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 then installed. Treads and risers
are generally unfinished, but prefinished options
are available
but can be 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 open 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.
Starting Step
The starting step
will have rounded effects on both ends or one end,
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 of
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.
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