Household Repairs Treads split, broken, weak. Replace with new boards which have been saturated with pentachloro-phenol wood preservative.

Steps sagging. If they have simply pulled loose from a porch, re-nail them with spikes and then screw iron angles to the stringers and the porch. If the posts under the stringers have rotted out, replace with new posts saturated with pentachlorophenol wood preservative.

If the stringers are cracked or rotting, take the steps apart carefully and use the pieces as patterns for new steps. The new steps should be built, if possible, out of wood that has been pressure-treated at the mill with preservative. Otherwise, brush two coats of preservative on all boards and timbers after they have been cut to shape. Don't let bottoms of stringers touch the ground or rest direcQy on flat paving; raise them about 2" on bricks or concrete so they will be above standing water and moisture and not so easily attacked by termites.

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December 3, 2008