how to measure stairs for custom stair treads, including diagonal steps and varying widths

Start by walking your staircase and counting each individual tread you plan to cover. (A fun fact: you'll always have one more riser than you have treads!) Next, let's get your toolkit ready. You don't need anything fancy, just the basics for a precise job: a good, rigid tape measure for accuracy, a carpenter's square to check your corners, a level to ensure your lines are true, some masking tape for temporary labels, and a pencil to jot down your numbers. Having everything on hand makes the process smooth and stress-free.

Let's measure the depth, which is the distance from front to back. Place the end of your tape measure firmly against the vertical riser (the back of the step) and extend it straight across the tread until it's just over the rounded front edge, known as the 'nosing'. It is crucial to keep the tape measure flat against the wood surface. Measuring over existing carpet, old adhesive, or uneven surfaces will throw off your numbers and affect the final fit. Write down the depth for each and every step.

Next, we'll measure the width (the side-to-side distance). Run your tape measure along the front of the tread, keeping it parallel to the back riser. If your stairs are enclosed, measure from wall to wall. If one side is open, measure from the wall or newel post to the open edge. For a standard bordered look that truly elevates your staircase, we suggest leaving about a 1-inch border of exposed wood on each side of the carpet tread. This means your tread's final width will be about 2 inches less than your total tread width.

With all your measurements taken, it's time to organize them. Write down the width and depth for every individual step in your notebook. Don't assume they are all the same—variations are very common, especially in older homes, and this is where The Oak Valley Difference truly shines! If you have any steps with unique dimensions, place a piece of masking tape on the riser and number it to match your notes. For the ultimate peace of mind when ordering your custom-made treads, we highly recommend taking a clear photo of each measurement on the step itself. And finally, live by the carpenter's motto: 'Measure twice, cut once.' In our case, it's 'measure twice, order once' for a perfect, stress-free installation.