Filling Gaps under Stair Nosing

2564 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by JIMMIEM, May 4, 2020

quietguru057

Discussion Starter · May 3, 2020

Hi there. New to the forum and home improvement in general.

Had a company come in and replace a horrible blue carpeting from our townhouse with an engineered hardwood. Finding nosing to match for the stairs was a difficult process. What I was left with looks decent, but there is a giant gap under every single step on both sides and I want to fill it in to paint over it. I wanted to ask the forum, if you were going to back fill these what material would you use, and what would be best to hold it in? A spackling/drywall putty of some kind is what I was going to opt for. Thank you for your consideration and help with my DIY project.

I have pictures but this chatroom application won't let me share them.

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quietguru057

Discussion Starter · #2 · May 3, 2020

So I'll reply with the picture links hopefully:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dd5A2Q_ojK2t2XjGRco08K0u-FKe8FpC/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Dbv17ss1jAbH5HKx0DDFQ6ASv5Jgm-3q/view?usp=sharing

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sixeightten

· #3 · May 3, 2020

That is a disaster. They added those treads on top f the existing, and now your steps are not to code. Your bottom rise increased, and your top rise decreased, by the thickness of the tread (1").

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carpdad

· #4 · May 3, 2020

I think wood filler and paint. Tape and be neat and don't get the filler smeared over the finished work. Maybe 2-3 coats would work better. Leave flat as possible since you don't want to sand too much against the finished treads and such. Treads were raised, about 3/4"? How are the first and the last steps? The difference can be got used to but could become inspection issue if selling the house, example. Too late now but just be aware.

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Msradell

· #5 · May 4, 2020

As the previous posters mentioned, looking at the stairs the step height may have been thrown off and be outside of code. However if the same thickness was added to the 1st and second-floors you may be okay. You certainly want to check it however.

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quietguru057

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 4, 2020

Thank you all for the responses.

Looked up measurements for code in my state of Colorado.

7 3/4in Max Riser - mine is 7in
10in Tread Min - mine is 10 1/4in
Min-3/4in Max- 1 1/4in Nosing projection - Mine is just under the max

I guess I'm covered? But I agree with you all it's a disaster. I knew the contractor I used wasn't worth it. Even after I tried finding them through yelp with lots of good reviews. They didn't do a good job on my baseboards either.

I think I'm going to get some ciruclar wood plugs that are about the same depth and diameter as those under nose pockets. Use those to plug up most of the space then use wood filler to fill in the rest. Sand, smooth and paint to all match.

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huesmann

· #7 · May 4, 2020

Easy fix. Buy a single pine tread at HD. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stair-Parts-36-in-x-11-1-2-in-Pine-Stair-Tread-8503E-036-HD00L/202087165

Measure the depth of the holes in your wall stringers. Use a table saw or circular saw to cut slices of the tread that are that width. Trim the slices so they fit in the slot, in front of the riser (since the slot keeps going, it's probably OK if they're slightly longer than the exposed part). Glue in, smooth out with caulk if necessary, paint.

Who did the painting of the stringers?

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JIMMIEM

· #8 · May 4, 2020

The code violation would be from the first floor to the first step or from the last step to the second floor. These would be the potential code violations. If every step were covered with the same thickness new tread they would still be in compliance with each other.....the potential problem(s) would be as my first statement suggests. Usually the code specifies the max variance between the max riser height and min riser height is 3/8 inches. The first floor and second floor landings participate in this variance calculation.
Either buy a tread with a bull nose or make your own with a router and slice off pieces to patch the holes.

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quietguru057

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 4, 2020

Thanks @huesmann for the tip. I'll look into that solution. Re paiting, nobody has painted them. We've left them mostly unpainted, there was carpet on these before.

@JIMMIEM The measurements I provided were from last step to the second floor, so maybe I'm within code? I realize the other spots on the basement to first floor could be inaccurate too. Here are photos of first floor to first step (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A8WGMGDhBCOKBPFrL-jshorNC3RF6Zul/view?usp=sharing) and last step to second floor (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ancb2HOA3U26hdPoSRHqlribrLkbptm8/view?usp=sharing).

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JIMMIEM

· #10 · May 4, 2020

quietguru057 said:
Thanks @huesmann for the tip. I'll look into that solution. Re paiting, nobody has painted them. We've left them mostly unpainted, there was carpet on these before.

@JIMMIEM The measurements I provided were from last step to the second floor, so maybe I'm within code? I realize the other spots on the basement to first floor could be inaccurate too. Here are photos of first floor to first step (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A8WGMGDhBCOKBPFrL-jshorNC3RF6Zul/view?usp=sharing) and last step to second floor (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ancb2HOA3U26hdPoSRHqlribrLkbptm8/view?usp=sharing).

To determine code compliance you need to measure every rise starting at the first floor and ending at the second floor. To be compliant the difference between the tallest rise and the shortest rise should be no more than 3/8".

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