Rebuilding 200 year old stairs
 

I reluctantly took on a job I just finished up consisting of 2 sets of stairs in an old house that was gutted, opened up with hidden LVL beams to make rooms larger like the kitchen and exposed the timber frame on the second floor. The house in on Main St in N. Easton down the street from Sea Dangles. They gutted the whole house but left the stairs for last it seems. They did not do me any favors with the front set of winders as they cut the posts off to get a tub upstairs, they were built with mortise and tenon with pegs so I had to leave the old stringers and what's left of the posts, Since it's all lead paint I just overlaid the risers and skirt with 1/4" maple faced MDF. Post were cut square and drilled and bolted, then I had to wrap them mitering pine around each one after blocking out where needed on the old, boy that was such a joy with all the cuts and figuring. The builder went and stained the tread so then I had to use tape on all my pencil lines just to see them for fitting the tread and drilling for balusters.

here are some shots of the old stairs, a set of winders in the front of the house and a set with a landing in the back of the house.

That middle shot shows that the top riser is actually what the stringer and post are hanging from, therefore it needs that radius as it is one wide board and needed to stay. All the nails were cut nails and lots of wooden pegs were used too.

another shot of the bottom of the winders old and new

and a shot with one new post set thru the floor and rebuild of the bottom 2 steps, there was more framing done after this shot.

I had to change the rise on both sets so on this set I had to add blocking, on the back set I cut and sistered new stringers.

old set out back


Since the new hardwood was all done when I showed up, I had to just skin the bottom radiused riser with the 1/4" maple MDF .


My friend made the posts and I wrapped those as well. I also made 3 total bottom post finials.

new

Winder all done ready for painters to finish


I did not do that polyurethane job, it needs more coats and sanding obviously.

Stairs and math... I find I spend at least half my time without tools in my hands doing the figuring and rechecking numbers when doing stairs.

Nice Bruce. How many days?

Nice job Bruce,we could have gone down the street to the club for a few rounds...

Artie has done a good job with that place.
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Great work Bruce

Outstanding workmanship! Great to see the before and after pictures. They show how much skill and patience goes into such a transformation. I would hope the customer appreciates your efforts and that you were well compensated.

I feel your pain Bruce. Some of the projects we do at the shop make u wonder why. In the long run you get satisfaction when its complete and customer is happy. You did a great restoration.
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total of 20 days there
I spent a good amount of time wrapping my head around that for sure, but once you dive in I stay focused
I credit a good friend of mine for looking at the job with me beforehand for his advice, he is an architectural woodworker and master stair builder I have worked with a few times.

:)

He sure has done a fine job for sure

They certainly do

yes well compensated above my original estimate but within reason, money isn't everything as you know

Thanks Ray

Thank you
I hope all is well with you

nice work, way beyond my talent.

Awesome Job Bruce