Around here in new Jersey we have stair companies that make all the stairs framers sometimes set them and sometimes the stair companies set them. What I’m getting at is the fact that any time a wall is built in the basement or any lumber that touches concrete the shoe has to be pressure treated.
I was with a Architect on Saturday going over some stuff that had to be done in the basement and where the new set of stairs were going and a wall I had to frame and he said the shoe had to be pt naturally and I said to him what were the stairs going to be made out of and he said pine. So I said to him just about every house or addition I’ve built the basement steps are always pine, how come they don’t have to be pressure treated they all sit right on the concrete. He had no answer.
So what do all you guys do if you have a set of basement stairs built from a company that are all pine. Do you cut the bottom off and fill in with a pt 2x something nailed to the floor and sit the stairs on top or does the stair company make the bottom out of pt?
I’m talking about a stair company building them not the framer or contractor. If they say all wood that touches concrete has to be pt what about the stairs……there’s a ton of houses with pine stairs sitting on concrete basement floors and why do the inspectors pass it…..it doesn’t make sense. Just like when I told the inspector that I use ACQ nails when I nail the floor joists into the ACQ sills but what about concrete nails going into the ACQ sills and the foundation.
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We normally put a piece of flashing under each stringer...they've got to be gold with the ACQ<G>
I am a residential framer in the chicago area. I work for a large union outfit. We are about half way through our project of about 275 homes. I have installed just about every set of basement stairs. Our stairs are milled and assembled in a shop and sent to us on the jobsite where they are set by carpenters. About 90% of the stairs I set are pine, all of which sit directly on the concrete basement floor. Although the walls along the staircase have pressured treated bottom plates, the stairs don't. On staircases with a long run, I frame in vertical supports under the stringers to prevent bouncing. These pre-fabbed pine stairs are okay for basement stairs and dont end up looking too bad after they are painted, But I wouldnt put them in my house.
I understand your concern, and I too have wondered why we dont put the bottom riser and stringer on some sort of treated lumber but then I get back to working as fast as I can and keeping my mouth shut.
Joe, be careful of what you wish for.
The "problem" is overrated.
blue
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. According to him I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!