Notched stringer, top stair tread not wide enough
Notched stringer, top stair tread not wide enough
(OP)
I have installed new oak stair treads in place of the original pine planks. Due to the stringer being notched and the top stair having the structure of the top floor directly behind it, I couldn't slide it in from the back like the other stairs. I installed it at and angle and with a little encouragement got it in there eventually. There isn't much overlap in the notch underneath and in the progress of cramming the tread in there, there is really nothing to wedge it up against. My question is what the best way to resolve this is?
Can I just cut a piece of wood (say a 2x6) and sister it to ther stringer for only this step using some 16D nails? Is there a better, more appropriate repair? I don't think I did, but I'm crossing my fingers I haven't done irrepairable damage to the stringer and need to have it replaced
Can I just cut a piece of wood (say a 2x6) and sister it to ther stringer for only this step using some 16D nails? Is there a better, more appropriate repair? I don't think I did, but I'm crossing my fingers I haven't done irrepairable damage to the stringer and need to have it replaced






RE: Notched stringer, top stair tread not wide enough
RE: Notched stringer, top stair tread not wide enough
RE: Notched stringer, top stair tread not wide enough
You have not altered the stair jack from what it was as far as I can determine, and the stair tread of concern is at the top of the jack span. So where is the perceived problem?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Notched stringer, top stair tread not wide enough
RE: Notched stringer, top stair tread not wide enough
msquared48, My concern is precisely what you suggest. I am moving out of the house and just did the work about 6 months ago and haven't had a problem, but need to get it inspected to make it 100% legal before I list the house.
dhengr, The stringer is secured on both sides to structural walls. I'm not worried about having spread the stringers apart.
The wedges that were put into dados extend out a little. I can use a little dremel saw to cut it out if needed. I put a little sketch of what I intend on doing attached (excuse my crude word drawings). Let me know if I misunderstood your explanations at all. The 2x would be flush against the stair tread and the riser for stair below. The plywood and 2x should be glued together and screwed to the stringer or glue them all together? What type of screws should be used?
RE: Notched stringer, top stair tread not wide enough
I’m not quite sure what I expected to see, but your second sketch is kind of a mess. What good do the wedges do now, if you don’t have anything to drive the tread up into or under, and the tread is cut too short. Given what you show, I’d just use 2x triangular bearing blocks, or a couple layers of 3/4" plywd. all glued and screwed together and to the stringer; set at the horiz. elevation of the underside of that tread and nail the tread down to the blocks. I don’t know how you are going to fill all the chiseled/cut out gaps.
RE: Notched stringer, top stair tread not wide enough
As a far as gap created where the top part of the dado used to be, as I said it is somewhat exagerated and at this point doesn't serve much of a functional purpose so it just needs to be filled. Probably need to apply a few coats of compound to fill it, smooth it out and should be good to go.
Thanks for your reponses!