Questions tagged [stairs]
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328
questions
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1answer
11 views
Calculating Stair Strings - Is 7.92" Too High of a Rise for Patio Stairs?
I'm adding steps from a house down to a patio and am trying to build the stringers:
23.75" Total Rise
12x2 nominal lumber for the stringers. Total of 4 stringers @ 48" wide
.92" ...
2
votes
1answer
144 views
How to protect stair stringers from water rot?
I'm repairing the stairs of a deck structure, replacing dry-rot stringers with new ones. The stringers rest on top of a cement pool deck. The pool deck is sloped towards the stairs, so I expect rain ...
0
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1answer
53 views
Which type of material should I use to fill in gaps below the trim in unfinished stairs to basement
These are the stairs to the basement and the basement is somewhat finished with LVP. Not sure whether the previous owner considered this as finished stairs, definitely not to me. I am trying to clean ...
3
votes
1answer
30 views
Prepping sill for new granite steps
I am having granite steps installed. The platform will be 7" from the threshold but currently there is a 10" board sill/kickplate (white) with OSB behind it.
I think the proper way is to ...
0
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1answer
36 views
Fixing broken piece of concrete
We have concrete stairs leading up to our front door. I noticed today that a medium-sized piece of concrete is cracked & broken off at the corner of the stairs.
I don't really care about the look ...
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0answers
24 views
Attaching treads to stringers when building deck stairs
I have deck stairs with 2x10 treads attached to 2x10 stringers with 2x4 cleats. Should I also screw the treads in from outside the stringer? If so what fastener should I use.
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24 views
Floating 2-Stringer open stairs: construction technique for suspending treads
I am in the process of starting a new home build. I am doing some of the work and I am contracting out a lot of the work.
There are two staircases in the plans. Both are double stringer, no center ...
0
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1answer
23 views
Putting up posters in hard to reach places
I'd like to place posters in a hard to reach spot in my home.
The posters are pretty sturdy. They're glossy prints on thick cardstock paper.
I'd like to place them up along a tall wall, except that ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
What structure is inside these stair walls between floors (for running wire)?
I am planning to run CAT6 from the basement to the attic through the first and second floor of my 1905 wood house (renovated some time in the last 20-30 years). Location is Seattle.
There's an ...
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2answers
58 views
How can I neaten up the corner between stairs and wall
We had wooden stairs installed, but did not have any frame installed beforehand. We’d like to make this look better. Looking for ideas and suggestions.
2
votes
3answers
79 views
Framing for drywall around curved stairs
I have a curved stair case and I'm looking to drywall it up going into the basement. I'm looking for guidance on how to best frame the area below the stairs to drywall it up.
Images of the bottom of ...
5
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0answers
51 views
How can I level and secure retaining wall steps?
We have some retaining wall steps that are in dire need of repair. We would like to re-level some of them and re-adhere all of the cap stones so they no longer rock.
Is it possible to create a ...
0
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1answer
24 views
How to finish step between two levels with vinyl planks
I am hoping you can give me your opinions/suggestions/recommendations on how I should handle the finishing the step up to another level. I recently ripped up carpet and put vinyl plank boards down on ...
3
votes
3answers
67 views
Top of stairs wood tread to carpet transition level issue
I'm doing a DIY project converting my carpeted stairs to stained 1" think red oak treads and painted poplar risers. My issue is at the top of the stairs where I'm placing a narrow stair tread, this ...
1
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1answer
39 views
How-Where should I end this partial skirt-board at the stair? (I have more wood to re-cut a new piece if need be)
Stairs into basement
I'm not sure how the skirt-board should mate into the base molding? (Is this correct?)
And most important, where should I end the vertical cut from the stair nose (see arrow ...
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0answers
26 views
Engineered wood on staircase
I understand that I need to use both glue and nails for the engineered wood flooring to not fall off the stairs, but how do I hide the nails?
Also which glue and nails are best to use?
0
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1answer
59 views
How to remove one step from a three step ladder?
