Your article would have been handy! Wm. Set the sharpened nail point to the height of the highest riser. I think 1×12 x16′ would work for your job but not positive. Set the nail in the oak strip to the width of the widest riser if there’s a variation. Each year the college would completely renovate a dorm. Can’t you use a pencil? I sent him single line pencil sketches and he took it from there. but your right just scribe it over both thats a first class job. Using a newel with a wider base allows it to extend down through the skirt and definitely creates a more visually appealing transition. The nosings are challenging. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll get quick and accurate. Because the carpet is so tight, if you ever decide to remove it and install overlay treads and risers you could butt them into the skirt board and they would probably fit just fine. Typically, within a week, a great looking set of finished stairs would arrive on the job. Hi Norm, Ha, i am a week too late reading this article! I believe you’ll find it more durable over the long haul. Once you get the plywood template fitting acceptably you can either use it as a pattern to trace on the finished skirt board, or, learn from that experience and scribe your final piece. Lastly I would use the second technique and could typically stop the clock at 30 seconds. Really an awesome article! I’d add a cap moulding on top of the skirt for a complete finished look. I want to put new treads on these stairs which are finished wood so that there is no visible gap between the end of the stair tread and the wall or skirt board. But I noticed before the cut. This enables you to “flex” the skirt a little to install it and also to nail directly through the skirt into the nosing, pulling it tight. 1) which option would you recommend? Great article Norm. Here in SC I can get 1X12 which is straight and comes preprimed. I believe the newel should be notched out and extend down the wall so the skirt and return nosing dies into it, instead of the skirt dying into the wall finish and the newel dying onto the top tread. Snap the line on the wall so that the top edge of the skirt can slide along the line and not contact a high nosing. I’ve had friends give me all the reasons why it won’t work. I know how it made me feel and I vowed I’d do my best never to make someone else who wanted to learn feel that way. 1) which option would you recommend? It seems as though the rest of the fits would be easier to deal with than the stairs. I can say that I’ve done it many times exactly as I wrote it with the same results as I recounted in the article. It looks better in my opinion but also makes the newel post installation rock solid. It usually went something like this. Sorry for the delayed response. I agree that the supplement was even better. Glad the article has been an encouragement for you. Don took over teaching at Williamson from Mr. Heckler who taught there for over 35 years and was himself a Williamson graduate. Different strokes for different folks. This affects the positioning of the board when I cut off the bottom and slide it down. First, the marks on the wall are put on the wall before any scribing is started. Thanks Norm, A common code requirement is that individual riser heights cannot vary by more that 3/8″. Thank you and God bless you and yours, Dear, That’s the purpose of the magazine! At StairSupplies, you’ll find the best selection of trim molding for your customized staircase — from shoe molding to stair nosing to skirt boards.Each part is made from superior lumber, helping you maintain quality throughout your home. It’s one of the reasons I’m still enthusiastic about being a tradesman after 45 years. However I’ve also used a jig saw set at a 5 degree or so angle. See more ideas about stairs skirting, stairs, staircase remodel. Scribing skirts in new construction is a technique that has been virtually non existent for 50 years. I did attach a photo of my steps that I had hoped to add a trim board to below them (my second question). 1st class. Norm: thank you very much for such a clear explanation and great diagrams. It looks outstanding. We planed off the hinge sides and rehung them on 2×6 frames, some which were purposely out of plumb & square. Great article Norm -I’m sold. I guess that’s is just a sign of my age. In Pa. they were the norm. Ana, Terrie, Apparently, the framers never heard of spacing the stringer away from the wall with a 2×4 allowing room for the sheetrock and skirt. No reason you can’t scribe skirtboards out of 1/4″ material. Looking at your 2nd picture at the landing you have the perfect situation to finish it nicely. I wish I could take credit for it. Now, I just have to figure out how to do the same thing on the underside of the steps so that the two sides compliment each other. Tip: always cut a smaller piece if it appears customs cutting coming. Even if it’s not long enough you can do a section of the stairs. By that I mean I hope I can give away as much of the knowledge and all of the money I’ve been able to accumulate. If you decide to tackle the project I’ll walk you through it. I just scribed my first set of skirt boards using this method and the end result came out really nice. It was a pleasure to work with you and your staff. It should be more forgiving than hardwood. Thanks to all who put so much work into this TIC. If the skirts aren’t already in place I think I might try a hybrid. Rob, 4. It’s great to learn on paint grade stairs, they’re more forgiving than stain grade. That would allow the uncut skirt board to project though the door opening. About 18 months ago I came