You'll want your stair nosing to look new, so you'll need to cut off the old nosing and replace them. This task also requires a bit of patience to complete but the result is a beautiful staircase that will last for decades. If this is your choice, then you'll want to buy stair nose trim that will match your flooring. Her work focuses on tutorials and self-help articles. This is the result of the house shifting, curved walls or planned design elements. Stain and finsh stairs AFTER or Before install? What's the Difference Between Drywall Mud and Spackle? To cut the tread, use a circular saw. Installing solid wood stair treads requires knowledge of wood grain, cutting wood, construction and using power tools. Evaluate the stairs to determine that the rise and run (or rise and fall) of each does not exceed the … Set the stair tread in place and tap the front edge with a rubber mallet to form a bond with the glue and the riser. Apply the second coat and again let the stain dry. This will keep their heads below the surface. Notch the ends of the tread overhang. Stair treads are available in all domestic species such as Red Oak, Maple, and Hickory, and can also be ordered in the exotics. Use a circular saw to cut the treads to the length of each riser. This includes stairs. Folsom Stair & Woodworks supplies two different types of hardwood stair treads. Here’s the cost breakdown on what I spent for all the stairs: Seven 12’ pine stair treads – $160. I have some stairs that are very basic. Make sure the tread lays flush and level against the riser. For riser surfaces you plan to paint, you will only need to be sure the surfaces are smooth and even. Installing hardwood stair treads is not a quick and easy DIY project. A stair nosing, or edging, strip is a length of aluminum or plastic that protects the edges of stairs that are not already protected by a built-in bullnose or rounded edge. Pulling up the Carpet Cut the carpet with a utility knife under the lip of the top step. Installing a Carpet Runner on Stairs: Mistakes to Avoid. Cut four pieces of double-sided carpet tape, one for each edge of a stair tread. Leave the treads on their respective steps until you are ready to install them. I am in the process of renovating my condo. When they are dry, sand them. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from American InterContinental University. The tread with return means there is are rounded edges on the side as well as the front. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Modern adhesive technology allows for the installation of stair treads without having to drill holes for screws or hammer nails into the surface. First, prep the stairs by removing the carpet with a utility knife and a pry bar. Engineered wood flooring is less expensive than solid hardwood flooring. Installing Treads and Risers. First is the traditional 1″ thick solid stair tread and second is the Replacement Tread. You don't want to damage them. High-quality prefinished stair treads are made of solid edge-glued wood—not a veneered or engineered material—and can be used to “cap” or reface an existing tread. After the stringers are attached, install the stair treads and risers. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Finish the tread ends with a jigsaw. Fill Screw Holes. Most stair nosings have an L-shaped profile so that they wrap around the front edge of the stair tread and down over the riser, the vertical board just below the tread. Secure them to the stringers with wood screws. Leave the stain to dry according to the manufacturer’s directions. Rubber stair mats are similar to the familiar heavy, perforated, rubber doormats … When finished installing your risers and nosing, clean the surface, then stain or paint them. On most staircases, each stair is a slightly different size. Trim the plywood stair tread to size.. What Kinds of Floors Keep Your House Cool? Stair treads are generally 9 to 12 inches deep. Sold to customers looking to easily and affordably improve the aesthetics, and function of their staircase – they simply clad on to the existing staircase to provide a classic, stylish look. At this point of the project, we have installed all of the unfinished boards for our stair risers and treads. View our Privacy Policy here. A tread is a full plank of wood with a rounded edge on the front. In new custom homes the rough framing of a stair considers that 1″ solid treads will be used, and the stair is framed to accommodate them. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be Measure the length and width of each stair tread individually. Stair Riser Stair Tread. If you have existing hardwoods underneath, be careful when cutting the carpet. Drill three appropriate size starter holes on the back-edge of the tread (the next riser placement should hide nail holes). You'll need to fill holes with wood filler, sand the filled holes and wood surfaces, then thoroughly clean from the stairs any debris, dust, or drywall mud remnants. This will include loose boards that might cause squeaks when they are walked on. When your risers are installed, attach your nosing with finishing nails as you did to install your risers. In installing your stair treads you'll need to decide if you'll want pre-built wood stair tread and will match the stain you use on it to match the stain color of your wood floor. Your other choice will be to use wood flooring for your tread. 