I bought a three step ladder for some alternative use. However, I need to remove the first bottom step, but don’t really know where to start. Is there a smart way to remove it, except for just cutting ...
1
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1answer
22 views
Circular / Round Stair Case
I'm building this circular staircase in Ontario Canada in a residential home. And am looking for some advice to make sure I'm meeting code. There seem to be lots of parameters when it comes to ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Filling a gap between drywall and stair stringer
I was planning to remove the old ugly cove moulding on my stair stringers. 30 years of lazy paints jobs have left it in a very bad state.
My initial plan was to just sand the stringer and wall, get ...
1
vote
2answers
73 views
Rebuilding interior stairs
I've removed the carpet on the stairs from 1st floor to 2nd floor. There is hardwood under but half the boards are cracked all the way across and deflect noticeable when walked on. I'm debating what ...
0
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0answers
33 views
How to keep the ground from settling when building outdoor stairs on muddy ground
I need to install stairs to handle a six foot drop in a very muddy backyard - the stairs themselves seem easy (currently leaning towards railroad ties) but how can I make sure that the stairs don't ...
1
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0answers
32 views
How should I reattach laminate stair treads to eliminate movement and noise?
I apologize if the terminology is off for the components of a staircase. Please correct me in comments and I'll update the question.
My home has laminate stair treads that were fastened down with ...
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3answers
128 views
How to fix a slightly raised stair nosing board
(See photo below).
I have hardwood flooring that goes into stairs. The horizontal wooden slat right before the stairs is very slightly raised, by maybe an 1/8 of an inch, maybe even 1/16th. It's ...
0
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2answers
171 views
How do you achieve this stairway 'chaser' effect with an LED light strip?
Here is a gif showing it in action, once the motion is detected, the strip slowly lights up directionally from bottom to top, how is this achieved? I can't seem to find how this is done: Looping GIF ...
0
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3answers
100 views
Can you build a retaining wall vertically with no angle?
I am planning to redo our front steps in stone and my plan is to essentially have two stone walls on each side of the steps coming down from the entrance. For appearances it would be definitely ideal ...
0
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2answers
143 views
What's the best way to attach timber cleats to stair stringers?
I'm using 2x4 timber cleats to support the treads for a set of stairs going up to a deck. The stringers are 2x10 and both the stringers and 2x4 are pressure treated pine. What would be the best size ...
5
votes
3answers
512 views
How can I safely replace a light fixture above a stairwell?
In my 1911 home, there is a stairwell that has a 180 degree turn with a landing, and there is a light fixture directly overhead (centered over the railing) that I would like to replace with a pendant ...
0
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0answers
51 views
Can stair stringers overhang landing?
I'm building a new set of stairs up to a deck. The concrete landing for the stairs is less than 3 feet wide and has a fence along the opposite side from the stairs.
I basically have 2 options that ...
3
votes
2answers
78 views
How do I treat a recently sanded pine staircase?
I want to restore our Victorian staircase, going from a drabby flattened 1960s beige carpet, to a fully sanded, restored looking staircase, with painted risers, stained treads and a runner down the ...
0
votes
2answers
41 views
Can I sand and re-varnish a flawed area on my staircase?
I have a new staircase that's gone in, and I've happily stained and varnished it.
Now I have a problem.
It appears that on the handrail that was varnished, some of the adhesive from tape that was ...
3
votes
2answers
747 views
US residential stair railing code: What is the requirement for terminating an open railing?
We're trying to pick out railings for our house. Our stairs are going to have an open side and we want to use a modern railing system such as this one:
You can find plenty of similar images for ...
1
vote
3answers
57 views
How to effectively and efficiently remove varnish from wood
I have been restoring an old staircase. I started sanding it with fine sandpaper and then tried rougher paper. It seems that the varnish layer on the wood is melting when sanding over it and sticking ...
1
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2answers
247 views
Black dots on wooden stair treads, can't sand them away
I am quite a beginner as far as diy is concerned and I'm in the process of refurbishing the old wooden stairs in our new house. Never done that before. It was carpeted so I removed it and there were ...
