Securing Risers to Stairs

Risers serve both form and function. Unless you have an open, ultra-modern staircase that appear to float, risers cover the vertical spaces between the treads -- the horizontal boards you step on -- and conceal the view beneath the stairs. They also perform safety duty by keeping your feet from getting caught beneath the next tread. Securing risers to stairs requires basic carpentry skill and tools. Any minimally skilled do-it-yourselfer can handle this job alone.

Tape measure
Carpenter's pencil
Circular or hand saw
Hammer or nail gun
Nails

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the width of the staircase from the outer edges of the two outer stringers, the three boards that support the treads and risers. Use this width to cut the risers or use risers pre-cut to the correct length.
- 2
  Lay a tread flat on the riser, and press it against the riser. Mark each riser at the top of the tread.
- 3
  Hold the riser against the stringers so that the bottom edge of the riser aligns with the marks. Drive a nail through the riser at the middle stringer to hold the riser in place.
- 4
  Recheck your alignment and secure the riser to the stringer by driving two nails through the riser and into each of the two remaining stringers. Slide the tread into place beneath the riser, nail it to the riser and repeat on the next stair up.

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Home Building