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Stair treads

swedge | Posted in Construction Techniques on July 22, 2008 04:38am

Have a 75 year old house and want to replace the stair treads as they are pine  worn out and splintering. There is no access from below. Any Ideas? Thanks

Reply

Replies

  1. Jim_Allen | Jul 22, 2008 05:40am | #1

    Laminate them?

    Are your current risers all equal or are the top and bottom different from the main run?

    Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

    1. swedge | Jul 25, 2008 05:12am | #3

      equal

  2. Piffin | Jul 22, 2008 03:48pm | #2

    so cut them out and put new ones in

     

     

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     where ...
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    1. swedge | Jul 25, 2008 05:17am | #4

      I believe that they are set into  runners along the sides. If they were just nailed on top I would cut them down the middle an pull them out, not damaging the sides.

      1. gordsco | Jul 25, 2008 08:03am | #6

        Older stairs are often knotched into skirtboards and risers. It makes for a difficult removal if you are attempting to save the originals.

        Removing the top tread exposes any fasteners through risers in lower treads. Still it is difficult to not damage or split the original risers and skirts.

        Once the treads are removed, capping the original skirts and risers with 1/4" plywood is often an easier alternative to repairing the damage."Perfect is the enemy of Good."    Morrison

        1. swedge | Jul 26, 2008 05:04am | #8

          Hopefully there will be little other fasteners than a nail into the riser. The skirts are painted so patching will not be an issue. Thanks

  3. Shep | Jul 25, 2008 05:36am | #5

    I've never done an entire stair case tread replacement, but I have swapped a few treads this way-

    Remove the old tread(s) any way you can. Add 1x cleats under the old tread mortices. Glue and screw them on. Cut the new tread to the width between the stair strings, plus the depth of just one mortice.

    Install the new tread by pushing it into a mortice on one side, then sliding it the other way until it catches 1/2 of the mortice on the other string. Nail in place.

    I'd also use some PL Premium to hold the new treads in place.

    If you have the entire staircase apart, you can probably replace most of the old tapered shims that held the old treads in place.

    1. swedge | Jul 26, 2008 05:00am | #7

      Exactly what I thought of doing but never done it before. Wonder if anyone else tried it. Thanks

  4. MisterT | Jul 26, 2008 05:26am | #9

    Can you MAKE access from below??

    .
    .
    "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion"

    -Neil deGrasse Tyson
    .
    .
    .
    If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???

    1. swedge | Aug 19, 2008 03:43am | #10

      no access from below with out magor damage

      1. Jim_Allen | Aug 19, 2008 03:56am | #11

        Is major damage structural or just plaster?

      2. john7g | Aug 19, 2008 04:32am | #12

        the angled ceiling attached to the bottom of a stair run that is above a stairwell below get's the least scrutiny (unless it's in a closet which gets even less) by anyone's eye.  Everyone is looking down and watching their step. 

        so how major would it be?  What's below the stairs? 

        1. Jim_Allen | Aug 19, 2008 08:24am | #13

          I'm thinking the same as you John7g.

          1. MisterT | Aug 19, 2008 02:33pm | #14

            Do it right tear out the ceiling..or roll the dice on the squeaky roulette table....eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..............
            .
            "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
            .
            .
            .
            If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???

          2. Jim_Allen | Aug 19, 2008 03:46pm | #15

            Sqeaky stairs are good though. Burglars can't get up there at night without alerting everyone; neither can the teenage daughter coming in past curfew.

          3. Jim_Allen | Aug 19, 2008 03:47pm | #16

            She can't sneak out either.

          4. Piffin | Aug 19, 2008 04:51pm | #17

            what!
            Are the egress windows glued shut? 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          5. john7g | Aug 19, 2008 04:58pm | #18

            that's where thorny bushes and mud come into play

          6. Piffin | Aug 19, 2008 05:13pm | #19

            Or like I did - a Rapunzel type tower. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          7. john7g | Aug 19, 2008 05:24pm | #20

            did you keep her hair cut short?

            oldest will be 6yo in a month so I'm looking for all the clues I can get. :)

          8. Piffin | Aug 19, 2008 06:26pm | #21

            best advice I have is to spend a lot of time with her.
            Read to her.
            Watch those Disney movies with her head on your shoulder eating whatever she likes to eat.
            Take her skating and cheer her on. let her laugh when you fall down.
            Take her to church and let her know why.'cause once the hormones kick in and short circuit the brain, those instincts and memories will do more to guide her than all the talking and prison bars will ever do then. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          9. Pelipeth | Aug 20, 2008 03:42am | #23

            Wonderful, warm, and touching advice.

          10. MisterT | Aug 20, 2008 03:13am | #22

            punchline:squeeeeeek.... Who's that??It's the cat.....
            .
            "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
            .
            .
            .
            If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???

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