How to Build Treads on Steps

Measuring

• 1

  Measure the height of the stairs from the bottom to the top landing with a measuring tape. Write down the measurement in inches.

• 2

  Divide the total height of the stairs in inches by seven.

• 3

  Round the total down to the next whole number to find the total treads needed. For example, a measurement of 3 feet high translates to 36-inches. Thirty-six divided by 7 is 5.14, which you would round down to 5. Therefore, a staircase meant to be 3 feet high would have five treads.

Building

• 4

  Measure the width between the stringers using the measuring tape. Stringers are what make up the sides of the stairs. If the stairs are between walls, measure wall to wall. If the stairs are open, add 1 inch to your measurement from stringer to stringer. This determines the length of the treads.

• 5

  Lay out a 2-by-10-inch board flat with the 10-inch side facing up. Measure from one end of the board for the length of the tread using the measurement found in the stair width. Mark where the measurement ends.

• 6

  Draw a line across the 10-inch side with a straight edge. Cut the board along the line drawn with a circular saw. This is the first tread.

• 7

  Set the cut piece on top of the remaining section of the board. Make the ends flush. Draw a line across the larger board using the cut end of the smaller piece as a guide. Remove the smaller piece. Cut the larger piece along the line with the circular saw. Repeat this step for each tread needed.

• 8

  Gather up the treads. Set the treads into position on the stringers so that the treads lay flat . Drill three screws per stringer through the treads into the top edge of the stringers. Countersink the screws so they are flush with the wood.

• 9

  Remove rough edges and corners of the treads with a belt sander. Sand the front face and edge of each tread.