Hey everyone! I'm in a bit of a pickle with my home's concrete stairs. They might be unique, but I'm finding them to be more of a headache than I anticipated. I'm not looking to tear them out or make them wall-to-wall since we have furniture planned for those spaces, so building new stairs isn't an option for me. I do have some handy skills and can tackle woodworking, but it's been a while since I did anything substantial.
Here's the situation: I've got two sets of concrete stairs, sized approximately 12" x 62". They've been drywalled to create a smooth finish, but the look isn't quite what I want. My flooring guy put down some luxury vinyl plank (LVP), but honestly, it turned out pretty terrible, especially the nosings, which I really dislike. I ripped those off and now I want to add hardwood treads. My plan involves leveling the stairs with compound since they have some old carpet residue, making it uneven.
I'm thinking of making my own treads because most commercial ones aren't wide enough—was considering using 1x8" red oak to create a piece that's 12.75" wide and 63.25" long, with a rounded edge. Should I secure them with tapcons into the concrete? Does this approach sound reasonable, or am I missing something? Any advice would be appreciated!
4 Answers
I really think you should consider demoing them if you can! Even a partial demo could help you out. Those steep parts look like they could easily lead to a fall, especially without a handrail. Better safe than sorry!
Honestly, I think you might be making things harder on yourself. If it were me, I’d go for a completely new build—wall-to-wall. Those short stairs look like a trip hazard to me. But hey, if that’s not an option because of your furniture, make sure to at least install some good handrails. It’d boost safety a ton!
Just cover up the existing stairs with your hardwood right over them, going from wall to wall! It’ll give a nice look and you won’t need to worry about redoing the steps at all. Just make sure everything’s secure and level!
Your idea sounds pretty solid! Just skip the joint in the middle; it’s easier to find a piece wide enough for the treads. Trust me, tapcons can be tricky with older concrete! Consider using plastic anchors and adhesive instead. Just keep an eye on that height and depth to ensure everything’s even. It's all about safety!
Thanks for the tip! I definitely want to keep it safe. I’ve had decent luck with tapcons before, but I’ll keep those anchors in mind as a backup.
Yeah, I hear you on that! Just not sure if it's possible for me with the setup we have.