Question regarding gap between stair tread and skirt

Awachter · 09-20-2012, 11:28 PM

I recently had carpet removed from our circa 1925 colonial. We finished the stair treads and are getting to paint the stair risers white. There is a 1/8 to 1/16" gap on the left hand side. Gap is both between riser and skirt and stair tread and skirt. Width if gap varies in each step. I was concerned that if I just caulk it will be very noticeable due to the gap. Was looking at molding options but didn't know how to fit around curved edge of the tread, as well saw on several DIY sites that molding is a sign of poor carpentry. Any suggestions?

mae-ling · 09-21-2012, 12:44 AM

Moulding done right can add a touch of elegance.

Awachter · 09-21-2012, 08:03 AM

So then what kind of molding can be used? i cant find a lot of information online. Attached is an image of the gap between the stairs.

joecaption · 09-21-2012, 09:07 AM

There is no trim that's going to make that look right.
The treads and risers were cut wrong.

Awachter · 09-21-2012, 09:24 AM

Thanks Joe.

Aside from completely ripping out the stairs and trying to find wood to match my 90 year old house, do you have any other suggestions to at least improve the look? I know that I will not be able to make it look perfect, but I am looking for any suggestions to help improve what I have.

joecaption · 09-21-2012, 09:31 AM

It's one of those jobs someone would have to really be there to look it over to figure out

If that gap is the same on all the treads and all the risers, I would suspect something has moved in that wall area to cause it.
Is there an equal gap on both sides or just that one side?

Awachter · 09-21-2012, 09:40 AM

No it varies by each step. There are about 10 steps between the landing and the top of the stairs, the gap is the largest (picture I posted) in the middle of the flight of stairs. It grows narrower as it goes down to the base stairs, or moves up to the top stair.

When I removed the carpeting, I could see that previous owners had a ton of caulk shoved in the gap. It looked pretty horrible, but also could have been because the caulk was old and yellowed.

joecaption · 09-21-2012, 09:52 AM

Thinking outside the box, on the back side of that wall where the skirt is it plaster or drywall?

Can you see the finish nails holding in that skirt board?

(The skirt is the board attached to the wall on the sides of the stairs)

Awachter · 09-21-2012, 10:06 AM

The wall behind the skirt is plaster.

You can't seen any of the finish nails, I'm guessing because there is a pretty good amount of paint over them.