Hello!
Due to my cat's problem getting to her litter box I am in the process of ripping out my upstairs carpet for replacement with a 3/4 hardwood product. My house is a little unusual because the staircases are at a 45 degree angle, plus I have a railing base that is tapered and won't match up well with the flooring even though it is also 3/4" (see attach pictures).
Questions
1) Is there a tool that I can use to easily remove the tapered edge on the inside of the railing base without removing it (first picture)?
2) Is the consensus here that I should leave the railing in place and cover the gap with trim?
3) If I must remove the railings to remove the tapering on the base, should I just forget about the existing base and re-mount the newel posts directly to the new floor? If so, what is the best technique/hardware for a strong post?
4) I have a small section of railing between the top of the steps and the upstairs railing (second picture). If I remove the upstairs railing, I assume I should remove this, too, and also replace with landing tread, correct? If not, I will have to cut around it and hide my errors with the same molding as proposed in #2, or is there another alternative?
5) In any event, do I need to get the top of the stairs landing tread even with the railing base, whether it be something new or the existing base? Or, should I just cut the flooring to fit in the L-shape that I'll have if the landing at the top of the steps isn't even with the railing base or replacement?
6) I was going to start the flooring at the front of the house and move back toward the 45 degree point where the railing base is (see third picture). But, I am thinking instead of starting at the railing base and moving in both directions so I don't have to have a plank with a funny 45 degree notch. In other words, put a full plank at the point, parallel to the window. Is that the best approach?
Thanks for your help, and sorry for such a long post!!!
-Larry
Due to my cat's problem getting to her litter box I am in the process of ripping out my upstairs carpet for replacement with a 3/4 hardwood product. My house is a little unusual because the staircases are at a 45 degree angle, plus I have a railing base that is tapered and won't match up well with the flooring even though it is also 3/4" (see attach pictures).
Questions
1) Is there a tool that I can use to easily remove the tapered edge on the inside of the railing base without removing it (first picture)?
2) Is the consensus here that I should leave the railing in place and cover the gap with trim?
3) If I must remove the railings to remove the tapering on the base, should I just forget about the existing base and re-mount the newel posts directly to the new floor? If so, what is the best technique/hardware for a strong post?
4) I have a small section of railing between the top of the steps and the upstairs railing (second picture). If I remove the upstairs railing, I assume I should remove this, too, and also replace with landing tread, correct? If not, I will have to cut around it and hide my errors with the same molding as proposed in #2, or is there another alternative?
5) In any event, do I need to get the top of the stairs landing tread even with the railing base, whether it be something new or the existing base? Or, should I just cut the flooring to fit in the L-shape that I'll have if the landing at the top of the steps isn't even with the railing base or replacement?
6) I was going to start the flooring at the front of the house and move back toward the 45 degree point where the railing base is (see third picture). But, I am thinking instead of starting at the railing base and moving in both directions so I don't have to have a plank with a funny 45 degree notch. In other words, put a full plank at the point, parallel to the window. Is that the best approach?
Thanks for your help, and sorry for such a long post!!!
-Larry