How to Replace Stair Treads?
Removing Old Stair TreadsBefore you can replace your old stair treads, you will need to remove them. You can usually do this by using a flat metal pry bar. Place the metal bar between the stair tread and the riser. Try to raise the tread straight up. You can continuously do this until you remove the tread. However, you should be careful and make sure that you do not make any marks on the risers. You also have to watch out for the skirt or the wallboard. You might need to loosen or remove these before you can remove the stair treads. However, it may be worth a shot to try to pull out the stair treads before you touch the wallboards. After you have managed to remove the treads, you can take out the nails out of the stairs.Making the MeasurementsAfter removing the older stair treads, you should cut out a piece of wood that is the size of the piece that you just removed. If you need to make measurements, then do not hesitate to do so. You should also make sure that the wood you plan to use is the same type of wood as the stair treads. Typical stair treads are made of oak wood or maple wood. If you have a different type of wood, you should try to get something that is as close to the original as possible. This is for safety reasons. Different types of wood wear differently. This can pose as a major safety concern. For example, if one stair tread is oak and the other is maple, your stairs could give out sooner than expected. All stair treads should be as close as possible to each other. Once you have made the proper measurements and gathered the correct wood, you should sand and plane the edges so that it is as rounded as the old stair treads.Installing the TreadsBefore you begin to install the new stair treads, you should pre-drill holes into the treads. These holes will be where you actually drill the nails in place. After you have drilled the holes, you can use the matching wood filler and add your finish.