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

Start by counting the number of individual steps, or 'treads,' you'll be covering. A helpful tip: you'll always have one more 'riser' (the vertical part of the stair) than you have treads. Setting yourself up for success is easy! Just grab a few household tools: a rigid tape measure for accuracy, a carpenter's square for true angles, a level to check for flatness, some masking tape for easy labeling, and a pencil and paper to jot down your notes.