Looking for garage stair tread ideas/input

[CarCrazyRDM]

So I've been saying I'm going to finish the stairs in my garage for 4 years now. Well, with some likely extra time on my hands in the coming month or two thanks to C19 I was thinking I might actually try and make this happen. Part of the reason I haven't done it yet is because I really just don't know what to do. I've never finished stairs before nor do I know what my best route is given how they are currently constructed.

For the most part the rest of the garage is pretty much done at this point (other than a lift one day) and I'd like the steps to look the part as well. Below is a pic of the garage and the steps in question. I'm looking for input regarding three things:

1) Can I just leave the current "base" of the steps (2x6's... I think) and just put some type of finished wood over it or do you think I'd be better off pulling them up? Obviously the latter is a lot more work and I'd probably rather not. I don't think there is any harm in leaving them as-is other than maybe needing to take a sander to some of them if they are slightly uneven.

2) General ideas of what type of wood or material you'd use to make the steps fit the "theme" of the rest of the garage. Are there just pre-fab treads at Home Depot or do I just buy a large sheet of a certain type of wood? Again, I'm sorry for my ignorance. I did a lot of the finish work in my garage but again, I've never messed with steps before and I just don't know where to start. It's possible I may just end up staining whatever wood I put down there black and calling it a day. That would just give a clean look without having to do anything overly expensive. But I was considering something like diamond plate as the vertical back board (is that called the kick plate or riser?).

3) I don't really know what to do with the railing. Obviously I could just leave what is there. It's nothing **** but they're sturdy and already painted and the drywall along the stairs is already finished around them. That said I was really thinking some metal railings or metal railings with wire run parallel with the top rail (cable railings I think they are called).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, advice, thoughts, etc.

 

[jetnow1]

Hard to tell from pictures but if the existing stairs are properly built the rise from the floor to the first step will be the same as the rest of the steps. If you just put something over the existing steps it will no longer be so, creating a trip hazard. If you swap the existing steps for new you must keep the same thickness or you will create the same hazard.

 

[CraigStu]

I agree w/ jetnow1. So how about some thin tread material? A quick google found these
https://www.allstairtreads.com/viny...html?msclkid=85df9360598215002efecdfaa71c8438
The vertical piece is called the riser so google that. I think you will want something specifically made for risers as cutting them from a 4x8 sheet would be a real pain and bound to create waste pieces. I like that set of stairs w/ the silver riser and black treads and they won't be hard to do. Don't forget to look up code requirements before finalizing your plan. When you move and sell, it will be a problem if they don't meet code.

 

[CarCrazyRDM]

I'll take some better pics and take a few quick measurements later today and report back. I could always remove the 2x6's on the first step and replace them with something thinner and split the difference with the height change with the addition of wood treads. To be honest, as long as it isn't a huge difference I'm not overly concerned about it. It might not pass inspection when we go to sell it but we don't have intentions of that being for 15 - 20 years so... I'll deal with it then.

CraigStu, I've thought about those vinyl treads (just like in the pic in my original post) but I have concerns about how slick they would be should my or families shoes be wet.

 

[HotrodHR]

You could go with the industrial look... like the one sample pic, dark grey or black treads and diamond plate risers. I like contrasting steps makes it easier to see. The vinyl treads come with ribbing to minimize slips.

Another option could be painting the treads with truck bed liner. Paint the tread and over the front edge then finish with the diamond plate uptbto the horizontal line formed by the bottom edge of the tread board.

As far as the railing you could just paint it black or dark grey, or you could build something out of steel. You could even use pipe for the up rights and do the cable in between.

 

[wrenchguy]

Goldleaf!

 

[CarCrazyRDM]

Here is a better pic of the stairs. The steps vary in height from 7.5" - 8" and the bottom one is on the lower end of that range, so I think I'd be fine placing a tread on top the existing step.

HotRodHR, the bedliner is a reasonable idea. I'll keep it as an option. Thanks.

 

[Milzo]

If it were mine I would remove all of the treads and risers and replace them. I would use 1x8 for the risers and 2x10 or 2x12 for the treads. I would run the treads and risers all the wall to the wall so there is no gap otherwise there is always going to be stuff that falls in that space and is difficult to clean up. I work for a large deck builder we used to do a lot of Feeney cable rail. I personally would never use it at my house. It’s very expensive we charge $150 a foot to install it. The cables stretch and have to be periodically tightened which is a pain. I would use face mount aluminum balusters by decorators. The face mount ones are easy to install and easy to remove for painting or staining the rail. https://www.deckorators.com/en/Prod...aspx#/?color=06001424a9574368bf05c899793d48f8