6. If you find loose boards, tighten them with long wood screws that are counter sunk. Installing Hardwood Stairs - Purchase New Treads or Use Existing. At UK Stair Parts, our Hardwood Stair Treads are some of our best sellers. You can use wooden shims … Set the stair treads in place, testing each to make sure it fits properly. Install Tread. Terms of the Trade: What Is a Tack Strip? The blade of the miter saw must cut the wood on the waste side of the marked line or your stair tread will be too short. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. Then we glued and nailed the treads and risers in place, working our way up from the first step. Two sheets 4×8 smooth hardwood plywood (1/4”) – $40 Rubber Stair Mats. We welcome your comments and Solid Wood Table Top: Repair a Broken Corner. The average flight of stairs is 10 to 12 steps; adding treads to a flight of stairs would cost $1,600 to $1,920 with labor. Do apply "glue blocks," where possible, on all of your stringers prior to tread installation. Number each tread piece on the back side where it will not be seen after installation with the corresponding step number as you cut them. Use pliers to remove exposed nails or staples to prevent injuries. Hardwood treads attach to a bare frame and average $160 per step including labor. Do not cut through the line or on the measured side of the tread. Install new risers by using finish nails. When dry, add a sealer or protective finish. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. On most staircases, each stair is a slightly different size. Hardwood stair treads for the homeowner who prefers a more colonial look to his home, can be an attractive change from the traditional carpeted staircase. To determine this distance, measure at the top surface of the nosing, then measure from one side of the stair tread to the far side. First, measure the undersides of your stair tread in two or three places to determine how deep your noising will need to be. suggestions. Step 1 – Choose Stair Tread and Risers In installing your stair treads you'll need to decide if you'll want pre-built wood stair tread and will match the stain you use on it to match the stain color of your wood floor. The only thing left is the 43 x 46 inch platform where the stairs make a 90 degree turn. Step 2: Remove Staples, Nails or Tack Strips Each riser will likely vary in height from the height of the others, and if you plan to use stain to finish them, rather than paint, you'll need to use new wood and will need to know how high to cut each piece. You may freely link If I had bought oak hardwood stairs, they would have cost a bundle. Insert the straight tip of a 16-inch nail bar into the gap between the underside of the tread and a … This means removing all carpet, padding, nails, staples, and tack strips. I built a 2 story 3 season room attached to basement and upper story of my ... Stair skirt board integration with door trim. A high-quality construction adhesive should be used. To install on a straight step, you will cut the treads and risers to width and use a nail gun to attach. As you install one riser, position and fasten the corresponding tread so you can carefully climb to the next step for installation. You'll need to measure each riser separately. Window Trim Tools, Materials and Terminology. New Stair Treads in No Time—Here’s How to Do It … By Matt Weber. If you are confident in your construction abilities and are a patient person, you can probably do this project yourself, else you should hire a professional to do this for you. Stain the treads to protect the surface of the wood. Before we installed the platform flooring though, we needed to make … Cost to Put Hardwood Flooring on Stairs. When considering treads, also consider if your stairs are open or enclosed. Fill in all of the screw holes left in the treads … Installing solid wood stair treads requires knowledge of wood grain, cutting wood, construction and using power tools. This was a cost effective way to get stairs. For steps, the most common material used is treads. Install Carpet on Stairs: Step-by-Step Directions, What to Consider When Buying a Taping Knife. If your stair surface has cracks, splits, or ridges, you'll need to repair them for staining. Here’s a video to explain the process for standard (straight) steps: Installing Unfinished Hardwood Stairs. Allowing for a 1 1/2-inch overhang, the minimum depth of the stair tread must be at least 10 inches. Finally, you'll need to decide whether you'll want to paint or stain your stair risers. Based in southern Virginia, Kristy Robinson has been writing for various websites since 2008. You’ll need to rip up the old carpet and padding. Use a new, sharp … home improvement and repair website. Installing engineered wood flooring on stairs is a way to increase the value and beauty of your stairs for less cost. I’ve always loved the look of dark wood treads with crisp white risers like this and this.We had actually planned to replace the carpet on the stairs while we were doing our big flooring install … Squeeze a bead of polyurethane glue along each stringer that the step will rest on. Measure the length and width of each stair tread individually. fill in screw holes with wood putty. Set nails using a nail punch, avoid over-nailing. Website operating Finally fill the holes of the counter-sunk screws. You'll need to start with bare wood on your stairs. Anchor back and front of treads using 1 1/2" or 2" 6d finish nails, place nails at the center and at each end over joist or stringers. Sink the nail heads below the riser surface, and fill the holes with wood putty. How to install hardwood stair treads. Both mistakes will leave you with a wasted stair tread. All rights reserved. Squeeze a second bead along the back side of the tread, the side that will be butted up against the riser. 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