Hello, in our new house (solid construction) we have a straight concrete staircase.
The treads are made of 4cm (1.6 inches) thick stained oak wood. The risers are made of birch.
The steps were installed in mid-March. The treads are developing more and more cracks. I first noticed this on an upper step, where there is a bulge and also a crack. Since today, the bottom step also has a crack.
There is clearance on both sides to allow the wood to expand.
Do you have any idea what might be causing this?
The treads are made of 4cm (1.6 inches) thick stained oak wood. The risers are made of birch.
The steps were installed in mid-March. The treads are developing more and more cracks. I first noticed this on an upper step, where there is a bulge and also a crack. Since today, the bottom step also has a crack.
There is clearance on both sides to allow the wood to expand.
Do you have any idea what might be causing this?
Coletrickle_7808 schrieb:
There is clearance on both sides to allow the wood to expand.Between the (masonry?) "stringers," I assume.Coletrickle_7808 schrieb:
The treads are fixed to the concrete using some kind of adhesive foam.So, they are not floating or sliding—no further questions, Your Honor! :-(https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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Coletrickle_780812 Apr 2022 14:4611ant schrieb:
Between the (masonry?) "stringers," I assume.
So not floating or sliding – no further questions, Your Honor! :-(I’m not a contractor, just a client. What does that mean?
I don’t really see a problem with that, since assembly foam is flexible and should accommodate the natural expansion and contraction of wood. I also believe that moisture first, followed by severe dryness, is responsible for the cracks. To some extent, this is normal and can actually reverse over time. Get a hygrometer. Whenever the air humidity drops below 40%, turn on a humidifier.
Coletrickle_7808 schrieb:
I am not a contractor, just a customer. What does that mean?By "masonry stringers," I mean whether the staircase is essentially fitted between rising walls and only has room to expand at those points. "Floating" means lying freely movable on a substrate; "sliding" means fixed at one end and movable at the other (for example, screwed on the left in a round hole and on the right in an elongated hole).
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
M
Myrna_Loy12 Apr 2022 15:44First of all, any play or clearance on the left and right sides is mostly pointless. The expansion of wood along its length is minimal compared to the change in its width.
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Coletrickle_780812 Apr 2022 16:32The hygrometer shows a humidity level of 35%, measured on the stair tread.