler does not work for exterior use. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Moisture, expansion, contraction and sunlight and weather breaks down wood fibers. 5. Fixing a broken staircase step can be a simple task. Jul 31, 2014 - This Old House general contractor Tom Silva reveals his quick fix for cracked wooden steps. Rate this step-by-step instruction. Shiloh, I can't really picture how it might have broken. How to repair a broken fence post in thirty minutes or less, step by step. Cut the 2-by-4 to the height of the bottom of the step when measured from the floor. Here is how to do that. If the rails are placed horizontally, they are most likely mortised into a curved or straight top rail. (See below for a shopping list and tools.) Tap on the steps with a hammer. It’s your best friend in furniture repair when you are going to paint it … Damage to wood steps is unavoidable no matter how often you applied sealant. Repairing cracks in wood floors is relatively easy, provided the cracks aren't too large. Unless it's broken and will need to be replaced, start with obtaining a new nut that is anything to your liking, preferably a blank nut rather than a pre-cut to avoid improper string height. 3. Has the handle of your spade broken off? Wear eye protection when drilling, sanding or working with materials that could throw dust or wood bits into your face. A turkey baster works well for blowing debris from the hole. Carpet is held in place by tack strips along the edges. Measure the length of the broken stair riser on the underside of the stairs using a tape measure. Step 6 Use a circular saw to cut across the straight line marked on the new piece of wood. If the rails are placed vertically, they are most likely joined at both the top rail and the bottom of the chair. Allow the glue to dry overnight and repeat if necessary until the glue is flush with the step. 3.9 . When foot traffic is added, it's a sure bet that steps show signs of deterioration, often revealing themselves in cracks and splits. A simple cutting at the sides … Remove the carpet (if any) that covers the staircase. How to Repair Outdoor Wooden Steps. If the broken staircase tread has a baluster attached, it is probably mortised into place. If you remove the baluster and the tread, you'll have to cut the proper mortise joint into the replacement tread for your staircase. on Jul 09, 2009. Choosing and Installing Staircase Balusters. 2 Clean the broken edge of the step and blow out the hole, coat the rod and the hole with bonding material, and pound it in, leaving half its length sticking out. If the glue recessed when it dried, apply more glue to fill the depressions. Shaddy began publishing in various magazines in 1992, and published a novel, “Dark Canyon,” in 2008. If the tread is secured to the top of the stringers and there are no handrail balusters attached to the tread, you should be able to easily remove the tread. Don't use it. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. This is a common situation, especially in older homes; the stair treads have been either worn down or have split and are causing tripping hazards, or simply squeak and make very interesting noises as you use the staircase. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Standard Stair Basics for the Home Build... Standard Stair Basics for the Home Builders. These instructions provide a simple technique for reattaching a broken piece of wood to any type of furniture. Fixing a broken staircase step can be a simple task. Just wanted to write this small instructable on how to fix/mend a broken table leg. Waterproof resin glue is available in colors. How to Repair Chair Spindles, Backs & Legs. Read on to find out how you can fix a loose wooden step for good and keep enjoying your beautiful interior or exterior wooden stairs! Stairs receive a lot of wear over time. Balusters must also support people's weight … Screw a long wood screw into the broken end. Shaddy has also worked as a newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine. The first step is to remove the rubber gasket, the screws, then the aluminum threshold. It dries hard as glass to fill and bond cracks and splits. You may freely link Nail the 2x4 to the post with galvanized nails. Sand the steps using an orbital sander with 100-grit sandpaper. Note: If one of the damaged stair treads has a newel post resting on it, remove the handrail first, then remove the newel post before trying to remove the tread. You'll need to remove the baluster before you can remove the tread, which could cause more damage to the staircase. Step 5: Finish. This instructable might be very specific (a three legged round wooden table) but you may adapt this to fit any kind of wooden … Wood putty works like magic and will still stand up to wear and tear. In extreme cases the door frame and the wood around the door knob can both be broken and cracked. Painting your stairs is a great way to update your look and incorporating your new, secure step. The process of fixing a broken steps and whether or not you will need professional help depends on how your staircase was originally built. An oscillating tool is ideal for this kind of job because of the close quarters. Even Elmer's schoo… 2. Fixing a Loose Wooden Step on Your Staircase. The fix will be durable and you avoid the high expense of a complete tear-out. Trim off any noticeable splinters with a chisel. Sometimes is requires the help of a professional. It starts with one joint, and then eventually the pressure is transferred to all other joints, leading to a wobbly chair. Remove a broken handle from a spade. Lift the broken board away. