Fixing Stairways with Smaller Steps Might Be More Difficult to Repair Than You Think

How To Build And Frame Stairs - Double Book Package #1

[sashadegenhardt]

I do not have the room to make a longer staircase on either end. There is a doorway I cannot move at the bottom and a wall to the outside at the top. The treads are 6" to 7". How do I fix that?

[jamesjames]

Nice video, nice job explaining all the information. I have these super steep basement stairs and they are almost deadly. 7-11 is standard now and these are 9-9 and that is a huge difference and older knees will let you know about, it is safer to go up and down them in socks so your shoes can't maybe get caught on edge but it is just for storage so not a big deal but I wanted to check. The stairs to the attic are 8-9 and they feel a lot safer and easier so an inch or two makes a big difference! By the way, this home was built in 50s. For a minute I thought about adding a board to each step but that wouldn't accomplish anything. lol. Thanks for video.

[RICKHIGGINS]

Greg, in the case where you do not have enough clearance at the bottom of the stairs (in your example 3’1”) a good solution would be to replace the last step (or second to the last step)with a landing to achieve the clearance.

[markpalcsey]

Could you turn to the left or right 2or 3 steps up from the bottom? Add a platform there as well ?

[AbbieHoffmansGhost]

Know this: in many older homes with shore basement ceiling height code stairs are not possible. I'm doing some right now where the rise is 77" but the run is only 55" leaving only 24" to the concrete wall. And a platform and 90 degree turn is not possible because the ceiling height at the bottom of the stairs is only 70" so the platform height would only be about 50" or so. The stairs will have a proper rise but the treads will be less than 6". The only way around this that I see is for a spiral staircase when the wall to wall width is only 27 1/2". It may be easier for the person who lives there to grow longer legs.

[Rachaelworld]

Hi there, @gregvancom, is it possible to change the treads on a staircase with short treads and just increase the depth of the nose and if so by how much is it possible or what depth of nose is safe and not a trip hazard? We have a staircase that has 9 inch treads but we are not in a position to move it or remove walls etc, I am not sure exactly how long the nose is currently as it is carpeted but I think it is less than an inch. Even an extra half inch would improve the safety of these stairs coming down them 😐

[coreykuehl]

What about turning the stairs at the end instead of just extending the length? Is that a huge undertaking?

[jefffuesting]

Greg, I have this problem as well of short treads. 12 steps/13 risers with 8.25" treads and 7.75" rise. I have no room at the top or bottom for modification. The math keeps making my head hurt :). I wanted to ask this question which I haven't seen posed in your videos (unless I missed it): Would rebuilding the stairs and removing a step allow for a better run/rise? I feel like you would have covered this as a non-option. To be more clear, I would like to remove a step, increase my rise, in order to increase my tread depth. Totally new stringers would be required. My brain says this would work but I simply can't find a video of yours that covers this idea.

[rroberts]

this is what i've been looking for, my basement stairs are horrible. the runs are so narrow and the rise is too high it is as though it was installed backwards.

[MarkSteinbauer]

I do not understand if you add 1 inch to the stair treads. I don't see the stringers are still fixed so I don't see how it'll move 67 inches at the bottom. You're just adding one inch to the stair trip if you could explain.

[tommyjay]

Everyone presumes that you’re going to follow the building code and fix your stairs accordingly. But guess what, not all older houses offer that option because they weren’t constructed by the code. So therefore we need resonable options to fix our problens. The solution has to be outside the box

[Jackmaster]

My dad just bought a house really really old, he wanted to fix and flip. His stairs going up the steepness isn't the issue it's the size of the rungs, you can only walk on the balls of your feet they are so small! Is there no way to fix that? You video said about extending the stairs but it would be impossible. The house is too tight and the bottom step already has a largeish platform type thing as the bottom. What would you suggest if anything?

[hazemsider]

We have the space in the bottom, but what is the best way to extend tread from 9.5” to 11” or so ? The existing 9.5” tread has a lip. Thank you

[cristyblevins]

I have a steep stair way that ends at the front door. We were thinking since the living room is plenary big enough that we could add a landing and turn the last few stairs to come into the living room area away from the door. Have you seen this done before? Is it possible? Also is there a way to add the extra inch or so to the existing stairs without ripping the whole stairway out and starting over if planning to cover the stairs with flooring?

[speedracer]

Hello I'm replacing a basement stairs built in the 60's. The neither end of the opening can be changed without major work. The original risers were 7.75 and the treads were between 7.75 and 8". I tried making the new stringer 7.75 and 9.75 and it wont fit because of head room at the bottom. So can I just replace the stairs with the 7.75 and 8" treads and put the treads first so i only have 1in overhang?

[RandomVids]

Mine to my dug out basement soo steep and a room is above it but i wanna trim that board hanging grr

[patriciau]

How to make and when to use a wrap around landing?

[irey]

Greg your voice is really low, you may want to amplify your voice track to 125% to 150%, or bring the mic a little closer to you. Great info ty!

[cathywarwick]

my knees die a little every day over these stairs.

[aprilalexander]

So does this help make stairs less steep?