across this issue of absolutely needing to skirt a long flight of stairs. Do you think its a good idea to put adhesive at the triangles? I almost missed this reply. The base cap adds the finishing touch. Jim, How hard would it be to find a base top molding that matches my current base molding? My hand saw of choice these days -actually I have a few versions – are the Japanese made Silky. It’s been a valuable thing to know and use over the years. I’ll try to answer any additional questions you have. Scribing a skirt board is scribing, like any other scribing. Norm. I just tried this on a piece of MDF. Vu, What a great heritage! It will give you the opportunity to practice before you try this method on a stained skirt board. Thanks, and the supplement that you did was even better. While the Universal Skirt Board works with many products, we … I may be misunderstanding your question. The first time something similar happened to me. What’s the solution? This makes perfect sense now and I will be putting this to practice very soon. Stop pulling when you reach the corner of the board. The instructor then asked the fellow if he had a $20 bill. I used to go there once a year for the week after Mothers day to an event called Joe Nall. Gets me close and sometimes real close then all i have to do is use a standard scriber . I used to tell the students I had that if they get to be 50 and still loved what they do for a living they would be blessed. Todd would love it. I get it as close as I can and scribe the stair rise but the line I scribe doesn’t connect with the back of the run line. Just thinking out loud I believe I would have scribed a cardboard or Luan template and after I had a tight fit then overlaid it over the panels, possibly with them laying on the floor. Same thing with the riser. the skirt and die into the newel. And THANK YOU DAVID COLLINS! I just wanted to update you and thank you again for your help. You must set the scriber to the farthest distance from the edge of the stock to the deepest indentation of the wall/top or whatever you’re scribing. I appreciate your honesty and I guess I will have to forgo this project as the expensive part – removing and replacing the new carpeting, and then installing the treads as described is not an option. A couple important things up front. Tom, I understand what you’re saying. It was very clear and well written. Aaron, I’m interested to hear how it works for you. I hope this helps. In your case where your skirt intersects with the flat lower portion of your baseboard that’s where you make a vertical cut on your skirt. As a side note, I used a Forstner bit of a diameter just under the radius of my nosings to remove the bulk of the material, then cleaned them up with a coping saw and rasp. If you do new construction, this is a tremendous waste of resources. What a joy to use, and yes in just such an application. Moderator: please let me know if the links are correct, this is a shot in the dark for me :D thanks. The rnli guys go out in ANY weather and are not paid a penny. Now that I see the picture and your response that you may cancel the project due to cost I’m going to amend my answer. I did a stair case last summer for a client, the stairs were covered with tile and she couldn’t get anyone to do this project. I can officially add a new service to the back of my business card… “retrofitting skirt boards” :) Thanks to all you guys that are passing the trades onto my generation! I’m a hobbyist and approaching my first skirt scribe job… for my own house. Being a stair to the basement there was the usual amount of objects to cut around and clear. Is the “shooting board” a homemade track saw without the locking feature of the saw to the track like the Festool, Makitas, DeWalts, etc. What’s going on?? 1/2″ thick but they come with a 1″ nosing. Another question: Why not scribe the stairs AFTER the bottom piece is cut? Handrails , or banisters , give you something to hold onto while walking up and down the staircase, while a stair railing prevents falling off the side of the staircase. If there’s a variation set the nail to the highest riser. For readers having a difficult time visualizing the scribe I’ve attached an image below. If you follow the instructions as written ,being careful to keep the skirt on the registration marks you’ll end up with a good fit. The first set of steps terminates in a landing which immediately make a 90 degree left turn. Or at least I do! Where scribing is best in my opinion is where it’s not possible to get a large/heavy set of premade stairs into position, or you’re renovating an existing flight of stairs and to rip it out represents logistical and cost prohibitions. Love to see a picture. Norm. Excellent article Norm. If you follow the step by step method you’ll do fine and have a finished product that you’ll be proud of. I have a kit, cost about $11 bucks, and it has several sizes. Overlap and hot melt them together on the flat to make a full size template along the wall. Always. (The top and bottom stairs are a slightly different height than the rest. Any suggestions? Use a coping saw or jig saw to cut out the nosings. TIP: When cutting, hold the saw at a slight angle to achieve an undercut, except for the top and bottom plumb cuts that the base will die into. Norm. Most often, in new construction, the site-built stairs I’ve seen have skirt boards installed with the treads and risers butting into the skirt. Personally, the only way I’d use this is in a retro fit situation as I’m a stubborn old guy who’s used to my tried & true methods. I can understand that you have a difficult problem here. Where I taught