I'm about to move into a house that has two flights of stairs, and I'm really puzzled by their uneven height. The first flight has 14 steps while the second has 13. To make things worse, the heights of the steps vary significantly; the shortest step is 6 inches and the tallest one is 10.5 inches, with no consistency at all! I'm considering whether I need to remodel the entire stringers. A contractor quoted me around $20k to replace the treads and risers, but he mentioned he might have some options depending on what he finds underneath. While the structure feels sound, I find the poor workmanship incredibly frustrating. Any advice on addressing these uneven steps?
1 Answer
Honestly, replacing those stairs might be the best bet. The range in heights is a huge trip hazard, which could lead to some serious injuries. Ideally, stair heights should be uniform—7 to 7.25 inches is the standard, with less than a 3/8 inch variation. In your case, it sounds like your average heights are way over that. You could also consider adding more steps to bring the rise down, but keep in mind you may need longer treads too. Just make sure whatever you decide is safe!
It sounds complicated, especially since you may not have the space for longer treads. But I recommend focusing on safety! As long as it’s structurally sound, there might be ways to adjust some of the risers to create a more balanced feel.