Components of a typical stairway system.

A stairway is diagonal ladder that offer access to an area above or below the main floor. Imagine having to use a real ladder to go upstairs! If the stairs in your home are ready to be replaced by a ladder--or they just make too much noise or have other problems--here's what you can do about it.

How Does It Work?

A stairway, is a series of steps leading from one level of a residence to another. A stairway is made up of several parts. The riser is the vertical board under the tread. The tread is the horizontal surface of the step that is actually walked on. The stringers are the inclined sides of the stairs that support the treads and risers. On some stairs, molding covers the joint between each riser and tread. Nosing covers the exposed front of each tread.

Open stairways also have handrails and related components, collectively called the balustrade. The newel post supports the handrail at the top and bottom of the stairway or at the turn on a landing. Balusters provide support for the handrail between the newel posts.

What Can Go Wrong?

The most common problem with stairs is that they squeak; they can even move when you step on them. Newel posts, handrails, and balusters loosen over time. All are easily to fix.

Fix-It Tip

What constitutes stairs or a stairway? It's a series of steps and landing having three or more rises. Anything less is a set of steps.