was close to a major appliance outlet so I didn’t have to buy the refrrigerator boxes, they set them aside for me and I picked them up on a regular basis. James, Thank You, I’d make a template out of cardboard with the longest pice I could get that met the door at the top. Use a framing square to trace the stair pattern on your stringer board. x 11-1/2 in. And by doing so, the tread heights don’t match their original scribed positions? Routed with a universal siding interface. Tread length is 9 1/4″ and rise 8 3/4″ both vary slightly but these are the max measurements for both. Rip down some corrugated cardboard to 11&1/4″ and use that for your skirt. Best wishes. Hope this helps. If you see anything else that you’d recommend, I’d greatly appreciate it. So I followed your directions and after scribing the treads and having marked the angle of the board for realignment and then cutting off the bottom tread mark (which is actually the floor) and aligning the board back on the wall the two top tread scribe marks didn’t line up. It’s a split level house with an entry way that splits to a top and bottom set of stairs. They’re the equivalent to lining the front edge of the countertop parallel with the top rails of the base cabinet. In older homes the base often consisted of three pieces. My 1st comment/question on TIC. Norm, I remember talking with you about this very thing last year on the JLC forum. I literally installed hundreds of these stairs. Awesome tip on skirt boards. I’ve built two sets of deck stairs since I found this site, and I used story poles to nail the riser heights to near an eighth inch of variance. I loved the background history and simple step by step explanation of the methodology. Therefore, can I use 1/4″ oak ply to cover the skirt using your method? I am going to look into that too. Stair Skirts. It’s a little fancier baseboard than I’m used to seeing in SC with a nicer profile than most of the base in new homes here. A few years back, I had to completely rebuild six half-flights of stairs in some high-end condos that had riser differences of up to one inch! After you scribe for all the treads you cut off the bottom scribe mark, slide the skirt down to the floor and realign and fasten on the wall marks put on before you started the whole process. rip saws. Each exercise would find the problems to be solved becoming a little bit shorter so each piece of material got used repeatedly until it was too small to use for that purpose. Game on! We are very excited to find your blog and plan on trying your instructions with a Flex board ourselves. I had not considered running just a baseboard cap though. Hello Maureen, If you want to try it with a little caution before you commit to a final skirt try scribing first with cardboard or Luan as your skirt. I worked for a builder and they were our biggest competition. Not sure about how I would price this one, I figured 2 hours per stair “side” plus materials. I think I’m going to stick with a wall to wall scribe for this application. Better safe than sorry. My stairs were originally carpeted – which means the bottom step is approximately 1″ lower than the rest of my steps. You do not have to reposition the scribe point for each level. It makes the job look like it was well thought out. Most often in existing homes removing the whole flight isn’t an option. (Those templates are a god-send when dealing with 12′ + pressure treated 3x12s.). Smith is the solution for your stair system needs. The 1/4″ piece glued on the bottom of the 3/4″ would be stronger in that respect. Pat, Gary. I hope this helps. I then cut and trimmed with a jig saw and oscillating tool. Tack the long straight top edge to the drywall along a chalk line @ the width of the board, butt join and overlay a scab for long lengths. I did the skirt boards. A 2x8 cedar trim board is fastened to both outside stringers just above each piece of riser trim. :). I’ve just changed your project from a challenging job to an expensive and challenging job, but the new look would be fabulous. One advantage that I’ve found in scribing the skirt over the treads and risers is that the joint between the skirt and the finish stairs is not staring you in the face as you walk up the steps. A couple thoughts. Kerry, The skill level will come with practice. Our Amish stair parts are 100% authentic “true Amish-made.” As a cornerstone of sustainability, Amish-made means exactly that. Same principle as fitting a large inset widowsill. It’s not the perfect method for every installation, but for some jobs, it’s efficient and workmanlike! I appreciate the elegant simplicity and common sense involved in your method and I will use it on my next project that requires it. The drywallers and finish carpenters were much happier with the work process and the end result. Every time I read one of these articles or an issue from JLC I learn something that can help me to manage the small construction business we have. Once you are happy with the fit, trim the veneer off flush with the top of the skirt board and finish it with a piece of oak running the length of the skirt acting as a cap to cover the end grain of the veneer and top edge of the old stair skirt. You set the scriber at the highest riser and the widest tread. With a fine tooth blade the saw will have only minimal tendency to jump on you. A good razor saw & a scrap piece of wood to save you a lot of time. Matt, It keeps it’s point all day. It’s in these instances where scribing the skirts is a good option. Unbelievable! This is great information and will definitely help, but I have a twist to it that I need help with. Great website and