Pro tip: A squeaky step often means bigger problems below

I went to tighten one loose step in my basement. The whole stringer was rotten and now I'm rebuilding it from scratch. How do you all check for hidden damage without tearing things up?

3 comments

3 Comments

sarah_hart1d ago

My old house taught me to just poke suspect wood with a screwdriver. Finding a beam that felt solid but crumbled like wet cardboard under the awl changed my whole approach. Now I tap and probe with a sharp awl anywhere it sounds hollow.

singh.sarah20h ago

That's a perfect example of how looks can fool you! So many things in life seem solid until you give them a real test. Like when you buy a used car and the paint is shiny but the engine is shot. We get tricked by surfaces all the time. Your awl method is like a reality check for stuff that hides its flaws. It makes me want to probe deeper in other areas too, not just wood!

umar591h ago

Totally! Sarah's awl trick is genius for spotting soft spots. I've found putting a little weight on it while you probe shows if the wood has any flex before it outright crumbles.