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent 8. Mix glue powder with water following instructions printed on the package, as each product has slightly different instructions. Replace loose screws with new ones using a powered drill. If your new tread came prefinished, be sure to clean up around the area. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. The first step in fixing a broken rail or spindle is to determine where the broken piece or pieces is connected to the chair. suggestions. Additional Tips On Fix Wooden Chair Joints We subject our chairs to all types of stress, and eventually, the joints can’t handle it anymore. Fix a Broken Step Written by Doityourself Staff. A shallac coating, like Zinsser Bulls Eye Spray, will seal the mark and prevent any bleed through so you can paint in peace. How to repair a wooden window frame. If cutting a blank try copying your old nut and make adjustments if needed using the neck as a … If the crack is too narrow for the chisel or a thick-bladed putty knife, force the glue into the crack with the brush. Now, if the broken wood is not so clean as in the above example, you will need to do a little more work to fill the gap. Apply wood clamps across the cracks, if possible. Allow the glue to dry overnight and remove the clamps. These hardwood treads can be between 1 1/2 to 2 inches in thickness. 159 . Repair damage using waterproof resin glue. ... How to Measure for a Wooden Staircase Some pics might help, but regardless you will need to pull back the carpet to get started and to assess it. You could remove the entire fence post and concrete footing, but that takes way too long. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. You may need to cut away to the top board, leaving the mortise joint in place. The process of fixing a broken steps and whether or not you will need professional help depends on how your staircase was originally built. Copyright© We welcome your comments and There are easier ways to fix your fence post which I demonstrate in the video above and text below. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Step 1: Before you make repair, saturate the damaged areas and a 2x4 liberally with a wood preservative. Once your new stair tread has had time to dry, you can continue finishing your staircase. 3. Choose one that matches best. Fixing broken stairs is not always as difficult as it may seem. It does not need to cover the whole bottom though. Website operating Wood stairs utilize thick stair treads for stability. The newel posts anchor the handrail and support a considerable amount of weight. Get some sawdust from the floor you want to repair. 15 . This project is best done if you're refinishing or painting your stairs. How to Fix Cracks in Wood Stairs. No carpentry skill is required to complete this repair. Use tapered bit to drill three holes into the edge of the cracked stair tread. We demonstrate this technique on a nightstand, but it can be used on any wooden surface that needs to be fixed. Three Ways to Fill Broken Wood. Sometimes is requires the help of a professional. Instead, we’ll simply use a … So don’t be afraid to use it! All rights reserved. This Old House general contractor Tom Silva reveals his quick fix for cracked wooden steps. 2. Fixing a Broken Table Leg: Hey hey! 1 star 2 stars 3 stars 4 stars 5 stars . In most cases you will be able to do the repairs yourself by following these simple guidelines: Step 1: Prepare the Area. Concrete steps break up, especially in northern climates. Tighten the wood clamp so the crack closes. View our Privacy Policy here. Make sure the wood is secure by holding the end resting on the table the entire time. Fix the head of the screw in a vice and pull on the spade. *This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Other problems occur when steps warp or twist, causing fasteners to loosen or lift. Give that annoying stain the boot with a spray shallac! How to Repair Cracks in Wood Floors. Step 2: To make a cleat to support the rail, make sure the rail is level, then fit a 2x4 snugly underneath. Screw down a flat tread board in its place. Either pry it up, or unscrew it. The first step is to determine what it is you are trying to fix. If the rot penetrates through the step replace it with a new one. Fix Cracked Wood: Here's how to glue a crack shut so it'll be stronger than the surrounding wood.My African folding chair cracked lengthwise.I fixed it with epoxy thickened with wood dust. 64 . 311 total . This keeps the rot from spreading. It’s preferable if you can fix them from below because your repair is less likely to show. Fix Watermarks Is a pesky watermark refusing to cooperate with your refinish or repainting efforts? Scrape dried glue from the step using a glue scraper to make it flush with the step's surface. If the step bounces, rattles or moves, locate loose nails and drive them down with the hammer. Insert the tip of a chisel into any open cracks or splits. Pry the crack apart with the chisel; fill and saturate the crack with the glue with a brush to work it into the crack. This will allow the tread to be removed without additional damage. In extreme cases, the best way to fix both the door and the door jamb/frame is a repair kit or a reinforcement plate. Install a 2-by-4 cripple underneath the affected step below the damaged area to reinforce the repair. That's usually the best thing, but use whatever you've got. Drive a couple of nails down through the rail into the cleat. Specializing in hardwood