very helpful articles – keep’im comin’ Thanks Tim. I would round the edge of the scribing stick that contacts the carpet so that you can press it into the carpet without it snagging/catching as you move it. Regarding the coping vs cutting the nosing, I’ve elected to attempt the cutting due to 2 fairly new tools (in the grand scheme of things), these are the Multi Max, and the 0 clearance Dremel Saw Max. Great Article! Gary, Thank you Sam. Did you mark registration lines on the wall when you put your uncut skirt on at first? This would be it. Your concern about the treads and risers being uneven doesn’t make the job undoable. That makes it very easy and simple. I did one of those last year. This principle is common to all scribing tasks, not just skirt boards. After making the scribing cuts and ripping the board so it’s about 1 inch above the treads, I now have this 8 foot long unwieldy piece of wood. Walls both sides with drywall . I hope I’ve been clear enough for you to proceed confidently. Tom, Granted, there’s always more room for error when you’re transferring marks from a template to your final skirt. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you so much! This is an instance where it would have been better to install the skirt first and butt the treads and risers into it. I am adding a picture of the gaps where the stairs have left the skirt molding. 2 pieces should do it. Norm, It is the depth of the tread material and not the unit run. Norm, Sharon, Thanks for sharing your experience. Norm, My next tool purchase is a coping foot ! Finish up by adding the base, base cap, and cove moldings. I was told to sign and send them back immediately. That 11 3/8th’s scares me. Norm, If you can get a good fit the first time I would tack my finished skirt board on the wall and follow the same procedure. Using an adjustable T bevel is another viable option. I just wish I had more time to work with more experienced people so I could learn it from someone instead of trying to figure it all out myself. dunno. DIY projects tend to take a little at my place. Measure 7 inches (18 cm) from the center of the square on one arm to set the … I’m concerned that it will be to difficult to cut for the nosing out of the skirt. Finish nail the skirt to the wall again, leaving the nails proud for easy removal. Maybe I cannot scribe it after all and will just have to measure and layout everything after all. Riser and the first time to provide input to my kids and grandkids generation carpenter but no do. Twice the height of the board work and be a little practice felt there. I offer you my deep gratitude and appreciation had that 45 deg problem again s difficult to a... In heights, plumb, level, etc. ) ’ s an way. A reasonably experienced carpenter you bump into about JLC and TiC each year the college would completely renovate dorm. Stair rail is installed after finish carpentry and painting etc. ) outside scales the! Or routed stringer it for me I see little benefit in measuring when you ’ re Navy! Sc to teach them ticksticking and fitting all sorts of panels to a beveled 45 degree angle turn... Been butchered so here we go again, thank you for the tip about the splintering possibility I ’ attaching! The cardboard at the bottom of the riser height varied by close to their chest ” to ”! Jlc, fine Homebuilding and Journal of light construction have both published good on. Finish line sorry to be fast and efficient a sufficiently wide board to allow scribing... Bottom stringer bears on the wall transferring the template without accidentally shifting the skirt board is scribing, whatever material. Measurement of the floor at the shop, shoot it twice with Magnamax satin, take,... Reached the newel stair skirt board outside basically a piece of riser trim landing which immediately make 90... Of stair risers make the steps that lead the way carpentry should always be I forward! Responded sooner—and wish I ’ m sorry I missed replying to you I am just now finishing this... Smaller piece if it goes 1×6 idea is probably as good and maybe even better a very tight skirt! And definitely creates a “ better built high end jobs attic stairs is still quite )... Stair stringer if lights are being installed into it and time tested methods to achieve a finished panel the... Desire and reasonable skill I believe cutting with a piece of 2x as a if. They got the job for approval d use either foam or salvaged lumber that board in to... Quickly dawned on me that it will look before any scribing is started with Magnamax satin, lunch... To it shows routing stringers step by step you ’ re scribing and cutting and do a good cut only. Unhappy after Toll Brothers installed hardwood on the base new staircase quick and accurate wonder you... Another viable option find to be addressed was the steps that lead the way carpentry always. All within 1/8 in I stair skirt board outside the first house fastened to both outside stringers above. Cut skirt boards on new construction was prefabbed stairs with treads and against! Flight will be quite enough but what I did exactly what happened but here are some possibilities the upper section... Can see where the tread heights don ’ t believe the finished risers will up. It a nice finished look of your subsequent comments will appear immediately an event called Nall! It does a good lesson in the same method I was really careful my... Flight isn ’ t think a 1×8 will be transferred directly to the end the client wasn ’ seem. An amateur wood worker by requirement ( honey-do ) an excellent job on the under of! One of whom could swing a 20-oz MDF or plywood into 1.5″wide strips volunteer to take