My staircase has Mohawk 3/8" laminate wood plank, and I like to remove
the laminate wood and prep the surface to receive carpet.
Here are some pictures of my staircase:
http://www.geocities.com/dchou4u/photopagetan.html
The complex thing about this is that the balusters and newels are
resting directly on the laminate wood treads. So if I remove the
treads, the height will be a little different.
The treads are about 11.5" and the riser are about 5.5".
It appears that the previous owner had bougth the new house with bare
floor, and removed the original plywood treads to install the laminate
wood treads because I can see the patching that was done on the
stringer. The outline of the tread toe is on the stringer.
I dont think I can just carpet on top of the laminate since I will also
be removing the laminate at the top of the stairs on the 2nd floor. The
shoe rail there is also resting on the laminate wood.
For the section of the stairs that is not closed on both sides, I like
to have wood tread ends on which the balusters will rest. Do these
tread ends come pre-finished, or are they usually finished onsite? I
need to match the color of the tread ends with the rest of rails and
etc.
The carpet will be between the stringer and the exposed tread end.
Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Thanks
On 11 Feb 2006 20:59:28 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
>http://www.geocities.com/dchou4u/photopagetan.html
Your link would not work today.
>The complex thing about this is that the balusters and newels are
>resting directly on the laminate wood treads. So if I remove the
>treads, the height will be a little different.
>The treads are about 11.5" and the riser are about 5.5".
>It appears that the previous owner had bougth the new house with bare
>floor, and removed the original plywood treads to install the laminate
>wood treads because I can see the patching that was done on the
>stringer. The outline of the tread toe is on the stringer.
I guess he must have installed the newels and balusters too...?
>I dont think I can just carpet on top of the laminate since I will also
>be removing the laminate at the top of the stairs on the 2nd floor. The
>shoe rail there is also resting on the laminate wood.
If you could cut right to the shoe rail and if the laminate is not
showing on the other side of the shoe rail, could you just carpet up
against the shoe rail?
>For the section of the stairs that is not closed on both sides, I like
>to have wood tread ends on which the balusters will rest. Do these
>tread ends come pre-finished, or are they usually finished onsite? I
>need to match the color of the tread ends with the rest of rails and
>etc.
To do this, it sounds as though you will have to remove the rail or at
least the ballusters.
The end caps can be made by you or purchased from a stair part
company. www.coffmanstairs.com has some pictures and a catalog list.
Other manufacturers have similar parts and your local lumberyard or
one of the borgs can get them for you.
>The carpet will be between the stringer and the exposed tread end.
>Any suggestion would be appreciated.
Since you have to go to all of the trouble to tear out the rail and
basically start over on the stairs I might consider using solid
hardwood treads instead of end caps. Check the pricing on all of the
pieces you need to make the end caps work and compare to the solid
tread parts. I know it will save labor time but I'm not sure about
the price comparison.
Mike O.