Well, we went w/ Mirage 3/4 maple 3 1/4" strip for the LR,DR,FR and stairs (w/white risers). Installed 4-weeks ago. Overall satisfied w/ install except for stairs. Everytime someone goes up or down the (12) steps and least 4 will creak, but most often create a loud CRACK sound. This can be heard through-out the home and VERY LOUD in the basement below. Now I understand that wood can dimensionally change resulting in some noise over time but this makes me want to live downstairs for good.

Concern #2: The bullnose strip on each stair is not flush w/ the adjoining tread piece. Seems to be about 1/16" higher. The 1/16" may not sound like a lot but when walking up/down stairs w/o shoes you can really feel the back edge of the bullnose. Dealer is telling me this is normal due to the fact that all flooring manufactures outsource their trim to other mills that may have different specs.

Gives me a pain thinking of all the money we spent on hardwood stairs now wanting to cover up w/ runner.

Can anyone please advise as if this is normal or did I get a bad install.

It's true! I've run into this. On one job, I had to add little furring strips for the nosing to bring it level to the flooring. It can be dealt with when installing but it is a PITA.



Either the steps were noisy prior to the installation and the installer did not repair and/or the installer did not use adhesive when installing the steps. They should NOT be making loud noises and should feel solid and quiet.

The prefinished nosing bit, I have seen alot of companies (bigger ones) fca ect, use mirage flooring (model, bruce) what have you. And they have some lacky finish nosings at the hop for them, Usually equals I problem.

Some of the manufaturers bruce ect, make nosings themselves, but in both cases (shop made and manufacturer made) they dont bevl the edge of the nosings.

Ovbiously the installers should know that they have to improve on these products, but sometimes dont. Personally I think if its prefinished by the manufactuer it should be ready to go, I shouldnt have to get out my router and bevel it, and try to match whatever stain/finish is on there. (I do it though).

So its not that its actually 1/16 to high, just that there is no bevel on the nosing to ease the transition to the strips of flooring. (Possibly I dont know is there a bevel on the nosing and board next to it? Or just a bevel on the board?) Or no bevels period, because they had to rip a peice in, thus cutting off the bevel on the board, and not having on on the nosing?

Were the stairs glued and nailed? Possibly just glued the nosing on? That may cause the nosing to be sligtly higher.
Not using glue and nails on the strips of flooring may be the reason for the creeks ect. they may have just nailed them in with a nail gun, and very few nails at that. Its not like an actual tread where 4 nails will hold it in place.

Hope that helped

I took carpet off some steps awhile back and put hardwood on, but a different manufacturer. I screwed all the rough framing, before and used glue and nails while installing. They had prepainted the riser boards the same color as the skirting up the sides. They slopped it on. I cut the stairs tight, as always, and all the sudden I had a sweak and creak. Me cutting them tight, and the stringer supporting the steps on one side had slight flex. The tight riser boards I cut were squeaking. I took my long bloody mary blade and crammed it in the tight riser skirting joint, while using my PortaJack to push against the skirting, and shaved the end of the riser, praying the blade wouldn't snap on me. It worked!!

I quit cutting them so tight, and I make sure any slopped paint is gone.

I guess I will have to get use to the bullbose having a lip over the rest of tread. Installers did glue and nail bullnose but only nailed tread strips. Will adding a few extra nails to tread ressolve the squeaking and cracking?
I have concern that this may only be a temporary fix.

Having this work done is not cheap and imo you did not get your moneys worth. Either the nosing is too thick or the groove was off by a 16th. Probably the groove was off and if so it should have been re grooved during the dry fit.

I think you will get premature wear and tear and possibly the wood may start to splinter later on. I try not to be too harsh on other installers... but a 16th is just not acceptable.