jodil Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 These stairs are spongy and weak even under 100 lbs of weight..They are constructed of very thin (maybe 1/4 inch?) plywood style material? What should I suggest be done about this without rebuilding them? Click to Enlarge 67.89 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randynavarro Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 Personally, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable spec'ing a detailed fix. I'd just say, they're insufficient and dangerous. Hire a competent and reputable carpenter who builds stairs all the time fix them - if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottpat Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 I don't think much can be done short of rebuilding them. Why don't you want to recommend rebuilding them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jodil Posted March 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 Becuase I know both buyer and seller and both are barely scraping by the get in and out of this house and the buyer wants to just make them safe but cannot afford to rebuild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottpat Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 Becuase I know both buyer and seller and both are barely scraping by the get in and out of this house and the buyer wants to just make them safe but cannot afford to rebuild. Just do your job and report what you found along with the fact that they are not stable and a good carpenter should be contacted to repair or replace them. Randy said it pretty well. I have had sellers and buyers with very little extra money several times, some have been acquantiances from church and the like. Don't let emotions get the best of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtblum Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 Jodi, If the treads are in a housed (routed) stringer, Gluing and screwing another piece of plywood of the same size to the back of the existing riser and under the tread should take care of it. But before they do that, they should make sure that the bottom of the existing risers are glued to the back of the treads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Jones Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 Jodi, You have to call this as you see it. As Scott said, don't let your emotions get the best of you. Explain what it is that is wrong, let a qualified contractor/carpenter come out and make recommendations for repair and maybe they could meet halfway on the cost of repairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonOfSwamp Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 These stairs are spongy and weak even under 100 lbs of weight..They are constructed of very thin (maybe 1/4 inch?) plywood style material? What should I suggest be done about this without rebuilding them? Click to Enlarge 67.89 KB Pardon my saying so, but it's not the HI's job, nor is it in the HI's or customer's best interest to suggest a "make-do" job. That's all risk and no reward. Not to go all legalistic, but stairs are at or near the top of any savvy HI's "things I might get sued over" list. You're not helping these buyers if you put them in half-ass mode. Just tell them to get the stairs fixed. If you can have some "alone time" with the stairs, you might want to measure rise and run and see if they comply with building codes. If they don't comply, that's another big reason not to look for a band-aid fix. It's a simple observe-and-report job. The stairs are flimsy. Flimsy or otherwise deficient stairs hurt people. Tell the customers to get the stairs fixed before they move in. From your description, I'd say this one's gonna require a do-over. Finally this: I recommend that you not recommend handyman solutions. We're observers/reporters, not handyfolk. WJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 What everyone else said. If you really want to get hammered about a year from now (or sooner), help them figure out a cheap way to fix these stairs. They need rebuilding. The amount of time and energy it would take to block them all out and reinforce everything would take more time, energy, and money than rebuilding them. I've built dozens (I don't really know how many) stairs, and I'm telling you, "patching" stairs isn't possible. The result will not be satisfactory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtblum Posted March 9, 2009 Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 I stand corrected again. Sorry Jodi, these guy's are right. It's not our job. I was only trying to answer the posted question and suggest a remedy in a way that an experienced finished stair builder might correct not band-aid the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 If you feel stairs/steps are wrong - write it. You get retained and paid for your opinion. I am getting a little old, so forgive me for not having enough info from the photo. Can't quite see enough to write a logical comment. Of course, I could guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baird Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 You also might point out how they don't appear to meet any aspects of stair profile (rise, run, nosing etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jodil Posted March 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Got it.. Thank you. I was just wanting to help out these people as they are friends of mine, but I get all your points. I will state the obvious and thats all... Sometimes I guess I just need that reminder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtblum Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Hey Jodi, Just for the sake of my sanity. We are looking at the back of a set of stairs with 5/4 treads and 1/4" risers right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Hi, If we aren't, the studs in the house are oriented horizontally. [:-bigeyes ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.