Wall to Wall Staircase Installation
Tools and Materials
Tools and Materials, you need for your hardwood staircase installation project are:Stair Tool - You'll need this tool to make templates of each step - there is never a perfect square tread. If, you don't own one, you can use construction paper to make a template of each step. Learn how to make a template on our staircase winder page.
Don't have this tool, You can purchase one at The Stair Tool.com
Sliding Miter Saw - You can sub this with a jig-saw and belt sander also. I suggest you just rent, If you don't own one.
Table Saw - You'll need this tool to make relief cuts or sometime rip treads down to size. Treads are mostly sold at 11 1/2" width x 48".
15 Gauge Finish Nailer - Use a pneumatic finish nailer, if possible, this can be rented. Otherwise, sub this tool with a power drill to drill pilot holes, 1/16 drill bit, 16 gauge 2 inch finish nails(galvanize or stainless), and hammer.
Brad nailer - For Scotia moldings, trims and small pieces
Liquid Nail - Use a high quality polyurethane glue. This is what will be holding your hardwood staircase tread in place.
level - Use either a 12" bullet level or a 24" level.
Carpenter's Shims - These are only around $3.00 a pack. If you're working with an old set of staircase, you'll need a lot.
Hammer
Pry bar - You'll need a flat pry bar and if applicable a pry bar that is of long length - 36". Which will give you more leverage when removing the stair tread.
Anvil Plier
Pencil
Utility Knife
Wood Glue
Misc. items - Nail set, Blue masking tape, scriber or scribe block, latex wood putty and putty knife.
Hardwood Stair treads - A standard set will consist of 12 stair treads, 13 risers, and 1 stair nosing.
Scotia Molding - Use a 1/2"x3/4" scotia. This will have a wider reveal, which will stand out more than a 3/4"x3/4" scotia. It will add more of an architectural look.
Let's get started
1.Remove carpet and tack strips. If, the hardwood staircase riser's(front piece) are in good shape, then de-nail and prepare for refinishing or painting.Use an Anvil Plier to remove the carpet staples or any unwanted nails. Use a rolling action, with your anvil pliers, to prevent fatigue.
Tip: Always, pull staples and nails the same angle it was put in. If, you work against this angle, it will only be tougher.
Depending, how the original hardwood staircase installation was assembled.
It can be either stair treads butted to the riser or the riser sitting on top of the staircase tread. This will determine whether you start at the top and work down or vise versa.
In this staircase installation guide it will be a bottom to top, staircase installation.
2.Remove the first starting step, use a flat pry bar and hammer. Take the hammer and give it a whack on the front edge, to raise it a little bit.
Once, you've raised the hardwood staircase treads a little. Use a long pry bar to finish removing the tread, you'll be able to do this with very little effort.
De-nail and clean. Check your stair stringers to make sure, it's level, on the width and length, front to back and side to side. Use either your bullet level or a 24" level.
If, the staircase stringers are not leveled, adjust with shims. Find the highest point and shim all stringer height to this point.
3.With your Stair Tool, make a template of your tread. Adjust the stair tool tight to your side boards.
Your stair tool should be touching the front of the riser and the 2 side boards (left and right). Lock your Stair tool in place, then carefully remove it.
Careful not to hit any other surface, with the stair tool. This will result in an error and a miss cut, money out the window .
4.Place the stair tool same way you template your step, on your replacement hardwood staircase tread.
Choose a good side to trace your template onto. This will be the top of your stair tread.
Mark your piece, then put a marking on the keep side of 1 corner, use the marking for identification for when you have to make a re-cut.
With the same template, mark your scotia to length, also.
5. Using the miter saw. Cut the sides of your stair tread. Be sure to adjust the angle of your miter saw to cut your traced out line.
Before you make that cut, make sure you have the saw blade on the correct side of the line. Otherwise, you'll have a $30.00 mistake.
Saw blade should always be on the waste side. At this time, cut your scotia, also.
6.Test fit your hardwood staircase tread, before permanently installing it. Make adjustment if needed.
Sometimes it's difficult to make a hairline cut. Instead use a belt sander with a coarse grit abrasive, to tweak.
Some side boards maybe cupped, compensate for the error, leave a little extra. scribe it, then, use the belt sander to sand to fit, for your staircase installation.
7. If, the back of the stair tread does not rest tight to the face of your riser, this also should be scribed.
Before doing so, check your edge overhang. Maximum overhang is 1 1/2", check with your local building code on hardwood staircase installation, to find out actual dimension.
To figure out your overhang dimension. It should be the width of your scotia (example: 1/2" x 3/4", width ='s 1/2") + radius of your front edge(3/4" thick tread, radius = 3/8")+1/8" reveal = 1".
Your tolerance for error should be kept within +/- 1/8".
Generally being said, your staircase installation, overhang can be anywhere from 7/8" - 1 1/4", for a 3/4 thick stair tread.
Tip: Make a depth gauge out of scrap material. To check your staircase installation overhang.
2 pieces of wood that forms a 90 degree angle with one side measuring the maximum depth allowed - 1 1/8".
Place it on the front edge of your hardwood staircase tread. At the correct depth, your gauge should touch both the front edge of your stair tread and the front of your stair riser(below).
scribe and cut your tread to the proper width. Your finished tread width should be,
the measurement from the front of your starting riser to your second riser + your overhang.
Example: Riser to riser = Tread width(9 1/2" + 1 =10 1/2") Finish width equals 10 1/2"
Check with your building code to find out what minimum and maximum width requirements allowed. Normal stair tread width are 10 1/2" and 11 1/2".
8. Mark the location of your stringer on your riser. Aply a generous amount of liquid nail onto the staircase stringers.
Place the stair tread in place, then install 2 nails per stringer. Then install your scotia molding, using a brad nailer to fasten it in place.
Note: The stair tread only needs to sit tight, on your stair stringers, for your hardwood staircase installation. Gaps along the front can be covered up by your scotia molding. Consider raising your riser or adding a filler strip, if the gap is wider than the width of your scotia molding.
Note: Do not be concerned with squeaks at this time. As long as you applied enough adhesive, when this sets up. It will eliminate your squeaks.
9. Repeat, steps 2. through 8. until you've reached the top.
10.Cut in your stair nosing and scotia. The overhang of your stair nosing should be the same as your stair tread overhang. Fill your nail holes then sand and finish.
That's all there is to it. A wall to wall hardwood staircase installation is the easiest to install of all staircases.
You can also prefinish you stair tread, before starting your staircase installation. You'll then, be able to use it right away.
You can use this same templating technique, for your stair risers.
Tip: If, your risers have a damaged surface and you are planning to paint it. An inexpensive fix to your hardwood staircase installation, is to give it a face lift, by cutting an 1/8 piece hardboard and installingto fit over your riser, than paint it.
If, you get stuck or may have question contact us.
Do you have a set of stair winders in your home?
Learn How to construct and install your own, read our stair winder article.
Staircase Winders