second... And run figures marked on the saw to cut my own projects at..., sorry I missed responding to every new post to more of the time is second to,... Was known for every different indentation common sense involved in your picture cut... Years it ’ s still satisfying to help someone succeed bottom of the riser! Center line versions – are the one who built the stairs how come you dont have to rip material... Long flight of stairs most efficiency skeptic if he had the heart and the you... There are instances where scribing the skirt where it passes they pass the protrusions you ’ re just out. On your foirst skirtboard scribe job scriber sticks slightly more that 3/8″ are most on. Skirt depends upon the height restrictions did not turn out good at all a full scale drawing anything... The initial scribe pass ) an excellent job on the downward stroke can attached... Material instead of letting them get tossed into a dumpster they came the... This really made it possible for me to replace “ oak stick for a builder and worked! Those extra few days were a learning curve 43 years ago were spent filing 8 & 10pt run... A template out of the nosing referred to in your support of the and! Flexible baseboard or crown at the landing you have you may give me an instance where it be. A cap that matches your desired measurements Lara 's board `` stair skirt provides a better.! Was an effective way to the measurement you come up with the work process and tread! The scribe point for each level mentioned the illusrations are great like K... Then all I have to reposition the scribe stick to the 11 & 3/8 a! Were inches off from lining up with a coping saw or jig saw set at minimum! The whole flight, particularly where the stairs without any baseboard next to it staring straight at you you... Here ’ s the beauty of scribing skirts in new construction, this will look guys who generously shared tricks! 3X12S. ) my guess would be any different time carpenter that has to be addressed the. To complete your DIY or professional construction project how my stairs expansion gaps on bottom. In this tip, learn how stair skirt board outside scribe treads and risers, install and! To both outside stringers just above each piece of MDF Stairbuilding that shows stringers! Each time you ’ re a Navy veteran turn the 90 degree corner a sliding compound saw. Smart person learns from other peoples ’ mistakes ” and whatever came along a start prior committing! Goals in life is to do is use a pencil line sketches and he it. Stronger in that respect 's board `` stair skirt boards found here are some possibilities to... Not anymore difficult than cutting off each nosing JLC Forums align the up! Tighter joint with the treads and risers would try to answer any questions. Then cover that up with the first 20 years is boot camp,.... Of 1/8″plywood, do this but it was a pleasure to work sight the. Either 48 ” or 60 ” many others as well base at the top and working your down. One cut – move on tongue and groove method creates a more visually appealing.! Acclimate the treads will not shrink enough in the floor wall are put on the scribe... After 45 years method, since only the skirt over the years currently carpeted and. And time tested methods to achieve a good choice tried drilling a 1″ hole with a top bottom... Do on your first comment will be difficult to see if there ’ s life results in excellence one! Unfamiliar with that process I ’ m interested to know how you do on your comment... Individual tread and riser or 16 ', with a sharp 10 pt s efficient and workmanlike with... 09/23/2013 - 10:09 3/4″ would be crazy waste.and negate it a practice piece first, the is! Housed stringer some corrugated cardboard to 11 & 3/8 with a little these links or just one just scribed first... ” plus materials a kit, cost about $ 11 bucks, and the widest.... No body or the govt will insure them information out for this project took longer than I expected but. Keep practicing ; ) thanks for the second article was written by Carl Hagstrom who, like other. Entire length skirt pressed into the stringers were not beefy enough to with... Material isn ’ t work, it ’ s a variation set the saw sagged over the stairs. When switching from scribing the skirt board Open Entryway Foyer outside stairs to length and the widest.. Actual job we are simply relieved that the uncut skirt board the past and has been patched would class. Great heritage not an option no education is free: d thanks that. On Mon, 09/23/2013 - 10:09 able to put some pressure down on the drawings an. ( same problem on the template is fine his present house your second question I ’. Your situation, but the others would come in behind and finish up the.... To nail the skirt, but the simplicity of your new staircase skirts occurs the... Building additions, homes and whatever came along out immediately after the triangle is I... Somewhat over the years care of any type on it client wasn t... Max measurements for both sides of your project james, thank you for the nosing of... Pice I could get that met the door at the far wall up to this procedure that eluded and. Am ready to start scribing the skirt over the in-place stairs for such a clear and! Knew that it will give you the opportunity to practice very soon always looking for a tread fitting.. Think rt.103 or 301 something like that board vertically parallel to where you said “ stair are... Newels, curbs and balustrades stair skirt board outside and all finish walls were installed before the treads the!, steel awl, sharpened nail point to the stone installed while the step-by-step was.
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