Installing retro treads on existing stairs or complete stairway rebuild?
I am planning to install new (retro?) treads over my existing previously carpeted stairs by putting new 1/2" thick treads with 1" bull noses on top of the old treads.The stairs have a wall skirt along one side that was cut/fitted around the existing treads. The other side of the stairway is open. This stairway is visible from the living room, dining room, and entrance way so good appearance is pretty important to me. It will have a nice oak over-the-post handrail with a fancy starting newel, custom iron balusters, and such.
For the new treads, I need to decide if I want to either (a) leave the exisiting skirt in place and butt the new treads against the existing skirt or (b) replace the existing skirt with a new skirt after the new treads are installed. To help me decide, I wanted to ask the following:
Would one of these two methods be considered the obvious better or professional way to do this or is it dependent on circumstances? I ask because I would expect that using method (a) is easier but could show more cracks between the tread and the wall when looking down at the steps if the new treads are not cut perfectly and (b) would be harder to do but might look like a more professional installation if done well. The new treads will be stained oak and the skirt will be painted white so using wood putty/filler to cover up less than perfect work may not be a consideration. Also, while I can do reasonably good finsih carpenty work, cutting out a stair skirt to match the profile of the new bull nosed treads and risers exactly seems a bit challenging.
Putting the question another way, is it a dumb idea to tear out the perfectly good existing wall skirt? And if I do decide to do that, would hiring a professional stair installer to install the new skirt be the obvious thing to do?
Thanks in advance for any advice on this.
I am planning to install new (retro?) treads over my existing previously carpeted stairs by putting new 1/2" thick treads with 1" bull noses on top of the old treads.The stairs have a wall skirt along one side that was cut/fitted around the existing treads. The other side of the stairway is open. This stairway is visible from the living room, dining room, and entrance way so good appearance is pretty important to me. It will have a nice oak over-the-post handrail with a fancy starting newel, custom iron balusters, and such.
For the new treads, I need to decide if I want to either (a) leave the exisiting skirt in place and butt the new treads against the existing skirt or (b) replace the existing skirt with a new skirt after the new treads are installed. To help me decide, I wanted to ask the following:
Would one of these two methods be considered the obvious better or professional way to do this or is it dependent on circumstances? I ask because I would expect that using method (a) is easier but could show more cracks between the tread and the wall when looking down at the steps if the new treads are not cut perfectly and (b) would be harder to do but might look like a more professional installation if done well. The new treads will be stained oak and the skirt will be painted white so using wood putty/filler to cover up less than perfect work may not be a consideration. Also, while I can do reasonably good finsih carpenty work, cutting out a stair skirt to match the profile of the new bull nosed treads and risers exactly seems a bit challenging.
Putting the question another way, is it a dumb idea to tear out the perfectly good existing wall skirt? And if I do decide to do that, would hiring a professional stair installer to install the new skirt be the obvious thing to do?
Thanks in advance for any advice on this.