Converting Carpeted Stairs to Hardwood Stairs Question (overlays, engineered, refinish)

[caribbeanintheChi]

Hi Everyone,

We are finishing up a new construction build that has carpet on the stairs with plywood treads and particle board risers. We know that we have to do something about the treads and risers to make sure the stairs are durable and look better once we remove the carpet. What are the plusses and minuses between these two methods?


1. Place a hardwood veneer tread over each tread and riser. Stain hardwood to match wood on top of railing.

2. Use same hardwood used on floors on bottom level on the stairs for treads and painted wood over riser


Thanks for your help and I welcome other suggestions also

[JGC97]

My choice would be #2. #1 seems very labor intensive, what with cutting and gluing down the veneer. I assume that's what you meant to do. Painting the risers a light color with a dark wood tread that matches the stair rail would look very nice (imo)

Something like this.



Some ideas . . .
https://www.google.com/search?q=dark...2F%3B516%3B480

[southbel]

We just converted our stairs from carpet to wood. It's a job and a half. We replaced the risers, painted them white and the treads with oak. Sanded and refinished the handrails. I've seen all kinds of hacks on converting stairs but if you're going to do it, do it right. Replace the treads. You can buy the full treads and stain them to match your wood floors. Would look better too.

[nybbler]

#2. White risers look good.

[caribbeanintheChi]

Originally Posted by HereOnMars

My choice would be #2. #1 seems very labor intensive, what with cutting and gluing down the veneer. I assume that's what you meant to do. Painting the risers a light color with a dark wood tread that matches the stair rail would look very nice (imo)

Something like this.



Some ideas . . .
https://www.google.com/search?q=dark...2F%3B516%3B480

Thanks for your comment. We actually won't be doing the work with either, and will be painting the riser white for both options. Your opinion is helpful and thanks for the link

[caribbeanintheChi]

Originally Posted by southbel

We just converted our stairs from carpet to wood. It's a job and a half. We replaced the risers, painted them white and the treads with oak. Sanded and refinished the handrails. I've seen all kinds of hacks on converting stairs but if you're going to do it, do it right. Replace the treads. You can buy the full treads and stain them to match your wood floors. Would look better too.

Thanks for your comment. When you say replace the treads, do you mean take the existing treads out and install new ones or put new treads over the old ones?

[caribbeanintheChi]

Originally Posted by nybbler

#2. White risers look good.

Thanks! We actually will be doing white risers with either option, I forgot to mention that .

[southbel]

Originally Posted by caribbeanintheChi

Thanks for your comment. When you say replace the treads, do you mean take the existing treads out and install new ones or put new treads over the old ones?

Take the existing treads out and replace with new ones. These would be in hardwood and ready to stain and poly. Additionally, if your existing wood floors are an exotic, you can usually buy treads in the species you need. It's just that oak are the most common.

A picture of the treads. You cut to size and install.

[K'ledgeBldr]

By your description it sounds like you have a pre-built staircase. "Replacing" treads ain't gonna happen! Pre-built stairs are engineered to be somewhat self supporting by design.

Doing veneer overlays are expensive and not very dependable. Adding other "flooring" material will make the stairs non-compliant- the first step will be higher than allowed by code; and the last step is much less than the others in the run.

The only way to correctly do it- if in fact you do have the pre-built stairs "made" for carpet- is to remove the whole staircase and replace it with one that has stain-grade oak treads.

[glasgowspeaker]

The best way to handle this situation is to do the following, in this order;

1) Find a reliable place to buy treads and risers. Good deals are to be had, but some have built in nosing's that are not adhered correctly. so just watch where you buy. Refinish materials to desired stain colour and polyurethane sheen. This way stairs can be accessed 24/7 during install. This can be done concurrently with the prep work listed below.
2) Remove Handrails
3) Remove carpet tack strips and staples
4) Remove all nosing's. Carefully not as to ruin the stringers. If new stringers are part of the plan, usually due to a colour change, then surface damage to the stringers is irrelevant, due to a hardwood veneer reface.
thoroughly clean treads of debris
5) If stringers are to be refaced, the vertical part of the stringers should be made up of a 1/8 veneer. The horizontal or top of the stringers should consist of "paper veneer" which is actually wood, but it is very thin and pliable. Contact cement and 18 gauge nails are used for both applications. Keep in mind. You have one chance to set these veneer sections. use a utility knife to trim and tiny amounts of fill to create the finished solid stringer appearance.
6) Stringers are never straight so make a *** for cutting closed treads as well as closed risers
7) You mention handrails above so I am assuming "one side open" in this case a close and then accurate scribe along the string to fit these stairs. A check for underside minimum distance to outside open stringer will indicate maximum cut.
When fitting stairs, use an 18 gauge nailer to temporarily hold treads and risers in place allowing for liberal amounts of glue to set
8) Fill any hairline cracks with a fill made from the tread and riser species (Oak Maple etc...)
9) Drill holes (usually 3/4") slow speed, ensuring that the screw gun is adjusted to drill and not screw to accept spindles
10) Re-install handrail(s) Careful so that the spindles sit properly into the treads. This means if your cuts are not accurate, do not force the spindles in. even if it's a 1/32" CUT IT.

If by chance, you would rather have someone do this for you, and you would like to have a very accurate estimate, go to Hardwood stairs and floor installation in Mississauga Toronto and Oakville - StairSteps

Either way, hope this helps