Hello,

I have a center hall colonial with a staircase that I may change.

I am hoping to remove the wall, cut the top of the stringer, and replace the bottom 4 treads and risers with wider parts. I would leave all the upper treads in place.

I would like to add a double bull nose starting step, and have a starting newel on both sides, and use turnouts on the railing on both sides as well.

I want to remove a little of the wall (maybe 2' 6") along the staircase all the way to the first floor ceiling to match the opposite, open side.

I would remove the carpet, and re-carpet in a similar manner after everything is complete.

I was thinking to sand the upper treads to remove the polyurethane and attempt to match the new, wider treads with the existing upper ones. Matching closely concerns me.

On the living room side, I will have to frame and drywall the little knee wall under the stringer. (maybe to also help support the cut stringer?)

What potential issues does anyone see?

I am concerned about pulling out the existing nailed and glued treads out of the stringer, and getting the new ones in cleanly.

I am looking into re-tread toppers as well.

I think I would use 1/4" sanded plywood strips painted white as the risers.

Since the bottom 4 steps would be getting ~4" wider, I think I would have to cut another stringer to attach to the outside of the current stringer after its cut. Then frame under it and drywall hopefully flush with the rest of the room.

I have done some work on stairs in the past. Adding a newel and balusters, etc. with success. I should have all the appropriate tools as well. (i.e. 12" double bevel chop saw, table saw, air tools, etc) Although this project will be far more complicated I think.


Thanks in advance for any input.

Mike~

 

Cutting the stringer does not sound like a good idea.

 

How did they open the Stair treads on the other side? Without cutting the stringer?

 

Maybe I'm missing something, cut the stringer where?

 

The stringer is the 2x12s that the treads set on. Maybe you are thinking of the skirt board ??

 

Sorry, maybe I'm getting my terminology mixed up. On the stairs, I have a piece of 5 / 4 on each side supporting the riser and tread. There is no 2 X 12 in the stairs. To match the other side, I was thinking I would support under the stairs first, then cut the stringer to match the other side, and install longer treads and risers on the bottom 4 stairs.

 

I can see the 2x12s in the picture.

 

The stringer is normally cut from a 2x12. It wouldn't visible from the stair side, if there is an unfinished space under the stairs [not covered by drywall] you can see it from underneath.

 

Here is a pic from under the stairs. This is just below the 2nd floor. It is open there from a different project.


The sides of the stairs, stringer, whatever, is not 1.5" thick. Its 5/4.

Not that any of this has anything to do with what I am trying to accomplish.

The pic is taken kind of upside down. Behind the tape measure is the bottom of a 1" thick oak tread. They are cut into this piece of wood that the tape is against.

 

Maybe they cheated on the size of the stringer. What do you plan to cut & why?