1
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1answer
53 views
How can I slope outdoor rounded steps?
I'm having a debate with my contractor about sloping our outdoor stairs. I hope to have 1% slope because we get a lot of rain. But because the steps are rounded, my contractor says the difficulties ...
2
votes
1answer
64 views
Remove support under the interior stairs
Hi I’m putting storage space under my interior stairs. The area I want to open up has a piece of timber right in the middle. I’m hoping some one can tell me if it can be removed?
Pic1-Purple is the ...
0
votes
1answer
143 views
Make stairs that don't require a handrail
Looking at some building codes and it seems that if I do 3 steps and then a 3 foot landing, then another 3 steps and another 3 foot landing, repeating this pattern I don't need any railing. Is this ...
3
votes
1answer
143 views
How to trim between wood floor and circular opening for spiral stairs
I recently replaced the carpet in my attic with a floating mdf backed engineered hardwood floor. the attic has a circular opening in the floor for a spiral staircase.
The face of the opening is 3/8" ...
0
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2answers
54 views
How to repaint old spindles
I hired contractors and they recommended using tremclad semi gloss to repaint my stairs but unfortunately it's leaving a really ugly look. They are saying it's because there's urethane on the spindles,...
2
votes
1answer
99 views
How can I rerun cables along stairs where a wall is being removed?
I want to partially take down the wall that currently serves as my staircase handrail. I will replace that portion of the wall with a cable rail.
.
The picture above was taken while the house was ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
How to prep spruce treads for staining
I ripped out carpet for my stairs and there's 2X6 spruce wood underneath.
It's in pretty rough shape. Had lots of staples. Some paint. Some spilt varnish.
My question is are these stairs ...
1
vote
2answers
63 views
What to do with risers when they aren't great quality
I'm trying to give my stairs a facelift. I've removed carpet and this is what's left.
My original intention was to stain. But it doesn't look like that's gonna be possible.
My question is what ...
1
vote
2answers
55 views
Tips on how to install laminate over existing flooring
Currently I'm at the point where my laminate reaches the stair nosing and I'm unsure what to do.
[![enter image description here][2]][2]
I have a stair nosing piece but I'm finding that it's awkward ...
1
vote
3answers
494 views
R302.7 Under-Stair Protection - does drywall need to be below stringers or just treads and risers?
I am finishing a room in my basement, and a wall will butt up against where the stairs are. I'm planning on making a small door to access the volume below the stairs for a small storage area.
The ...
4
votes
3answers
287 views
Ideas on how to fix a void at the bottom edge of my concrete steps?
I was recently pulling weeds and I noticed that there is a hole at the bottom of my concrete stoop. I'm not quite sure on how to address it. I'm pretty handy so I'm sure that this can be tackled ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
How can I make my hard stone entrance staircase softer and more kid friendly?
I live on the top floor of 3 storey housing unit. When you walk into our house, you are immediately faced with a staircase that takes you up to the third floor.
The stairs are made of stone slabs ...
0
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2answers
224 views
How can I extend a concrete step without repouring?
Two rooms in my house are connected with a set of concrete steps (one tread). As built, the ledge for the first step is inline with the wall framing.
This means that when I add drywall the finished ...
0
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2answers
321 views
How to fix gap between carpet and wall to prevent rodent?
Our condo is located in a forest/mountain area and we have suffered some rodent issues lately. We have two stories, and bedrooms are located downstairs. As I sleep at night, I often hear sound of ...
1
vote
1answer
66 views
Can I use regular pine lumber as a stair tread cover?
I'd like to use knotty pine boards as stair tread covers instead of actual tread covers. The tread covers I've seen are 1" or 2" wide pieces fit together to make a board, I'm guessing this is done to ...
2
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4answers
200 views
Nails sticking out of balusters
Recently purchased a house and noticed some nails sticking out of the balusters on a staircase. They are pretty sharp so I'm worried about someone stepping up brushing their foot up against it.
What ...
0
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1answer
156 views
