Hallway Stairs Part I

Eeek! This photo makes me cringe. The state of the entry hall was a mess. The biggest mess in the house if you ask me, yet I lived with it the longest. I did quickly paint out the yellow walls and brown trim but the stairs and the floor remained their ugly selves for over nine months.

 

The starting point for the stairs was flesh colored linoleum. On the steps AND on the raisers. To top that loveliness off the tips were covered with black rubber.

 

This project has been ongoing for quite some time. I had to peel off one of the black rubber tips and a bit of the lino to see what was underneath fairly quickly.

 

I also started to scrape a little just to get an idea of how much elbow grease there was involved. Quite a bit it turned out. Then the project lay dormant for a long while until I had the time and energy for it.

 

About a month ago I finally pulled and scrape the rest of the gunk off and after assessing what I had I decided to paint the raisers and sides white.

 

Then I decided to invest in new oak treads. The original stairs were pine and in a pretty bad state and I figured that since the floors in the house are oak I’d go with oak here too. I also want to renovate the staircase to the top floor and I figured this little one was a good way to see how I like it and how much work there is involved.

 

Each tread comes with a template sheet of paper which you tape to the sides of the stairs and then cut along with a craft knife. 

 

You use that template cut the tread to the correct size. Sorry, no photo of that but basically you just lay the template on the back of the tread and trace around it and then subtract a couple of millimeters on either side and saw accordingly.

 

After that it’s just a matter of gluing the treads down according to the instructions.

 

I clamped the tips down and also stood on the back to make sure the treads were weighted down properly. I was so excited to see the first tread go down, it already made such a huge difference.

I’m a little short on time today so I’m saving the full reveal for tomorrow. Proper before and after, I promise!

Comments

[Leena]

It looks excellent just after the painting, I can imagine that it looks amazing with all the treads in place. Can't wait for the full reveal.

[Luna]

Good job already Benita, can't wait for the rest too.

[nicolezh]

Wow- what a transformation! Love to see the full reveal.
Benita, when you use white paint, what is your favorite finish ?

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

The names of our finishes are different from yours but I wrote a post on paint a while ago after doing some reserach on it: http://www.pax.com/search?search=s-d565fuwv&tab=site&t=t-u499m12m&q=about+paint. Semi gloss seems to be what my choice is called.

[machen und tun]

beautiful! wonderful job done, Benita!!

[Hxx]

Looking great so far x

[Sophia]

I see what you mean! Even after the paint job the difference was huge, like...from old and miserable steps leading you to death to a fresh and welcome entryway onto a happy abode!

[Kristin Espinasse]

You make hard work look so easy... even better, your projects are inspiring and give hope! Happy to have found your site. The email updates are a great way to not miss a post. Thanks, Benita!

[Monnah]

Vilket otroligt lyft! Vi målade vår väldigt gulnade furutrapp vit för ett par år sedan och det gav verkligen hela huset ett lyft. Ett litet aber är dock att vi samtidigt drog bort den väldigt slitna mattan på stegen med planen att lägga ny matta av något slag tillbaka. DET har dock inte blivit av än, men en vacker dag... ;)

[elisa]

i agree, the paintwork really did the trick, but i'd be extremely thrilled to have new treads on! whether mine would fit is questionable, i'm a nervous measurer. exciting! x

[Gail]

I love your blog, but gosh we have different taste! I love that beige marbled linoleum, it reminds me of a sandy beach. Resourcefulness is probably my number one thrill in life, and you have it in spades, that's what keeps me coming back. What you've done with the stairs is amazing.

[jja]

Why anybody on earth would hide wood with such an ugly linoleum?!

[aesteve212@gmail.com]

Looks so much better! I'm curious, is it standard to not have a screw or a nail in a tred? I would be nervous that over time the glue might pop off. But then I guess you could just glue it back on! Great project! Alice

[Linden Townhouse]

It's looking great! We are also going to rip out the pine treads on our stairs and replace them with solid oak. Benita, every time I see a photo of that hand saw, I want to recommend that you invest in a compound miter saw. It's the best tool you will ever own! Here in Minneapolis, we bought one for about $100. It makes cutting SO easy and precise. Even mitered edges are perfect. Just a thought for such a hard worker as you!

[Dana from CT]

Gorgeous! Are you tackling that floor too? Can't wait to see the fruits of your labor. You really do make it look easy, but I know it's all hard work!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

You can't just use and old glue :). The glue I used is super strong construction glue and sticks like being nailed down.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I've considered getting one of those but I don't look forward to storing it. They're kind of big...

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I am. Post coming up later this week!

[SFDC]

Those stairs would be a fun place to put some wallpaper or color on the risers!

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

I'm planning something like that for the basement stairs!

[Erin]

Those black rubber strips on the stairs were horrid. Were the previous owners very old? I know those types of things are used to prevent slipping, and I can't imagine anyone would instal them without good reason. Can't wait for the afters!

[Zosia]

One small step for the hallway, one big step to a new stairwell :-).

[Lindzi]

Du är fantastisk som gör detta helt själv! Impad!

[Lisa Flaherty]

Wow! What a difference! Can't wait to see the full reveal. When you spoke of replacing the treads, I thought you were pulling off the pine steps and installing solid oak planks. That product you used looks great! Hope for a little more info on it in your full reveal!

[Lisa]

Exciting! Looking forward to your reveal!

[Marjorie]

Looks wonderful! I can't imagine how much work it took to scrape old treads... And it always amazes me how many houses cover up beautiful wood with such ugly alternatives...

[t]

I am impressed, Benita! You see a problem, figure out how to tackle it and do it.

You are my hero!

[jeannette]

did i tell you i voted for you in the homeys because of the discipline with which you post every day, and the courage and stamina with which you tackle problem after problem. i will always vote for the worker bee. that your aesthetic also rocks is a big plus, so often i follow somebody through a mount everest of a home reno and then they paint the walls baby s**t green. or steampunk chicken liver. if you know what i mean.

anyway, you're the homey for me, and i wanted to let you know that.

this post is awesome.

[Holland VanDieren]

Hi -- Great looking results, Benita. Few people would venture such a project.

Question: Does the added height from the new treads make the bottom and top stairs feel awkward as you climb or descend? The treads must have lengthened the distance from lower floor to bottom stair, and shortened the distance from top stair to upper floor.

[Teres]

Snyggt!! Renovering av trapp är en sån där sak som många drar sig för att renovera (ink mej) men gör en sådan enorm skillnad när det väl är klart. Underlättar ju ifs om man inte har så många trappsteg;)

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

The lady who lived here was old but still...

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

The oak tread adds less than half an inch so you don't really notice a difference at all.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

Nej, men så har jag ju resten då, trappan upp till övervåningen kvar :)

[Lillune]

It's night and day ! So pretty ♥
I wish I could find wood steps like this in my country :(

[Lisa@CozyCondoLiving]

Benita,
You did such a great job. I love that the stairs blend in so well with the rest of you floor.

[Lyndell long]

Where did you get the treads.. and are they stainable.

[Benita ~ Chez Larsson]

There's a link in the post. Don't think you can stain the treads directly as they're oiled but there are other woods than oak available to I think.