Q-I’m in the midst of renovating my first old house. The staircase leading to the second floor has an oak handrail with spindles and a curlicue thing on top of the post at the bottom of the stairs.

Q: I returned home from a business trip last week and, walking up the stairs, one of the steps actually lifted up from the back as I put my foot on it, then flopped back into place as I continued up.