Main Floor Stair Redo...Carpet to Hardwood #DIY

The depts of cold wintry weather had me itching for some update project.

Let me rephrase, all the power tools were calling my name....Christine, Christine, Christine.

Last quote to remove the carpet and install hardwood was north of $2,000.  For fifteen stairs?  Ugh.

Pinterest has been my favorite idea generator and seeing the many, many, many updates had this girl chomping at the bit. The plan was to remove the carpet and replace the stair treads. Easy, right?

Knowing that this was one of those do or die or pay someone projects...I pulled out my handy dandy claw thingy (otherwise known as a pry bar), and started removing carpet.  Pretty gross.

Unfortunately, what I found underneath was not beautiful wood or even plywood.  The stair treads were lovely MDF.  Furthermore, the construction, was enclosed so removing said treads was not possible--or at least for my very first major DIY project.

What was I thinking?  My very first major DIY project.

On to plan B. Stair RetroTreads.  Actually, not to much more expensive than the red oak stair treads I planned on installing.  These are also red oak treads.

Instead of cutting out the MDF treads, I only had to remove the bullnose. Fair trade.

I had other host of find as you go prizes--such as the builder spraying sheet rock mud and paint on the stringers and the gem of a find in the BIG gap between the drywall and stringer.

Strip off the overspray, decide to install a tall baseboard (oh boy another project), dismantle and restrain the bannister.

Overall, I'm pleased with the project.  The job came in under $600 and sweat equity.


You can find my other DIY projects at: Christine's Corner dot Life

#Girlswithtoolsrule

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler

~Christine