How to Make Treads for a Staircase

Stair treads are not difficult to manufacture.

Stair treads are the horizontal boards that you step on when you walk up a staircase. When making stair treads for a custom staircase, use hardwood such as oak to ensure the stair treads last a long time and do not wear out prematurely. The process for making a stair tread is relatively straightforward and only takes basic wood working tools to complete.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• 3/4-inch thick hardwood
• Table saw
• Bull nose router bit
• Router

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Instructions

1. Measure the stair tread length from the outside edge of the left stringer to the outside edge of the right stringer with a tape measure. Stringers are the sides of the staircase that the stair treads mount to.

2. Measure the stair tread width from the face of the riser plate to the front edge of the stringer. Add 1 ¼ inch to the measurement to create a slight overhang so you can cut the bull-nose onto the front of the stair tread. The riser plate is the vertical board located at the back of each step.

3. Cut a ¾-inch-thick hardwood board to the measurements obtained in step one and step two. Use a table saw to obtain accurate and straight cuts.

4. Attach a bull nose router bit to the cullet on your router bit. Center the router bit over the front edge of the stair tread. Turn the router on and run the router the full length of the board on one edge. A bull nose creates a rounded edge on a board.

References

• Extreme How To: How to Build Stairs; Doug Adams