Basement stairs that don't suck

 One of the big projects that's continually gotten delayed is installing finish stair treads and risers. We've been using the original 2x12 rough lumber installed by the framers.

The original stair treads were 2x12 standard dimensional lumber installed by the framers. They were covered in drywall spray and paint, and some of them had cracked. To make them a little more bearable, we had covered some of them with rubber protectors (which my wife hated).

As I researched buying finish stair treads online, I realized that they are expensive and also the wrong dimension, usually 1" to 1.25" thick. I needed 1.5" finish stock to match the rise of the lumber treads. After looking around online and going in to the exotic lumber store in Seattle to price their stock, I realized I needed a different solution. Once again, HomeDepot came through. I found 10 foot butcher block counter tops made out of Acacia much less expensive. Also, in keeping with my strategy of making things just a little bit "different", I felt like these would be more original and beautiful. 

I cut the countertops in to 40 inch sections, then ripped each section to 11.5" to match the dimensions of the rough treads. 

For the risers, I decided to go with 1/4" thick, black HDPE (high density polyyethylene), ordered from ePlastics. I ordered a full sheet and paid for them to cut it in to riser-sizes. 49 cuts out of the sheet only cost an additional $30 to the order. About $235 total landed cost for the risers -- well worth it. 

The bigger task was removing the existing treads and risers. The framers got a little carried away with their air nailer on some treads and risers -- 5 nails through a tread into a tringer...! Needless to say, tearing off the treads and risers was an exhausting 5 hour job.

The first tread and riser removed.

6 treads and risers removed.

All treads and risers removed.

During the tear out, some of the corners forming some of the steps on the stringers broke off. I had to glue-and-screw them. I then temporarily screwed back on each tread with a single screw to temporarily keep it in place until the new treads could be installed. 

The nails and screws that came out during the tearout.

The tools required for the tearout.

I got Rudy's help to finish them with a couple clear coats of water-based eurethane. Applying the eurethan sealer was done over 2 weekends. 

After a second coat of eurethane, I stacked them to dry in the garage.

Acacia stair treads drying in the garage.

I purchased black, flathead screws for the risers, and larger black structural screws for the treads. 

View from the top level of the finished stair treads.

View from the basement of the finished stair treads.

Overall, pretty please with the result. And gratified to have that project out of the way. Applying the finish/sealer to the treads and the tearout happened on 2 Saturdays. Then installation of the new treads and risers took portions of three days. Over about a month period, culminating on July 1st.