Step height issue on flooring/stair replacement

5 years ago

We are redoing the floors on the 1st level of our home, including the stairs up to the 2nd level. The existing floors (3/4” solid hardwood) have been removed and new floors (5/8” engineered hardwood) are replacing them. Our installer wants to install nosing/hardwood over the existing treads as the way to redo the steps. This would make the stairs outside of that 3/8” tolerance with the top and bottom step being about 3/4” different height than the other steps. He is not concerned about this at all, says they do it this way all the time, but I need some additional input. I would prefer to have the new wood on the stairs and not sand/stain them since it won’t be a perfect match, the wood types are different and the factory finish I feel like will hold up better over time, but safety is paramount here as well as passing our final inspection. Removing the existing treads is not in the budget for this so looking for some outlook on what to make of this. Thanks!

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Comments (3)

PRO
HALLETT & Co.
5 years ago
I’m sure he does do that all the time (RED FLAG! RED FLAG!) so you need a different flooring person. What he is proposing violates code and is unsafe. Can your existing wood treads be refinished to match?
Chris
Original Author
5 years ago
We have another company lined up that is proposing to sand and refinish to match the color on the existing treads, with white risers. The treads are pine (i think) and the new flooring is white oak with a matte, wire brush finish. They say it will not be an issue to match them close enough (the white risers also help to give us some separation and that its the only correct way to do it without reengineering the whole stairs. Prolly my best bet to go with them
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PRO
Mint tile Minneapolis
5 years ago
you need the company that gets the run and rise CORRECT #fullstop. when a staircase is in compliance, you cannot replace flooring or treads w dif thickness w/o replacing it all .

Best to look at your local juristictions/ IRC staircase specs and engage your spidey senses about your current prospective hire(s)