Step 1 · Step 1: Count Your Steps & Gather Your Tools

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.