How to Replace Floating Stairs

Examine the treads of the stairs to determine how they’re held into place. Typical floating staircases will either have the treads attached to a bar running the length of the stairway from the base to the top, or the treads will be attached directly to the wall at a base beneath each step.

Remove any railing running along the side of the stairway by removing the screws holding each of the spindles in place on the treads through the support collars on the base of the spindles. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to take out the screws, and then pull the rail, with the spindles still attached, away from the step surfaces.

Unscrew the bolts holding the step in place that you wish to remove, using the socket wrench. Work with each step you wish to replace individually, so as to avoid creating large gaps in the stairway that you cannot step over. The bolts extend through a baseplate to the stair tread if the floating stairs uses a central column, or through a panel along the side of the stair tread beneath the step into the wall. Pull the step from its position to clear the way for the replacement.

Set the replacement step into position and then bolt it into place. Hand tighten the bolts to get them started, and then tighten them securely with the socket wrench. Use the same replacement process for each step needing replacement.

Remove all of the steps and then unbolt the central column from the edge of the landing at the top of the stair while standing on a ladder if you wish to replace the entire flight of steps. Remove the bolts from the base of the column while having an assistant hold the column in place to prevent its falling. Remove the column from the area to clear the stairway.

Position the new column in place and then bolt the top to the edge of the landing before bolting the bottom to the floor. If the column uses a different sized top and baseplate, then use a drill with a drill bit the same size as the bolts that came with the replacement column to drill the new mounting holes. Set the column in place and use a piece of chalk to mark the mounting holes before you drill them. Make certain the top plate for the mount leaves enough clearance between the plate and the floor level above to allow for the placement of a stair tread. Drill the holes, and then clear the holes of debris before bolting the central column in place.

Push a locking sleeve onto the support column at the position of each stair tread from beneath the column. Place a tread support on top of the locking sleeve with the mounting holes on the base of the support aligned with the holes on the top of the locking sleeve. Bolt the two pieces tightly together with a hex-head bolt and nut to hold them in position.

Place the new tread onto the tread support and bolt it in place with hex-head bolts from beneath.

Place the rail onto the side of the replacement steps and then screw the collars around the base of the spindles onto the treads to complete the replacement process.