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Should you nail or screw stair treads?
Don’t fasten treads and or risers with only nails or staples. The adhesive is much more important than the fasteners. Rely on the front edge of the riser for your level surface.
Where do you nail stair treads?
Drill three pilot holes for nails through the top of the tread at each stringer. Space the innermost and outermost pilot holes 1 1/2-inch from the respective edges of the tread. Drill the center pilot holes midway between the front and back edges of the tread.
Do you install stair treads or risers first?
When installing stairs, install the riser first, and then the tread. Start at the bottom of the stairs and work your way up, alternating risers and treads. The back of each tread will sit flush against the riser. Treads and risers fasten with construction adhesive to the subfloor.
Are stair treads nailed or glued?
Stair treads are attached to the stair risers in different ways. Gluing is one of the more common methods, but it depends on several factors. Using adhesive helps reduces sounds on the stairway, such as wooden treads creaking because of loose nails or screws.
Can I use Liquid Nails for stair treads?
We no longer recommend using Liquid Nails® brand products. Because Liquid Nails’ products are labeled very similarly and packaging can vary between location and retailer, we strongly discourage the use of any other brand of adhesive, including Liquid Nails, for your stair installation.
What screws to use on stair treads?
Use screws that are between 2 and 4 inches long. Deck screws are available in this size range, and are used for this purpose on deck stairs. Drilling pilot holes will help prevent splitting the wood of the stringers.
Can you just glue stair treads down?
NO!!! As someone who’s done a lot of hardwood flooring, as well as stairs, adhesives are not enough to hold a stair tread down. Treads should be attached with a combination of adhesive and nails. Nail length being a minimum of twice the thickness of your tread and of 16 gauge or larger.
How much should a stair tread overhang the riser?
Stairs must have an overhang between 3/4″ to 1-1/4” to increase the depth of the step, making it better for descent while maintaining a clear 10-inch going for the ascent. Treads that are 11-inches deep or greater do not require an overhang.
Can you use a brad nailer for stair treads?
This small brad nailer (from Harbor Freight) was a well-spent $18 and I can use this for many other projects too. The large bad-boy Hitachi nail gun is the one I got from Lowes earlier in our project and we used it for all the board and batten. We used 2 1/2” nails for the stair treads.
Do treads go under risers?
Some contractors prefer installing the riser first, then installing the tread against the riser, fastening the riser to back edge of the tread with screws (Diagram A). Others prefer to place the tread first and place the riser on top of the tread, for additional support (Diagram B).
How do you secure a stair stringer?
You should attach 2×6 or 2×8 support framing under the rim flush to the bottom of the stringer. The stairs will hang here. Use a level to mark the top step. Mark the locations for the stringers. A positive stringer connection. Make sure the top of the stringers are level.
Should you stain stair treads before installation?
Staining and varnishing hardwood treads prior to installation is recommended, especially in this case where we have stone or tile risers. Once the treads are stained and dried it’s time to cut and install them. It is important to have a stair tread measuring tool to measure and cut each tread.
Which adhesive is best for stair treads?
A polyurethane glue, such as Loctite PL Premium, is a highly recommended adhesive. Since the stair treads, or the surface of your stairs, receives a lot of foot traffic, you’ll want to make sure it’s properly installed.
Can I use 18 gauge nails for stair treads?
There are so many different types of nails out there, but when installing your treads and risers you will want to go with the Finish Nails. Using a 16 or 18 gauge finish nail will sure get the job done and the nail hole will barely be noticeable!Aug 3, 2012.
Is construction adhesive enough for stair treads?
The construction adhesive should hold the treads nicely. Make sure you allow enough to hold the treads in place. 2500# psi adhesive should be good enough. Construction adhesive and 15 gauge nails should work fine.
Can I use wood glue for stair treads?
No. It is neither strong nor appropriate for the application. Wood glue is used on well fitted pieces, in which case the glued joint is stronger than the wood. For stair treads the appropriate product is construction adhesive.
What size deck screws do I need?
A good all-around choice is #10 decking screws—generally in 2 1/2- to 3 1/2-inch lengths. Decking screws are sharp, tapered, self-sinking, and coated for corrosion resistance. With a cordless drill/driver, you can drive them about as fast as nails.
