Idea on cost-effective Steps going upstairs please.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

The steps leading upstairs to the offices in my shop are on the beginning stages of needing attention. Presently they are covered with commercial carpet however the center area of the stair treads are showing age. My son & I installed hardwood in the offices upstairs, ...and we also have the tools & ability to lay ceramic tile. So what is the most cost effective way to renovate this area? I have the air powered nail gun for the hardwood too, however it appears the treads with the nose and the risers drive the cost of installing hardwood up quite a bit. Not sure if I have ever seen ceramic tile used on stairs before, ...and I'm not sure if I have the talent to lay the carpet on two flights of stairs including a landing, but maybe gluing/installing carpet is easier to do than I think. Thoughts on which way you would go, ...and why??

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[The Cobbler]

have you looked at commercial vinyl treads? or renovator wooden tread caps ?
not sure I'd like ceramic or porcelain on stairs. can be slippery when wet, could be lots of movement in the stair leading to cracks, easy chipping at nosing etc.

 

[rburke65]

Well, if that were mine, it would be there for the next 10 years. I see nothing wrong with it, but.....it’s not mine.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Unless you pull off the old steps altogether, laying hardwood over the existing steps will mess up the rise, so the top and bottom steps will not be consistent with the ones in the middle.

The carpet looks pretty decent to me. If you want a change look at the commercial vinyl treads mentioned above. They're durable, non skid and easier to keep clean than carpet.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Unless you pull off the old steps altogether, laying hardwood over the existing steps will mess up the rise, so the top and bottom steps will not be consistent with the ones in the middle.

The carpet looks pretty decent to me. If you want a change look at the commercial vinyl treads mentioned above. They're durable, non skid and easier to keep clean than carpet.

how much difference between the top & bottom riser are we talking?

 

[Barnabas]

how much difference between the top & bottom riser are we talking?

The difference is the thickness of the wood you are adding. Even slight differences in riser height can lead to accidents on stairs. People subconsciencely expect the steps to be equidistant.

 

[matt_i]

More than 3/8" difference in rise and most people trip.

A new, common, oak tread is going to be 3/4" thick.

The stairs in my shop are 2x10 treads with around 3/4" ripped off the edge and then a 1x2 oak "nose" glued and screwed to it, trip thru the roundover bit. They're not used a lot, just for storage, so I went a little cheaper here.

 

[Docbentley]

Well, if that were mine, it would be there for the next 10 years. I see nothing wrong with it, but.....it’s not mine.

Agree.

 

[yeldogt]

First -- do you know what's under the carpet ?

What's the rise on each step? ... what are you going to do at the top?

I would replace the carpet before trying to redo the treads .... tile is a nightmare. Don't even think of it ... plus ..slippery.

Wood is great in a house ... or utility stairs that get painted ..... in a shop with dirt .... natural finish? no way.

My rental property steps are all carpet as you have .... nothing holds up like the commercial carpets and they clean easily. Quiet -- no slip

 

[rlitman]

More than 3/8" difference in rise and most people trip.

A new, common, oak tread is going to be 3/4" thick.

The stairs in my shop are 2x10 treads with around 3/4" ripped off the edge and then a 1x2 oak "nose" glued and screwed to it, trip thru the roundover bit. They're not used a lot, just for storage, so I went a little cheaper here.

Hardwood tread caps are only around 1/4" thick. I see new systems that complete wrap over the nose:
https://www.starecasing.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/left-photo-238x300.png

The ones I am most familiar with require that you cut the nose off and glue down the cap.

Your 3/8" difference assumes that these treads are all perfectly regular to begin with. And if they were initially (that alone is a big assumption, as most stairs I encounter are not done right), any changes to either floor above or below would throw them off.

 

[Bretny]

A 3/4in oak tread is about $40 at a big box store. Those "shop" stairs could get pricy quick. Tile would be a no go too. Tons of cutting and your stair structure may not be stong enough to not flex.

Carpet them again. You got a staple gun and glue isnt tough to use.

 

[Kaizen]

Like bretny says no way for tile. Waste of time. Always will crack.
If you have dirt and work boots primarily I’d redo the carpet.
If this is someplace where customers will be coming primarily I’d spend the money on oak treads. Yes you might have to trim the structure to make it work but you might be ok. A good install does not have nails showing so don’t just grab the nail gun. Done right it’s a difficult thing to get perfect


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[BillK]

I didnt used to be a big fan on carpet on stairs but after hearing of a couple of people I know getting hurt from slipping on hardwood I have changed my mind. We are getting ready to replace the carpet on ours in the house right now actually.

Like the others said unless the pictures lie your steps look perfectly fine to me I would leave them alone. But if you definitely want to replace them I would go with the same type carpet you have now. Looks very nice.

