Questions tagged [stairs]
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410
questions
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2answers
42 views
insulate walk up attic stairs (not pull down)
I have a full set of stairs that walk up into an unfinished attic space. The full sized access door to these stairs is in a hallway as if its a closet. Unfortunately, the max distance I have under ...
0
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1answer
37 views
Do you have to subtract the skirt board width when measuring stair width?
It's my understanding that if you have 3' wide treads and you put drywall on top you no longer meet code because your stair width is now 2-11". Is that also true for skirt board?
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0answers
42 views
Finishing A Newly Installed Stair Landing
I am currently wrapping up finishing my basement, and am trying to figure out what to do with my stair landing. Because of a ~2" increase in height compared to my old basement floor, I had to ...
7
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3answers
1k views
How can I repair treads on an open staircase which have been cut off flush on the ends?
I've bought a Victorian house that the previous owner, in their infinite wisdom, boarded up the main staircase.
I've removed the boards to reveal the original spindles, and it seems they have trimmed ...
0
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0answers
23 views
Stair Project - Closed Stair stringer replacement ideas
I have removed the carpet from the stairs and already have the plans on updating the treads with :
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Stairtek-RetroTread-11-5-in-x-36-in-Unfinished-Red-Oak-Stair-Tread/3316912
...
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0answers
21 views
Looking for tread covers for spiral staircase
I've got a metal spiral staircase in my condo, and I'm having trouble finding a good solution for tread covers. I would love simple non-slip mats, and there are many great options for regular stairs (...
2
votes
1answer
41 views
Stairs railing restoration
I have noticed that some of my stair railing coating has been chipping off, clearly due to wear and tear uses. I have an elderly person living in the house and has to hold the railing right to use ...
0
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3answers
64 views
What are my options for rugged stair coverings?
I removed carpeting from a set of stairs going down to a basement. The structure of the stairs is just plywood on stringers, but is fully boxed in, meaning it is built out with both risers and treads.
...
20
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4answers
5k views
Is this stair rise to code?
Edited: I added a photo of the whole stairs, to see if it looks like it can be fixed or if you all think he needs to start over.
We are currently having our front porch steps and railing rebuilt.
The ...
1
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2answers
56 views
The gap between the stairs and the plasterboard
How and what to use to fill this hole between the stairs and the plasterboard to create an equal surface, reasonably resistant to cracking.
5
votes
4answers
738 views
How much can the topmost segment of a stair stringer be reduced without compromising strength?
Let me try this a different way.
My question is about the 2x12 stringer and if there are certain dimensions I need to keep in mind to not undermine the structural integrity of the wood.
Using the ...
1
vote
2answers
102 views
Any creative ideas for dealing with this long drop next to stairs?
My house is built on a hill and the lower level is quite dark. In an effort to open it up a bit, the original owner came up with this weird set of stairs (pictured below) with a platform off to the ...
6
votes
2answers
415 views
Excavated large rocks in concrete mix for staircase
In the process of prepping for my basement staircase, I excavated a fair amount of dirt and some rocks (size between baseball and football). Would it be OK to put some of those rocks (rinsed clean, of ...
0
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0answers
26 views
How to lay gravel on graded underlayment?
I am pouring concrete to make a small staircase (5 steps, 8x10" each) over ground underlayment. Since the grade is something like 40 degrees, the gravel rolls down hill and accumulates in the ...
5
votes
2answers
72 views
Rebar for small basement stairs supported by wall on both sides
I'm rebuilding small stairs (5 steps) leading from the street to my basement apartment. They are supported by brick walls on both sides, as you can see in the picture.
The old stairs i just ...
14
votes
7answers
4k views
How can I bend plywood around a stair riser?
I've been researching for some time how to cover a curved stair riser that had been previously tiled. I wasn't pleased with the look of the tile, so I removed it and sanded back the mastic before ...
0
votes
2answers
101 views
Reflective bubble insulation for making stairs fire-resistant?
I recently moved into a two-story home that has a storage cupboard under the stairs. There is no finish underneath the bottom part of the stairs, and the bare plywood is exposed, which is a fire ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Unexpected wood behind drywall (under stairs)
I was trying to install an electric receptacle inside our pantry (there is an existing receptacle on the opposite side of the same wall). I used a magnetic stud finder and determined where the studs ...
0
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0answers
56 views
How to calculate the load of the following stairs design
I just built a stairs made of 2x12 as treads and 2x8 as riser in a very hard red wood.
the riser is glued and screwed with 1/4"x 4" structural screws (4 per steps) into the 1.5" side of ...
2
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2answers
123 views
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0answers
63 views
How can I repair the mortar behind marble steps?
Got some big spaces behind the steps leading up to my house. Is there a good product to use? I know the mortar needs some give. And is there a best practice to get all the way behind the step?
2
votes
0answers
123 views
Do IP65-rated LED strips need a wet-rated channel enclosure too?
As I described in this question, I'm planning to mount 12V LED strips under the treads of an outdoor wood staircase. The strips I'm considering are rated IP65. Does the aluminum channel enclosure also ...
30
votes
10answers
4k views
Is is safe to use LED strips that shine onto stair risers instead of directly onto treads?
I'm planning to mount LED strips under the treads of the outdoor wood staircase to our back yard. I'd like to avoid light shining into peoples' eyes while climbing stairs, so I'm considering mounting ...
1
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0answers
27 views
How and when to repair seals in concrete porch and steps?
What product should I use to seal the gap between my sinking front step and the porch pad? How do I remove the old failing seal?
Should I seal the gap between the concrete porch in the house? What ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Help me to find a solution for twisted stairs corner
We are renovating our place and our floors and stairs have just done but I don’t like how our stairs turned out. It’s twisted stairs. We thinking to demo and re do again with panel going through it ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Are cracks between my steps and foundation a concern?
