[mlowrie]

Hi,

Last year I replaced the upper stairs in our split-level entry home. They were previously carpeted and once removed were obviously not strong enough for the proposed wood stairs (stringers insufficient and thin plywood treads and risers). I replaced them with a triple 2x12 stringer and 1-1/4 ply treads and risers.

I'm just getting ready to finish it off which involves removing the knee wall and old railing (see the last pic. BTW, the outside has been re-sided, new windows, door etc..) but I'm not sure of the best method to complete the job. I have a box newel post and iron balusters for the job.

1. Due to the front door swing, I won't be able to being the newel post much farther out than the last stair. I'll probably only be able to push it out as far as the bullnose on the treads. Reasonable?

2. The stair width is 39" and I'd like to maintain as much of this as possible. Would it be better to end the railing at the top of the knee wall and put a full railing opposite the knee wall or have a single railing along the knee wall and jog it and continue it up to the top of the stairs?

3. The baseboard around the house is a 5-1/2 craftsman style with plinth blocks and coroner blocks. What's the best way to continue this trimwork down the stairs with the skirting and knee wall? I have some small 1/8" MDF for the skirting.

4. Would it be better to eliminate the knee wall and build out the treads? I should have enough bullnose for the returns.

Any help or comments appreciated!

Mike

 

[Millertyme]

Are those your actual treads or are you using hardwood on top of that plywood?

I would rip out that half wall and do open returned treads. center newel on the wall and put a railing on the other side of the stair also

1/8 skirting is very thin and will be difficult to stay flat against the wall. I'd use 1 x stock and try to match the profile of the baseboard. It looks like a simple profile to do on the table saw.

 

[Millertyme]

Like this. You will need to extend those bottom treads though

 

[mlowrie]

Are those your actual treads or are you using hardwood on top of that plywood?

I would rip out that half wall and do open returned treads. center newel on the wall and put a railing on the other side of the stair also

1/8 skirting is very thin and will be difficult to stay flat against the wall. I'd use 1 x stock and try to match the profile of the baseboard. It looks like a simple profile to do on the table saw.

The plan is to cover it with 12mm engineered hardwood that was used upstairs and either do the same with the risers or go with a painted white riser. Not sure yet. I just used 1-1/4" ply so I had options going forward.

I think extending the riser and a handrail on the opposite side is probably the best option and the easiest to do. I'll cut up something to match the stair profile to support the extended treads. The MDF is actually 1/4" but still not going to give the look I want.

I'll have to come up with a method to finish the skirting on the old knee wall side but I have some ideas.

Thanks for pushing me in the right direction. There were so many options out there and just wasn't sure what to aim for.

I'll post pictures when some of the work is done.

Mike