Stair Tread and Railing Upgrade Process
This is the build of my stairway upgrade. This was one of the most complex in-place carpentry projects I have completed. I had to work out several issues through research and with the help of a friend.
The oak treads were structurally sound, but I added the tread covers to bring the stair heights into compliance with the hard flooring. The original height was for carpet. It was also an opportunity to upgrade the look of the stairwell and match it with the rest of the main floor.
The stringer cover creation was a challenge as well. I used hot glue to create a template in place, used that to make a hardboard template, then use that to make the MDF stringer cover.
Overall, I believe the end result was worth the work. Not only does it look better, it is a much sturdier railing with proper heights and gaps.
The plastic latice was a temporary solution to keep small kids from going through it. Temporary lasted about six years...
