Greetings. I usually hang around the furniture discussion groups, but I need to make a few stair treads out of oak to replace some cracked ones at my church. The treads are not mortised into the stringer. Instead they are nailed to the stringer (or maybe to cleats, I havent loooked yet). A few questions, please:
I assume that they should be 1-1/8″ thick?
Do I need to use bisquits or dowels when gluing up (I don’t normally do this when gluing up a panel for, say, a table top) for strength?
Should the treads be glued to the stringer, or just nailed?
Can I use a standard hardware store poly or spar varnish?
Any other tips/concerns?
Thanks.
Tom
Replies
Tom,
I would mill the replacement treads to match the thickness of the existing, you don't want to screw up the rise between treads.
I use biscuts, some may consider it overkill but, if you have the tool it is cheap insurance against the joint opening
Scribe and fit treads to skirt board or boards. Depending on how easily the old treads came out and what kind of condition they are in, they may be used as a template to get you in the ballpark.
I attach them with construction adhesive and finish screws, it has worked well for me eliminating squeaks being the big concern
You don't mention if you have access to the underside of the stairs, if you do you might want to run a couple of screws through the next riser into the new tread,also, glue this joint. If you don't have access, I've used biscuts to strengthen this connection also.
Sorry, I don't have a good tip on the finish, I leave this up to my painter, and I can't remember what he uses.
Hope this helps, and Good Luck