Here’s how we did our DIY Modern Stair Makeover + the step by step of how to do it yourself. We transformed our Mahogany laminate stairs to an updated & modern look. We are so grateful we did! And yes I always have my hair done sitting on the stairs like this…Anyway..
When we decided to update our floors we knew we would have to do the stairs. As we looked into costs to get it done (even though we knew we were going to do it ourselves but were just curious!) it was thousands of dollars.
Brance really wanted to tackle a new challenge and he definitely tackled it! I want to clarify that each of our projects are DIY, we learn as we go a as which happens with DIY. We are always grateful we took a chance on something new even if it is not absolutely 100% perfect. The joy is not JUST in the finished project, but the journey to get there and what we learn each time.
We also did these stairs a month before Haven Mae was due during April which consisted of Easter, our anniversary, Brance’s birthday, my dad’s 60th, my baby shower around the corner, AND as I was still trying to unpack boxes simultaneously from moving into this house months prior. It was a whirlwind of a time.
MATERIALS
Pre Cut Red Oak Wood (Home Depot)
Fiberboard
Caulk
Box Cutter
White Paint (We used Pure White Sherwin Williams)
Circular Saw
SHOP THE POST
THE PROCESS (7 Steps)
There are two parts to the stairs, the treads and risers. The treads are the horizontal part of the stairs that a person will stand on and the risers are the part of the stairs that faces forward in between the treads. The overall plan was to attach the wood to the treads and fiberboard to the risers. We did fiberboard to the risers because they are paintable.
Here’s the process:
- Remove all the laminate planks with a box cutter
- Measure the treads and risers
3. Get pre cut red oak wood from home depot for treads. We stained the red oak with a light stain to help match our flooring a bit more but they are beautiful left unfinished as well.
4. Get fiberboard and cut it with a circular saw to match the measurement of the risers.
5. Attach Red Oak Wood and fiberboards with construction adhesive
(Here he is testing out the fiberboard and red oak wood before he removes all the laminate and makes duplicate cuts)
6. Tape Down stairs and paint fiberboards white (you can also do this step BEFORE it is attached, this is just how we did it). We did two coats of white and it seemed to cover pretty well. If we had to go back and redo it though we would probably pick an even less transparent and high gloss option to give full coverage. We just used an extra can of white paint of what we already had from another project.
7. Caulk any empty gaps or spaces
ALL DONE! You’ve now got a beautiful updated stairs
How Long it Took
This entire process took a couple days considering we were hopping on and off with other projects. Brance also acquired some help with the middle part of the stairs where there is a landing, as we decided to do our luxury vinyl at that spot
Reach out or comment with any questions, we love to see and talk all things house projects. I love that these projects are attainable to do so that you can get an updated look without totally breaking the bank for a contractor.
I have been keeping a steady pace of posting a house project every Friday and so that will be the expected day from now to hop on my Instagram and see what we are up to!
Oh…The man, the myth, the legend….behind the stairs