I have a concrete step with portico above it. I'm fairly certain it's attached via rebar as I see it in the basement area. I noticed some cracked mortar above the step and believe it to be getting ...
0
votes
5answers
151 views
Optimizing tread depth, riser height, and tread nosing projection for a compact staircase
I live in Indonesia. There is no building code. No insurance. No liability.
Although building codes etc. might say 30cm run, 20cm rise, in practice one can find products such as these, with thousands ...
0
votes
0answers
30 views
Fixing creaky stair treads post remodel
We had a contractor remodel our staircase. To save money, instead of rebuilding the entire staircase, the contractor pulled off the carpet, trimmed off the nose of the old tread, and installed a red ...
0
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1answer
37 views
Stairs and trim
My wife and I decided to update our upstairs trim to a white after finishing the basement that way. I've run into a problem with the laminate stairs. Prior to the white, the trim was stained a dark ...
0
votes
3answers
44 views
Vertical position of cable railing tightening anchors for stairs
I am installing cable railing parallel and below my stair banister. They will be anchored in the newel posts. I am using a simple anchor (picture right) on one side and a tightening one (picture left) ...
1
vote
1answer
73 views
30 years old exterior wooden stairs, repair or replace?
We manage this condo in lake tahoe region, and as you may know, the area snows a lot during winter time. The exterior wooden stairs (circled in red) is about 30 years old, and we are thinking about ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Restoring worn down steps [closed]
Want to take up another DIY at home, restoring steps to attic. I want to clean them up and make them shine. I see tons of products in Lowes and home depot on Floor restore/shine.
Anything you guys ...
0
votes
2answers
92 views
Should newly added house steps feature insulation?
I’m building steps from my house to the garden, where previously there was decking.
I’ve already poured concrete for the steps base, leaving underneath a layer of MOT sub base which I compacted.
Plan ...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
Basement Subfloor at Bottom Stair Landing
I am in the process of finishing my basement, but I ran into an issue with the new height of the floor and the bottom of the stairs. My new basement flooring is raised ~2" (OSB nailed on top 2x2s ...
3
votes
1answer
72 views
How to repair a built in hole in concrete front steps
We just bought a house in Minnesota. The front steps are concrete I believe and they are built with what seems to be small glass block windows or tiles in the top that leads into the basement, letting ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
How to fix loose box newel handrail post
Here's a link to the post and a video on it wobbling.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/huCeNoR4D79aDTJR9
In one video, you can see the whole post is moving quite a bit.
As you can see in the photos, I have ...
0
votes
1answer
32 views
exterior door to landing mininum height
does anyone know what the minimum exterior door to landing height is in MA. I know the max is 7 3/4 but I dont know the minimum. I'm getting conflicting information that it can't be less than 6 inches,...
3
votes
1answer
563 views
Why don't I see more progress when sanding my stair treads?
Doing some DIY around the house, any suggestions would greatly help.
I want to refinish my indoor steps and railing(sand and repaint)
When i am trying to sand the steps its very hard to sand it, ...
0
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1answer
121 views
Attempting to install new stair treads and risers
I have the stairs prepped, but I noticed that the risers and the treads that are there already are not square. Do i use shims to square up the risers and treads or is there another way? Do I stain the ...
0
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1answer
152 views
Replacing stair risers: three issues
These stair risers had an unattractive tile on them so I removed it.
I have three issues I need to address:
I need to get the tile residue off. I'm thinking paint stripper will do the job here
I ...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
SPF core stair treads
Is it durable/applicable if I make a 3" tick stair treads out of dry construction 2x12 lumber as 1½" core glued to ¾" hardwood (red oak or finer spicy) all way around?
What will be the ...
0
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2answers
111 views
Does open stairs between basement and main living cost extra electricity bill?
Does with No door or open stairs between basement and main living lead extra electricity bill, specially in winter, even though entire basement is finished and well insulated ?
We want to have open ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
What to do about a cracked stair when I can't find how the stair is held in place?
I've got an old house from the 1950 or so, and it's got these old stairs that go up to the attic; they don't appear to be nailed in or anything (unless the nails are really small).
Well the other day ...
0
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1answer
83 views
Changing Stair Rise After Landing Replacement
We recently replaced our upstairs flooring from carpet to hardwood floors. After leveling the upstairs floor and installing the new flooring, the upstairs landing is now 1 3/8" higher leaving a ...
0
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3answers
301 views
How should I build up stair stringers (instead of cutting them out)?
I'm thinking of building a stair stringer using a 2x6 and reclaimed wood triangles.
How to fix the triangles on the base, long screws, nails?
0
votes
2answers
60 views
Angled step in staircase issue
We just moved into an townhouse in Santa Monica, CA and one of the steps going down to the laundry/garage is angled down 5% as opposed to being completely flat (as the rest of the steps are). It is ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Does every deck stair with stringers longer than 6 feet need mid-span support?
I have read that cut stair stringers longer than 6 feet in length require mid-span support. Solid stringers seem to be able to get to about 13 feet without support. So how do you combine these two ...
1
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3answers
445 views
Building a one or two step staircase in garage of awkward total rise
I am curious what your recommendations are for building a set of garage steps in my situation. I am wanting to replace the step in my garage which is an 8" movable hollow cement block. The ...
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1answer
139 views
How can I repair a gap between drywall and stairs?
I have a 110-year character home and the stairs going to my finished basement needs some attention. Specifically, where the drywall meets the stairs, the material is cracking and flaking away and ...
0
votes
1answer
79 views
Stair case shoerail minimum width and extending width of closed stringer
Hopefully a quick question for someone. I have a closed stair stringer that used to be embedded in a non load bearing wall that has been removed leaving only the ~1 1/2" stair stringer remaining....
