Wood Stair Treads Set in Mortar

kennardn · 10-13-2011, 06:36 PM

I'm working on a set of 30 yo stairs previously covered in carpet.

The rough stairs are not level from riser to nose; about 1/2" off.
The new stair treads will be bullnose hard maple.

I'd like to consider using a mortar bed to both level and attach the treads.
Has anyone sen this technique work?

**kwikfishron** · 10-13-2011, 06:42 PM

Not a good idea…just cut some shims.

concretemasonry · 10-13-2011, 06:46 PM

Absolutely!!!. Shims are the best way to go.

Dick

kennardn · 10-13-2011, 09:10 PM

Great, thanks.

Ron6519 · 10-13-2011, 11:36 PM

What kind of staircase are you talking about?
What are you trying to do?
Are you replacing treads in an interior staircase?
Open or closed stringers?
Are you placing new treads over the old treads?
For the life of me, I can't figure how you would use a mortar bed in any scenario of a wood staircase.
And the only scenario with wood shims is with an open stringer staircase.

10-13-2011, 06:36 PM	#1
kennardn Newbie Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2	Wood Stair Treads Set in Mortar I'm working on a set of 30 yo stairs previously covered in carpet. The rough stairs are not level from riser to nose; about 1/2" off. The new stair treads will be bullnose hard maple. I'd like to consider using a mortar bed to both level and attach the treads. Has anyone sen this technique work?

10-13-2011, 06:42 PM	#2
kwikfishron Mod Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Kansas/Oregon Coast Posts: 4,758	Wood Stair Treads Set in Mortar Not a good idea…just cut some shims. __________________ A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words Especially In The DIY Chatroom -NEW MEMBERS- Please include your basic location in your profile. Some of the answers given are specific to a Region or State.

10-13-2011, 06:46 PM	#3
concretemasonry Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota - Latitude 45.057 Longitude -93.074 Posts: 3,357	Wood Stair Treads Set in Mortar Absolutely!!!. Shims are the best way to go. Dick

10-13-2011, 09:10 PM	#4
kennardn Newbie Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 2	Wood Stair Treads Set in Mortar Great, thanks.

10-13-2011, 11:36 PM	#5
Ron6519 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 9,519	Wood Stair Treads Set in Mortar What kind of staircase are you talking about? What are you trying to do? Are you replacing treads in an interior staircase? Open or closed stringers? Are you placing new treads over the old treads? For the life of me, I can't figure how you would use a mortar bed in any scenario of a wood staircase. And the only scenario with wood shims is with an open stringer staircase. __________________ Ron "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." B. Franklin 1759

Wood Stair Treads Set in Mortar