Solid Hardwood Stair Treads & Risers


Solid hardwood stair treads and risers are often installed on site, built on top of the existing rough framing. Other options include having an entire system built off site Oak spiral staircasethen installed (shown right). Treads and risers are generally unfinished, with prefinished options being available but often difficult to locate. When choosing unfinished the final course of action after installation may be a light sanding and coating with a desired finish. More preferred methods are finishing then installing, cutting down on time the stairways would be out of service.

Types Of Stair Treads - Standard

Depending on how your staircase is configured, you may only need standard treads if your staircase is closed or boxed in. Standard is also term milled ends, or installed into a straight box or closed staircase (no edges are seen). Our illustration on the right best describes the product showing a

staircase with stair stringers/skirting capturing the entire scope of the system. Some situations may not have stringers, but only drywall to work with. Standard treads are measured, then cut on site to fit.

Sizes: Stair treads will start at 36 inches and are sold in progressively longer lengths; usually 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 72, 84, 96, and 120 inches. Overall thickness may vary slightly but the majority are 1 1/16 of one inch.

Standard Finished Ends

Standard finished ends are treads revealing the end of the hardwood rounded over in the same manner as the front part of the tread. This type of tread is more economical while taking less time to install. Standard treads can also be purchased for this application and rounded over with the use of a router and a standard round over bit.

Treads With Returns

Stair treads with left and right hand mitered returns for those that may have openStair Tread return staircases or a portion of the area is open without stair skirting. These systems are quite common in many homes with the first three or four steps being open on one side or the other (shown right)

Starting Step

The starting step will have rounded effects on both ends or one end (right), depending on how your staircase is configured. Lengths are generally sold in 48 or 60 inch lengths for common specifications.

How and When Are They Installed?

For those that may have a standard plywood substrate, or 2 x 12's used under carpeting with a hand rail system, complete removal of all would be the preferred method. This would depend on how the entire system was installed and what you want to achieve from the project. If the handrail system is separate of the existing tread and riser system, and you're happy with the existing, only treads and risers would be considered.

For those that desire an appearance of handrail, balusters, treads and risers all being connected an experienced stair builder is our suggestion.

Related Pages:
 
• Stair Parts & Accessories
• Remove Carpet On Stairs

Photo Credits: Artistic Finishes, St. Paul, MN