Whose responsibility is for providing stair tread rise and run to building code? Is it the general contractor or the subcontractor installing the prefinished stair tread and riser? The house being remodeled is over fifty years old with a rise of 9.25 inches per step at highest point and 7.75 at lowest point.
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Are we to understand from this that the treads and risers were being replaced on an existing stair and that the building inspector didn't go for it?
This is a complete remodel. The stairs consist of three jack studs with layers of plywood on top. They are not level front to back or side to side. I was hired to install the treads and risers not reframe the stairs.
Did you see the job before you agreed to work on it?
i was hired to cover the stairs not reframe them
I don't know about your location but here I wouldn't touch the job, to much risk for injury and law suit. At the moment I'm doing a set of retrofit stairs in a 10 year old home. The clients wanted a railing and newel post, pretty simple till I discovered the risers ranged from 6 1/2 to 7 3/4, treads from 10 to 9 1/4. The whole thing goes or I'm not touching it.
Sounds like trying to paint over the rust holes in a clunker in order to get a vehicle inspection. Build right or not at all. You've got to have something to nail to..
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Hey Lee, when I am hired to trim a set of stairs, I know the code, and am expected to make the stairs meet 'em. Fixing the rough carriages is definitly an extra, the way I work, and I'd just as soon do it myself...but if a contractor hired me to cover some wacked out stuff, without expecting to pay for making it right, I'm walking with the rest of the gang...
It's okay, I can fix it!
Lee^2,
Looks like you have a variation of 1.50" on those risers. Is it possible to vary the thickness of the treads like 1/4" steel plate on the higher risers and 1 3/4" balsa for the short risers?
-Peter
Think outside the box.
If your contract is to install the treads and risers on prepared stair framing (stringers), then the responsibility lies with the contractor who did that hideous framing job.
1-1/2" of variation! I did that with my first stairs (forgot about the tread thickness), but on a paid job, I'd have ripped it out and started over!
You might consider refusing to proceed until the problem is corrected, since you know that either the inspector will flag it or the homeowner will. The general contractor should be grateful to you for saving him/her money.
It is not that big of a deal. Just buy different thickness layers of plywood and sheet the treads to match the code. Not an unusual thing to happen on a perfect set of rough stairs. If the client decides to install marble at the bottom of the stairs, you know you are going to have problems with the rises on many of the steps. That happens all day long in new and remodel custom construction. Clients change their minds alot along the way. You need to get paid for the adjustments though. T & M. GW
all depends on what your contract said.
but someone down the road could still probably sue you along with all else involved.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
thanks for all the advice.
i am going to let the contractor bring the stairs up to code and then proceed to cover them.