Replacing subfloor on stair landing, are my joist too far apart? What do i do?
Im in the process of redoing my stairs, removing carpet, replacing treads and recovering to a non-carpet surface. I've run into an issue when i get to the bottom stair and the landing. The landing and bottom stair squeak, pop, and make a bunch of noise. While carpeted we just kind of lived with it. Now that I've removed all the carpet nonsense im starting to see why.
The last stair to the landing has about a 1/4" gap between the riser and the subfloor. Im attributing this to the fact that the subfloor is a bit springy. Not spongey like water damage, but springy like a trampoline. The surface of the landing is roughly 44"x44" square and there is a single center joist running perpendicular to the stair tread. The spacing between the wall joist and the center is 22". The same for the center to the front of the landing. Stepping anywhere between that 22" space and its a bounce house.
This doesnt seem right to me for the dimensions of the landing. Every time anyone steps on it you can hear pops and creaks on the landing and first step. Is this right?
Beyond that how to i remedy this? Initially i thought I would get a more substantial piece of subfloor and put it on top of this one and securely screw it down. Now im thinking i need to add braces along these 22" sections. Which is the proper way?
Ultimately i want to put a hard surface covering on the landing transitioning into the stairs, and i know that movement for a floating floor, tile floor, or any flooring besides carpet is a killer. I dont really want to rip this thing apart without a plan so any advice?