Measure and Cut Treads
From How to Get a Hardwood Look on Carpeted Stairs · Step 5 of 11 · Video by BYOT
Showing 6:09–11:07 of the source video. Watch the full video with every moment.
What happens in this clip
For each tread, you may need to combine multiple hardwood flooring planks. Start by test-fitting the required number of planks, ensuring their tongue-and-groove connections fit snugly. Use painter's tape to hold these planks together as a single unit, which simplifies cutting and handling. Use the stair jig to capture the exact length and angles of each tread, transferring these marks to your taped-together planks. Pay close attention to the bottom corners of the jig to ensure they align with the bottom of the previous riser for an accurate measurement. Make the angled cuts on both sides using a miter saw. When cutting, be slightly conservative to allow for minor adjustments. A slight adjustment of half a degree on the miter saw can significantly improve the fit for non-square walls. Ensure the depth and length are appropriate for a snug fit against the riser below and the stair skirts.
Goal: Cut the hardwood planks to form the stair treads, combining multiple pieces if necessary, and use the stair jig to achieve perfect angles and lengths.
What's used
Tools
- Hardwood Flooring Planks
- Hearing Protection
- Miter Saw (Chop Saw)
- Pencil
- Rubber Mallet
- Safety Glasses
- Stair Jig (e.g.
- GOOF BOARD)
- Table Saw
- Tape Measure
Materials
- Painter's Tape
About the full video
This project provides detailed instructions on how to install hardwood stair treads and risers using construction adhesives, ensuring a secure and durable finish while preventing squeaks. The process involves preparing the existing stairs by removing old nosing, cleaning surfaces, addressing squeaks, precisely cutting new hardwood components using specialized tools, and finally adhering and securing them.
What's said in this clip
on the same plane basically meaning that they are touching the flooring or the tread below it at the same time now it's just the same process over and over again cutting the wood an inch long tapping them together putting them through the table saw then coming back and applying the template to the wood and then of course cutting the ends at the appropriate angle i was pretty conservative by making sure i wasn't cutting too much off and therefore i did have to make a couple extra cuts but most of them slid perfectly in place just like this since these cuts are so vital you want to take your time and patience when actually measuring and cutting everything so it does take a bit of time and energy to do that but the process itself is extremely easy and as long as you have the patience to do it and the tools you can for sure take this on but now that we have all of our risers taken care of it's now time for our treads and with a stair tread it all starts with the nosing and this nosing is coming from flooring direct warehouse which is providing all the materials for this entire project and is the reason why they're the sponsor of this week's video the amazing thing about their nosing is that it's a perfect color match and it has a tongue and groove that connects perfectly within the flooring that way we have a perfect transition compared to other products on the marketplace that might not actually even have the same color match that this company does pretty remarkable and the fact that a square nosing is definitely a little bit more of a modern look compared to the rounded stuff is a huge factor in the long run when it comes to the desired look and feel of your space if you're interested in checking out this beautiful engineered hardwood flooring from flooring direct warehouse i'll make sure and leave a link in the description box below but now let's get to cutting these treads i cut the nosing in two floor boards long just like i did the risers about an inch and once i have these three sections taken care of it's now time to put them all together now i've found two different ways of cutting these treads the first way was to actually just take these three pieces and assemble them appropriately together after they're all assembled i secured them as one fluid piece with just a few pieces of painters tape that way i know for certain that the seams won't move on me over time at this time i grab my template jig and place it right on top of the tread same thing as…
Automatically transcribed from the source video.
Step 5 of 11: Measure and Cut Hardwood Treads and Risers
Measure the length of each stair tread from wall to wall or from nosing to nosing if applicable. Measure the height of each riser. Use these measurements to cut your hardwood planks. For treads, you may need to join multiple boards or use a wider plank. Ensure your cuts are straight and accurate. If your stairs have a bullnose or specific nosing profile, account for this in your measurements and cuts.
Every video in How to Get a Hardwood Look on Carpeted Stairs
Step 1: Remove Carpet and Padding
- 0:04–0:34 Remove Old Carpet and Padding
- 0:21–0:50 Remove the Carpet
- 0:44–2:00 Remove Old Carpet
Step 2: Remove Staples and Nails
- 0:31–0:55 Remove Tack Strips and Staples
- 0:13–0:38 Remove Carpet and Prep for Installation
- 1:19–1:49 Remove Staples and Protruding Nails
Step 3: Inspect and Repair Stair Structure
- 0:09–0:14 Repair and Prepare Stair Structure
- 1:40–2:44 Prepare Surface by Filling Holes
- 3:59–6:57 Replace Damaged Stair Treads or Risers
Step 4: Clean and Sand Stair Surfaces
- 1:05–1:18 Vacuum Dust and Perform Fine Sanding
- 0:51–0:57 Strip Old Finish from Tread Surfaces
- 0:37–0:41 Sand the Staircase
Step 5: Measure and Cut Hardwood Treads and Risers
- 6:09–11:07 Measure and Cut Treads (this video)
- 0:43–0:52 Measure and Cut New Treads
- 3:40–6:00 Measure and Cut Risers
Step 6: Install Hardwood Risers
- 0:35–0:46 Install the Riser Boards
- 2:49–3:19 Install Retro Risers
- 3:55–5:35 Cut and Install Stair Risers
Step 7: Install Hardwood Treads
- 10:00–11:40 Install Hardwood Treads and Risers
- 0:49–2:35 Install the Tread and Nosing Components
- 2:35–4:25 Secure New Stair Treads
Step 8: Install Stair Nosing (if applicable)
- 4:41–5:53 Cut and Install Nosings
- 0:37–0:41 Install Stair Nose Trim
- 13:39–14:45 Measure and Install Stair Nosing
Step 9: Fill Nail Holes and Gaps
- 16:00–16:30 Apply Wood Filler for Finishing Touches
- 0:55–1:21 Apply Wood Filler to Blemishes
- 0:07–0:25 Inspect and Fill Imperfections
Step 10: Sand Repaired Areas and Final Surface
- 2:44–3:20 Sand Surfaces and Control Dust
- 1:21–1:35 Sand and Clean Stairs
- 1:47–2:00 Fill and Sand Risers
Step 11: Apply Finish (Stain and Sealant)
- 0:45–0:59 Apply Protective Topcoat
- 11:09–11:34 Apply Protective Wood Top Coat
- 2:01–2:44 Apply Polyurethane Sealer
How to Get a Hardwood Look on Carpeted Stairs
This project outlines the process of removing carpet from stairs and installing a hardwood finish to achieve a hardwood look. It involves removing existing carpet, preparing the stair treads, and installing new hardwood treads and risers.
Read the full guide Browse all guides
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