How to Install Hardwood On Stairs
Hardwood is one of the best flooring choices for stairs, but a lot goes into installing it. In most home improvement projects, the skeleton of your stairs is already built, but the surface parts, the treads, and risers might need replacing. In this article, you’ll learn how to use hardwood planks to replace or cover your stairs’ existing treads and risers.
Step One: Trim Planks to Size
Measure each part of each step of your stairs separately. There are four important measurements: the tread (the part that you stand on) length and width and the riser (the back of each stair), and overall length and width. If your stairs are uneven in height, add 3/4 inch to the largest height of the riser and trim to fit. Do not cut planks too short! There is no easy fix for this besides getting a new plank and starting again.
For tread planks, you can buy planks with pre-made rounded edges to keep your stairs from looking blocky. Cut the treads large, about one inch larger than the stair, so they hang over the riser. Trim to your preference.
Step Two: Install Risers
Place each riser against the frame underneath. There should be three frame parts, called stringers, to nail to: one on each side of the step and one in the middle. Hammer two nails into each stringer. You can then use a nail set to punch the nails deeper into the wood.
Step Three: Install Tread
Make sure the tread lays flush and level against the riser. You can use wooden shims from your cuttings, like the ones pictured above, to fill in any gaps and make the tread level.
Apply construction adhesive to the stair, and then place the tread plank on top, squeezing adhesive as evenly as possible. Clean off excess adhesive, then nail treads to their corresponding stringers.
Step Four: Install Balustrade
This part of installing hardwood on stairs is challenging and often best left to professionals. Entire guides have been written about installing stair balusters, newels, and railings–more than can be explained here. However, it is important that if you are going to sand and finish your balusters as well as your stairs, you need to take care of the balusters first to avoid dripping finish on the stairs.
Step Five: Sand and Finish
Once the construction glue under the treads dries, sand the planks lightly, then sweep and vacuum away sawdust before applying stain and finish. Stain will darken your stairs significantly, while a clear finish on its own will darken them slightly, about as much as the wood would darken when wet. Choose a stain/finish combo that fits your home decor. Brush the stain, then the finish, on with the grain, making sure to wipe away any excess with a cloth.
Now that your stairs have been redone from top to bottom, literally, you can work on your next flooring and construction project. How about installing some hardwood floors to match your new stairs? Anything is possible once your inner DIYer gets revved up.
Is hardwood a stair flooring option you would consider for your home?
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Luke Smith
Thanks for the tip about brushing off the sawdust carefully from the newly-installed wood staircase to prevent the wood from darkening. My husband wants to replace our staircase with laminated wood as well as our porch to make it look more appealing. I support my husband with this decision, so we will contact a wood baluster installation service early in the morning to inquire about the prices and types of wood that they have as supplies.
Trach Vo
I have 2 questions:
1. My stair has landing and turn that make irregular shape (not rectangular) . How can I install on it?
2. I want to install my stair to match with an existing foyer hardwood floor. How should I find a close match? or should I install with unfinished planks then stain and finish to match them up?
Thanks,
James McCabe
I am replacing carpet on my stairs and upstairs rooms/bedrooms. The stairs are a simple box design, straight no landing or turn. Do you recommend installing the stair treads and risers first? I am wondering about this since I will be installing new engineered wood flooring at the top of the stairs too, and want the finishing to be done right, and without excessive challenges due to poor planning.
BuildDirect Product Expert Team
Hi James,
Thank you for getting in touch! Yes I would recommend installing risers first then the treads to ensure you have all the correct measurements and everything fits together. Please let us know if you have any other questions!