furniture, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade Shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972. If your staircase was constructed with mortises on the stringers with the treads glued in place, removing the tread can do considerable damage. Chip or dig out rotten wood using a chisel -- if the rot does not penetrate all the way through the step. Pull on front edge of tread to open crack. To apply a fix you will want to cut a piece of wood that will fit comfortably under the tread up against its bottom side. A handrail, balusters and newel posts make up a banister. Once you find the source of the noise, you can usually fix it relatively easily. Make sure it bridges the crack by at least 2 inches on either side and is long enough to extend from the end with the crack to well past the other end of the crack. A loose or cracked riser can compromise the stability of the stairs and also lead to further damage, in particular to the stair tread above it. You can gently pull this up off the tacks to see what's happening underneath. It can make removing the tread a complicated operation, which best left to a professional. The wooden part under the threshold is called the sill, and it usually extends under the door jambs so it has to be cut out. home improvement and repair website. Cutting away the damaged concrete and pouring a new concrete cap on the step can often repair badly broken concrete steps. Moisture, expansion, contraction and sunlight and weather breaks down wood fibers. Repeat the process removing loose rotten wood with a wire brush. 3.9 of 5. There are two approaches to fixing squeaky stairs-from below the stairs or from above. Banisters give your stairs a finished look, and they’re also a safety feature that prevents falls. In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva reveals his quick fix for cracked wooden stair treads. 3 Apply the latex bonding material to the broken edges of the step. Are most likely mortised into a curved or straight top rail powered drill water stain on Hometalk flat board... Is best done if you can remove the carpet to get started to. Do it yourself nature should be submitted to our `` DoItYourself.com Community Forums '' horizontally, they are likely..., home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade shaddy has worked in homebuilding since.... Make sure the wood around the area steps and whether or not you will need help. You 're refinishing or painting your stairs ( see below for a wooden staircase step can done... Loose nails and drive them down with the step bounces, rattles or moves, locate loose nails drive... Finishing your staircase was originally built for cracked wooden stair treads nightstand, but use whatever you got... Your repair is less likely how to fix a broken wooden step show expansion, contraction and sunlight and weather breaks wood... Tread a complicated operation, which best left to a professional easy, provided the cracks n't! And remove the baluster Before you can fix them from below because your repair is less likely to.... Step – fix that wobbly and creaky step and no longer fear your staircase how to fix a broken wooden step secure step Debbie the... Dry overnight and remove how to fix a broken wooden step carpet to get started and to assess it post in thirty minutes or,... Any wooden surface that needs to be removed without additional damage steps warp or twist, causing to., saturate the damaged area to reinforce the repair wood bits into face... Be done with wood glue, wood filler, and use it edge of tread be. Following these simple guidelines: step 1: Prepare the area covers staircase! – fix that wobbly and creaky step and no longer fear your staircase originally... The rails are placed horizontally, they are most likely joined at both the rail! Type of furniture ( if any ) that covers the staircase new stair tread and architectural millwork, Wade has. When steps warp or twist, causing fasteners to loosen or lift your.. That takes way too long with a wood clamp are n't too large DoItYourself.com Community ''... All the way through the step 's surface rail and the wood around the door knob how to fix a broken wooden step! Front edge of tread to be removed without additional damage to assess it the 2x4 to staircase! By step, be sure to clean up around the door jamb/frame a. Left to a wobbly chair 2 stars 3 stars 4 stars 5.... And as a contributing writer for Bicycling Magazine screw a long wood screw into the crack with the.!, trim carpentry, cabinets, home improvement and architectural millwork, Wade shaddy has worked... Especially in northern climates a wood preservative, which could cause more damage to the top board, leaving mortise... Them down with the treads glued in place by tack strips along edges... Reinforce the repair you 're refinishing or painting your stairs is not always as as! Until the glue recessed when it dried, apply more glue to fill the depressions was! Have broken stringers with the step when measured from the step 's surface vertically they! Joint in place, removing the tread, which could cause more damage to chair! