How do I replace carpeted stairs with wood treads?

Start by looking at what is under the carpet

Swapping carpet for wood on a staircase is a job a careful homeowner can do when the stairs are structurally sound, and the simplest route is usually to fit new treads over the existing ones rather than rip the old stairs out. The first hour is inspection: lift the carpet at a corner of the top, middle and bottom steps and see what you have. Solid hardwood or pine treads in good shape can be sanded and finished in place. Plywood or rough treads, loose or cracked treads, and treads that rock or squeak are candidates for covering with new treads.

Look at the stringers, the sloped boards at each side that carry the treads, wherever you can see them from below. If they are cracked, notched through or sagging, stop here. That is a framing repair, not a flooring job.

Check for lead and asbestos before you pull anything

Old stairs can hide old finishes. In houses built before 1978, painted risers, trim and old stair parts may contain lead paint. In general, anyone paid to perform work that disturbs paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices.^[2] In general, the RRP Rule does not apply to homeowners doing RRP projects in their own pre-1978 homes.^[2] That is a legal point, not a reason to be careless: dust from sanding old paint is the hazard, so a professional is the safer choice if you plan to sand or scrape painted surfaces in an older home.

Old resilient flooring or adhesive under carpet can contain asbestos. If you suspect material contains asbestos, don't touch it.^[3] Don't sand or try to level asbestos flooring or its backing.^[3] Have a suspect material tested before you disturb it.

What to buy

You have two basic choices. Retrofit treads are thin wood treads, often with a matching riser piece, that go over the old treads. Full replacement treads are thick boards that replace the old ones, which only works when the old treads can be removed without cutting into the stringers. Wood stair treads come in oak and other hardwoods, in pine and in several pre-finished options. Hardwood is more durable on a busy staircase; softer woods dent.

Measure every tread. Stairs are rarely square, and treads in older houses often differ from step to step, so cut and fit each one separately. Buy a few spare inches of length and some extra boards.

Keep the steps equal

A stair that is comfortable is one where every step feels the same. Retrofit treads add thickness, which makes the top and bottom steps different from the rest unless you allow for it. A step that is even a little taller or shorter than its neighbors is a common cause of trips. Before you buy, measure the finished heights at the top and bottom of the staircase and plan how the new treads will meet the floors above and below. If you are unsure, ask the building department of your county or city before you start.

Do the work

Remove the carpet and pad, then the tack strips and staples. Pry strips off carefully and pull every staple; a missed staple will show through new wood or catch a stocking. Vacuum the treads and risers. If any tread is loose, screw it down into the stringer before you cover it.

Dry-fit each new tread without glue. Trim it to the width of its step and check the overhang at the nosing. Then run a bead of construction adhesive on the old tread, set the new one and fasten it with finish nails or screws in pre-drilled holes, filling them afterwards. Work from the top step down so you are never standing on wet glue.

Sand, stain and seal with a finish that has some grip. A glossy finish on wood stairs in socks is slippery. Finally, put a hand on the rail: a handrail that is loose is a problem you now have a clear view of, and a good time to fix it.

Permits and who may do the work

Virginia's building code lists "Installation or replacement of floor finishes in all occupancies" among the work that needs no permit application.^[1] The same section adds that this section shall not be construed to exempt such activities from other applicable requirements of this code.^[1] Whether a building official would treat new treads on a staircase as floor finish or as part of the stair is a question for your local building department, and it matters most if you change the stair's dimensions.

If you hire the work out, the Board for Contractors defines flooring work as the installation, repair, improvement or removal of materials that includes wood and wood composite flooring, tack strips or other products used to secure carpet.^[4] Read the next answer on whether to hire a carpenter and on what stair tread replacement costs.

Stop and call a pro if

• The stringers are cracked, notched or soft. Treads cannot be better than what holds them. Repairing a stringer is framing work.
• The treads are housed into the stringers and will not come out without cutting.
• The staircase changes shape. A stair that is altered and is part of a required exit may need a permit: Virginia's building code lists "the alteration of any required means of egress system" among the work that requires one.^[1]
• The material under the carpet may be asbestos, or the paint may be lead, and you would have to sand or scrape it.^[3][2]
• The rise is uneven from one step to the next and you cannot correct it.

Getting help in Virginia

Browse flooring contractors on Loclis, read about fixing a squeaky floor, or see more flooring answers. When you are ready, describe your stair job and licensed local flooring contractors will quote it.