The Next Step, Staircase Remodel Project
Sorry I am so slow with posts…. honestly it drives me crazy not having the time to do it, but hopefully when I grow up I will be really good at it! (that is IF I ever grow up…hum)
The last time we talked about the staircase remodel we had removed the railing and all the carpeting, and begun to redesign the newel posts.
So let’s show you what we did next. We were left with this:
When working on these sort of projects, we usually put the babies to sleep, grab a treat, and a bunch of scrap paper and wood so that we can discuss (in 3d) how we each see it working, and what looks right. We move these little scraps around, do a lot of measuring, discuss a little, draw a lot of little sketches and then when we are happy and the project gets on it’s merry way!
Once the pieces were all measured and ready to install, we (okay, maybe not we exactly just Justin) cut the flooring out of the way. Then nailed and glued the new stairs supports in place.
We also took off all the stair treads one at a time and sanded them, to get all the junk off- namely the heck-a ugly plaster texture that landed on the stairs from the walls- (my love for this house would be so much more if it didn’t have that darn texture on the walls (and everywhere else it landed…urgh!)
Anyway, while the stairs were off we also routed the front two edges, to give them a prettier nose. Then we put them back down temporarily held in place with a few screws (there were still a few problems that needed to be addressed- that I will show you next time)
Like all the Christmas and other holiday storage boxes under my stairs?… No I didn’t spend money on pretty boxes, darn!
Next Justin installed the bottom two treads, by gluing them with construction adhesive and the framing nailer.
We actually had to buy two more 2 x 12’s, and since the stairs were so much bigger, and we couldn’t use the original. In order to make them look sorta older like the others, we choose to just nail them right in and not hide the nail holes, because the other boards still had theirs showing.
The second stair tread slid into place around the future newel post support.
Okay, so now the treads are in place, sanded and ready to be finished, the problem? A minimum of 1/2 inch gaps on either side of the treads (see picture below). So we had to figure out a way to fill the gap. Which I will explain next time.
In case you want to follow along, check out these posts too:
post 1: Starting the project!
post 2 : Demo & Rebuilding
post 3: More Rebuilding
post 4 : Filling the gaps
post 5 : Walnut Stain… at last!
post 6 : Adding the Stair Risers, Finishing the Runners
Post 7 : Custom Built Newel Posts
Cassity Kmetzsch started Remodelaholic after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in Interior Design. Remodelaholic is the place to share her love for knocking out walls, and building everything back up again to not only add function but beauty to her home. Together with her husband Justin, they have remodeled 6 homes and are working on a seventh. She is a mother of four amazing girls. Making a house a home is her favorite hobby.
Thanks! That’s the link I was looking for! Great idea for filling the gaps! Too bad it won’t work on our new stairs. Our gaps are because the stairs are less than square, but the treads are nice and square — so no gap is the same size 🙁 At least they’re all really thin gaps.
Hey, love the stairs! I was wondering though where did you all find ( or how did he make) the wood that goes on the stairs so that the edge was rounded and molded to the stair like it is in the finished product?
Thanks!
Randi, I am not totally sure about what wood you are asking about. The next post in the stair project might help you out… https://www.remodelaholic.com/2011/06/filling-the-gaps-stair-remodel/ Check this post out and tell me if that was what you were asking about, and I hope it was!
Hi – my husband and I are going to update our stairs from carpet to wood, just like this post. My question is, for the bottom stairs that are larger than the majority of your treads, how did you get those wood pieces? Did you buy the plank and then use a router to round the edges? Any direction is appreciated!
Brittany, yes we did buy a long 2×12 and routed the edges round. Just look for the straightest pieces.