Old timer told me to double the glue on stairs and I thought he was crazy

He was right, after 18 months the first set I did with normal glue started popping loose and now I'm redoing them for free, anyone else been burned by skimping on adhesive on stairs?

4 comments

4 Comments

josephbailey27d ago

Yeah I learned that lesson the hard way too. I started using construction adhesive on every stair tread and riser joint, not just the glue lines. Put a thick bead along the back of the riser where it meets the tread and another along the stringer. Been three years now and not a single squeak or pop. That extra tube of glue saves you having to rip out carpet or pull trim later.

alice92827d ago

The one thing people often miss is that construction adhesive also works wonders on the back of the skirt board where it meets the wall studs. That spot flexes over time and can cause a creak that sounds like it's coming from the tread itself. I go ahead and put a bead there too, and it stops that whole area from moving. Also, make sure you're using the right type of adhesive for the job. Some of the cheaper stuff stays rubbery and never fully hardens, which can actually make things worse down the road. A good construction adhesive that sets up firm will lock everything in solid. It's a simple fix that saves a lot of headache later.

angela_morgan3d ago

Wait, so the cheap stuff just stays squishy forever? Sounds like even the glue is out here half-assing the job like the rest of us on a Monday morning. I guess that explains why my last attempt at silencing a squeaky step ended up making it sound like I was stepping on a rubber chicken. Good to know I should probably stick with the "I'm not going to do this again" grade adhesive instead of the dollar store special.

lily_cooper26d ago

Read somewhere that temperature and humidity play a big role too. If you glue stairs when it's cold or damp the adhesive doesn't bond as well and it fails faster. That old timer probably knew to wait for a dry week before doing the job. I've also heard that putting glue on both surfaces not just one makes a huge difference. Sounds like extra work but it locks everything together way better.