 

[2level]

That carpet doesn't look too bad, but if you want a different look that is inexpensive, consider doing what I did -- if your stair treads are OSB -- put a couple coats of clear poly on after prepping the surface. The OSB isn't too smooth/slippery but you could add some of those porch paint grip beads for extra safety.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

First -- do you know what's under the carpet ?

What's the rise on each step? ... what are you going to do at the top?

I would replace the carpet before trying to redo the treads .... tile is a nightmare. Don't even think of it ...

Wood is great in a house ... or utility stairs that get painted ..... in a shop with dirt? no way.

My rental property steps are all carpet as you have .... nothing holds up like the commercial carpets and they clean easily. Quiet -- no slip

Thank you. As far as what is under the carpet, ...if it is like the rest of the upstairs, there was chipboard subflooring in which the carpet was glued down to. The present rise is 6". As for what is the plan at the top? Probably do whatever I do on the stairs. If I use hardwood on the treads, -then probably use hardwood. If I use carpet on the treads, probably reuse carpet at the top area too.


I must confess, ...your comment about 'in a shop with dirt' did make me smile a tad! I guess I kinda have a reputation of as a dirty housekeeper so I guess I better enclose a few pictures of the shop area so you can get a feel for all this dirt we will need to contend with. The first 2 pics were taken a month or so ago of our main shop area. Since the lights are off today, the next 4 pics are screenshots of the assembly shop, the body shop, the sheetmetal shop and the wood shop, -all taken by the security cameras just before closing time yesterday.

In all seriousness, I know you are looking out for my best interest in this, ...and I do appreciate what you are suggesting. This stair area is one of the first impressions that a customer will see as they enter the building and come to the offices, so I am just wanting to plan ahead so as not to have this area look worn or 'weathered'. Based on everyone's feedback, I probably will either look at re-carpeting myself, -or just hiring that done to make it look the best. Thanks everyone.

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[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

I didnt used to be a big fan on carpet on stairs but after hearing of a couple of people I know getting hurt from slipping on hardwood I have changed my mind. We are getting ready to replace the carpet on ours in the house right now actually.

Like the others said unless the pictures lie your steps look perfectly fine to me I would leave them alone. But if you definitely want to replace them I would go with the same type carpet you have now. Looks very nice.

Sorry Bill, ..I didn't see your post slip in there or I would have included picture of my engine machine shop too so you wouldn't think I was ignoring you.

I guess I can only hide the fact we are slobs for so long before the truth comes out!!

**OK, I added a picture of the machine shop from a few days ago for you to make fun of our nastiness too! **

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[kbs2244]

I am more interested in PICs of that cream and brown, square, 4 door.
Is it for sale?

 

[kbs2244]

I am more interested in PICs of that cream and brown, square, 4 door.
Is it for sale?

As far as the stairs go,
It sounds like the flooring was done expecting carpeting.
If so, the stairs are most likely just pine 2x 10's

 

[kbs2244]

I am more interested in PICs of that cream and brown, square, 4 door.
Is it for sale?

It sounds like the flooring was done expecting carpeting.
If so, the stairs are most likely just pine 2x 10's

 

[Zeke]

Stair carpet of that nature is glued on the treads as you go and stapled under the nose on the riser top and bottom. Fold back, spread glue (lightly, you don't want it coming up through the carpet) and do the next one. If your runner isn't long enough, join the two pieces at the bottom of the riser. Use a masonry chisel to push the carpet back to a sharp corner at the base of each riser. and you'll never see where one runner stops and other begins.
If you had to, you could use one piece per thread and riser.

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

I am more interested in PICs of that cream and brown, square, 4 door.
Is it for sale?

As far as the stairs go,
It sounds like the flooring was done expecting carpeting.
If so, the stairs are most likely just pine 2x 10's

That Creme colored car is a 1933 Buick. It is a customer's car and I doubt it is for sale, but PM me your contact info if you are truly interested and I'll pass it along. Just know that any straight-8 Buick of that era is not going to be 'inexpensive', but the cool factor of such automobiles in your collection often exceeds having a large stack of folding money!

 

[yeldogt]

It really depends on how the steps are made -- if they bought them .... typically utility steps are made in a factory and come all together -- in a section. Yellow Pine .. with encapsulated treads in the stringer

I'm not seeing any stringer on each side ? did they take the wall down on top of the step?

An old house would have the threads inside the stringers -- you can remove them and replace. Covering only works if the lowest riser will not be too high .... and you still have the problem at the top.

What's the landing?

Stairs are not simple to get correct .. I have ripped out and replaced my share in order to have wood ..