Installing a stair guardrail can be a challenging undertaking. The project is more complicated than tread or riser removal, because you’re dealing with precise angles rather than square cuts. The rail system must be securely supported by newels that are solidly fastened to the framing of the floor or wall. The rail must also adhere […]
Home Improvement
Give Your Cabinet a Second Life
(guest post by Owen Wright) Do you want to freshen up and give your cabinets a second life? Would you rather consider replacing, refinishing or cabinet refacing? Here is a guide to help you decide. Signs That It Is Time For Change Over time, your cabinets suffer from wear and tear and damage that […]
Installing Risers on Stairs
Okay, back to my ongoing to stair-remodeling series, which you can follow in my previous blog posts here. On the last episode, I had to deal with a surprise: constructing and installing a stair stringer. This time, I’m installing new risers and treads on the upper flight of this split-level staircase (home of the new […]
Stair Stringer Installation
Back to my ongoing stair remodel… A funny thing happened on the way to installing the remaining treads: Everything went haywire. I’ll try to sum it up as succinctly as possible:
Stair Rail Removal
Getting back to my ongoing staircase remodel… I already replaced the lower flight of the split-level stair treads, but I couldn’t replace the upper flight before first removing the handrail. So, this next phase of the project called for some orderly demolition. […]
Stair Tread Installation
Our last blog post showed how to remove wooden stair treads. This post will show how to install the new treads, which were provided by L.J. Smith Stair Systems.
Stair Tread Removal
Okay, back to my ongoing staircase remodel… You’ll see in earlier blog posts that I’ve already stained and finished the new treads and newel posts. Now it’s time to remove the old treads in preparation for the new ones. Although the old treads weren’t the prettiest pieces in the world, I was hoping to salvage […]
Staining Stair Parts, Cont’d…
Day 2 of staining the parts of our new stair system involved a lot of repetitive motion. After the wood stain had completely dried on the stair treads, I coated them all with gloss polyurethane. The poly should be applied in thin, successive coats and allowed to completely dry between coats. Before applying a new […]
Staining Stair Treads
I’ve embarked on a new project at my house — stair remodeling. The plan is to replace the treads and a wonky handrail system on our front foyer. I’m using parts and supplies from L.J. Smith Stair Systems, and today I entered phase one of the project: staining the unfinished stair treads. This involved setting […]
Plumbing Snake for Clogged Drains
Yesterday I had my first encounter with using an electrical plumbing snake. These machines are also called a Drain Pipe Auger or a Power Drain Cleaner. Here are my thoughts: This job stinks! What a crappy experience. We rented the plumbing snake from the local Home Depot to clear out the clogged main drain line […]