How to Install a Stair Treads on a Budget: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're looking to build new stairs for your home or to replace worn out stair treads, particle board is a strong, budget friendly option. Easily customize your new treads with paint, carpet, or hardwood. DakotaTM has a variety of widths of stair treads and risers for any home and all sizes are 1-1/8" thick for maximum durability. Follow these step by step instructions to install particle board stair treads in your home.

What's Needed to Install Your Stair Treads?

  • DakotaTM stair treads (42", 48", or 96") and DakotaTM stair risers (42" or 48")
  • If removing old treads: Pry bar, reciprocating saw
  • Tape measure, circular saw or miter saw, carpenters square, marking tool
  • Construction adhesive, hammer and 3-inch finishing nails or drill and wood screws

Note: Always acclimate your new stair treads and risers to their surroundings for at least 24 hours before installing them.

If Remodeling, First Remove Your Existing Treads

Removing old treads can be easy, but it's important that you do it carefully as to not damage your stairs. Depending on how your treads were installed, removal will vary. If your existing treads were installed with screws, simply remove the screws with a drill and gently pry the treads from the risers. If your existing treads were installed with nails, you must gently pry the treads from the risers until there is a noticeable gap. Then, using a reciprocating saw with a metal blade, cut through any nails that remain.

Inspect your stair risers and indicate whether they too must be replaced. If they are worn out, repeat the process on the risers by gently prying them from the stair stringers and cutting any nails that remain.

Plan for Installation and Measure Your Stairs

If you just removed worn out stair treads and risers, this step will be much easier as you already know the measurements needed. If you are installing a new staircase, your stringer should have standard measurements. Measure the width (from one side of the stringer to the other), and the depth (from the back of the stringer to the front where it will meet the riser). Note that your treads will likely overhang the riser slightly, so imperfect dimensions are acceptable here, the standard overhang is about 1 inch. Then, measure the height of each step to ensure you have perfectly fitting risers.

DakotaTM stair treads are 1-1/8" thick, 11-1/4" deep, and come in 42", 48", and 96" lengths for you to choose the perfect size to fit the width of your stairs. DakotaTM stair risers are 3/4" thick, 7-1/2" tall, and come in matching lengths of 42" and 48".

Once you've measured your stair treads and risers, mark the length of each to prepare for cutting.

Cut your Treads and Risers to Length

Using your previously marked measurements, cut your stair treads and risers to length. With a circular saw or a miter saw, carefully cut each piece to length, based on your staircase width. If it's a standard 42" or 48", no cutting will be required. For the cleanest cut, we recommend using a high tooth count blade and to place painter's tape over the top surface before cutting. If you plan to cover your treads with carpet, you can use any blade as the quality of the cut doesn't matter as much

Tip: Always wear proper safety protection when using power tools, safety glasses and ear protection at a minimum. A mask is optional, but always recommended to prevent dust inhalation.

Cut treads and risers to size

Install Your Treads ad Risers

Once you've cut all treads and risers to length, dry fit your risers and treads to ensure your measurements are accurate. Prepare your stringer by applying a bead of construction adhesive to the top and front where the tread and riser will go. This will help secure the parts to the stringer and reduce any movement and/or noise.

Carefully, line up the stair riser on the stringer and take note of the stringer location before placing it. Once positioned correctly, secure it by driving a 3-inch finishing nail or wood screw through the front of the riser into the stringer. Nails or screws should be placed in each stringer or at least every 6 inches. If you are using screws, countersink the holes for a flush finish with the screw head. Do the same for the tread atop the stringer.

Repeat the same for each riser and tread until the entire staircase is complete. Check each for stability and add more nails or screws as needed.

Installing treads and risers

Finishing your Staircase

Depending on how you plan to finish your stair treads, you can fill in holes created by nail or screw heads with some wood filler. Simply apply the filler, let it dry, and sand smooth.

You have a variety of options to finish your stair treads. The most popular when using particle board stair treads is to cover with carpet, this can be done across the entire width, or with a runner in the center. If you choose a stair runner, you are able to paint the stair treads and risers by following the instructions below.

If you aren't covering your stair treads and risers with carpet, DakotaTM particle board is easily paintable. With an already smooth surface, preparing for paint is easy. For the best finished look, you must first lightly sand the treads to accept primer. Now that they are ready to accept primer, apply a single coat to prepare the stairs for paint. Let the primer dry properly and sand lightly for the smoothest coat. Now that your stairs are ready to accept paint, apply the first coat with a brush or roller, often latex or enamel paint are the most durable and provide the best coverage. Lightly sand again after your first coat and apply the final paint coat. Allow the second coat to dry thoroughly and seal it with a clear sealant or varnish, this step will ensure the longevity of your paint, especially in high traffic areas. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when painting, including proper ventilation and wearing gloves, glasses, and a face mask.

Get creative with colors: paint your treads and risers complementary colors or paint them all a vibrant, bold color, becoming an accent in your home. You can find great primer and paint options at your local Menards.

Whether you paint or carpet your particle board stair treads. DakotaTM offers stylish trim options to help you finish your staircase. With inside corner and quarter round options, you can add trim underneath your tread overlap, to the top of your skirt board, or where your tread meets your riser. Each DakotaTM profile has a paintable white option which requires no primer and is ready to match your painted treads or risers.

See DakotaTM Trim Options