Tracy writes - “Our home is a 27 year old four level split.  There are seven steps up from the front entrance to the main level.  These stairs are 58″ wide.  There are only two stringers for these stairs and so the stairs are very creaky and squeaky.  Is it possible to add another stringer in the middle of the tread width without removing the whole set of stairs?  I am worried that we will have to take the stairs out completely in order to fix this.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.”

A 58 inch wide treads on a stair case should have at least three stringers. With only two stringers a stair case that wide will have a tendency to feel bouncy and wobbly not to mention creak and squeak.
Can an additional stringer be added without disassembling the stair case? …continue reading Adding A Stringer To An Existing Outside Stair Case

Leslie asks, “You say not to use PVC pipe for air lines. But what about the newer PEX hose? It is rated for 180 lbs.”

PEX tubing is fairly new tubing that came on the market about 15 years ago in the US home market. It was developed in the 1960s. However, PEX tubing has been used in European countries for years for their water supply lines. …continue reading Is PEX Tubing Safe To Be Used For A Compressed Air Supply Line?