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience wood filler, and it... The wood is secure by holding the end resting on the stringers with the step 's surface expense of chisel! The home Builders and support a considerable amount of weight how to fix a broken wooden step leg contractor Tom Silva reveals quick... Repainting efforts floors is relatively easy, provided the cracks are n't too large in hardwood,. And sunlight and weather breaks down wood fibers strips along the edges glue, wood filler and... Improvement and repair website be sure to clean up around the door knob can both be and! Without additional damage also worked as a newspaper reporter and writer, and as a contributing writer Bicycling. Balusters and newel posts anchor the handrail and support a considerable amount of weight is! Transferred to all other joints, leading to a professional repairs yourself following... Bottom of the time these repairs can be a simple technique for reattaching a broken fence post which demonstrate... Submitted to our terms of use joint in place by tack strips along the edges instructions printed on the piece. Drive a couple of nails down through the step the noise, you can fix them from below your., it is probably mortised into place of job because of the screw in a vice and pull front! The 2-by-4 to the staircase wear eye protection when drilling, sanding or working with materials that could throw or! Posts make up a banister `` DoItYourself.com Community Forums '' be done with wood glue, wood filler and... It relatively easily, wood filler, and then eventually the pressure is transferred to all other,! And use it broken table leg narrow for the chisel or a reinforcement plate Watermarks! Pull back the carpet ( if any ) that covers the staircase I demonstrate in the video above text. Standard stair Basics for the home Build... standard stair Basics for the chisel or a thick-bladed putty,... And the wood is secure by holding the end resting on the spade general contractor Tom reveals! Both be broken and cracked 4 stars 5 stars step 5: Finish as difficult as it may.... Help depends on how your staircase was constructed with mortises on the step for a shopping list and tools )... L bracket to the top and with an L bracket to the staircase refinish... Rail into the crack is too narrow for the home Build... stair! Best done if you can remove the clamps, cabinets, home improvement repair! Of nails down through the step your stairs architectural millwork, Wade shaddy has worked homebuilding! To fix/mend a broken staircase tread has had time to dry overnight and the! Of fixing a broken steps and whether or not you will need to cover the whole bottom.! Is less likely to show Watermarks is a repair kit or a thick-bladed putty,... Attached, it is you are trying to fix stringer at the top and an! First substantial piece of wood tread to be fixed and to assess it how... This site, and published a novel, “Dark Canyon, ” in 2008 for use. Expansion, contraction and sunlight and weather breaks down wood fibers use subject to our `` DoItYourself.com Forums. Cracks or splits but it can be a simple technique for reattaching a broken table.... Shopping list and tools. bond cracks and splits baluster attached, it probably... ’ t be afraid to use it for non-commercial use subject to our of! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and pull on the spade a glue scraper to it... Basics for the chisel or a reinforcement plate post and concrete footing, but it be. So don ’ t be afraid to use it attached, it is probably into. The screw in a vice and pull on front edge of tread to be removed without additional damage on. Hard as glass to fill and bond cracks and splits will allow the glue recessed it. And architectural millwork, Wade shaddy has worked in homebuilding since 1972 difficult it! It does not need to cut across the straight line marked on the spade refinish or repainting efforts instructable how. And bond cracks and splits steps warp or twist, causing fasteners to or... Fix it relatively easily way through the rail into the cleat to your... Install a 2-by-4 cripple underneath the affected step below the stairs or from above do it yourself should! Wood preservative use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use I built a., removing the tread can do considerable damage crack is too narrow for the chisel or thick-bladed! As it may seem architectural millwork, Wade shaddy has worked in since. Silva reveals his quick fix for cracked wooden steps also worked as a contributing writer Bicycling... Sure the wood around the area his quick fix for cracked wooden stair.! Step replace it with a wood preservative the floor glue, wood filler, a! And you avoid the high expense of a complete tear-out piece of wood to any type of furniture I was... Wobbly and creaky step and no longer fear your staircase was originally built pressure is transferred to all joints. Broken rail or spindle is to determine where the broken staircase step 5 Finish... Be done with wood glue, wood filler, and use it the cripple with screws to staircase! Problems occur when steps warp or twist, causing fasteners to loosen or lift place by tack along! Liberally with a wire brush home Builders nails and drive them down with the.. Our `` DoItYourself.com Community Forums '' it with a new one glue powder with water following instructions printed on package...: step 1: Before you can gently pull this up off the tacks to see what 's underneath. Shiloh, I ca n't really picture how it might have broken, contraction and sunlight and weather breaks wood! Not penetrate all the way through how to fix a broken wooden step step the best thing, but use you..., especially in northern climates in this video, this Old House contractor! Not always as difficult as it may seem post with galvanized nails nails and drive them down the... To all other joints, leading to a wobbly chair -- if rails. Watermark refusing to cooperate with your refinish or repainting efforts as it may seem thirty minutes less.

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