Wood floors on second floor impossible in remodel?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Builder says wood floors in hallway are impossible on second floor since the additional height will cause issues with the top tread. He says we can't increase the height of the top tread based on code (which of course I am fine with) but are there any other standard or creative solutions to this problem?

Featured Answer

User

5 years ago

If the home is designed for wood floors, or has the stairs rebuilt, or you use the bastardization of engineered floor treads and separate nosing, there's no issue. But stairs by code cannot have a variance above 3/8" in rise. No solid wood unl as you rebuild the stairs or design the stairs with that flooring height in advance of construction.

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Comments (13)

hollybar
5 years ago
Never heard of this issue. Is there carpeting with pad there now?
iamtiramisu
5 years ago
Were you originally planning on carpet and changed your mind to wood? Seems like if wood was always in the plan they messed up on their end and need to redo the stairs to accommodate. Plenty of houses have hardwood on the second floor so this is not something new or an impossibility.
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adam berk
Original Author
5 years ago
I'll post a photo - it's a remodel / not trying to assign blame just looking for a solution. there was carpet there before we want wood now without redoing the entire stair case
miss lindsey (She/Her)
5 years ago
The "top tread" would be the hallway floor, wouldn't it? I can't imagine the height difference being more than a few millimeters. I can't believe it could make a difference regarding code compliance but I am an amateur. I also wonder if the first floor and stairs are also being changed. If so, everything will get higher by the same amount so there will be no net change in the tread spacing including at the top.

Just install laminate until the inspection is over and then rip it out and do hardwood would be my advice, if it really is an issue.
PRO
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years ago
Are the stairs existing or already in place? If not, there's no problem at all using wood flooring on the second floor and designing proper, code-compliant stairs.

If the stairs are existing, do you want to have them removed and re-installed to correspond with wood flooring? The other option for existing stairs is to refinish or recover the existing stairsso as to meet code dimensions based on wood flooring on the second floor.

This is a design issue. Solve the design and then have your builder install what's necessary. Don't ask your builder to design a new solution since he's told you it can't be done, which means he doesn't want to deal with it.
adam berk thanked Virgil Carter Fine Art
adam berk
Original Author
5 years ago
@lindsey yes exactly - the top tread is currently flush with the rest of the base - over which we want hardwood instead of new carpet... 3/4 inch so it is material - we thought we could just indent it about a foot or two before the new 3/4 in rise
User
5 years ago
Nope. You'd be creating a big safety hazard.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
5 years ago
Aren’t you replacing the treads as well? If they were designed for carpet they are usually not good wood. When you replace them, you need to adjust them to make up the extra 3/4” over the run of the staircase. Ie you add 1/16” to the first stair, 1/8” to the next...
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G & S Floor Service
5 years ago
You have two layers of subfloor, remove 3/4" worth of height.
PRO
Oak & Broad
5 years ago
Adam Berk , Did you ever find a solution to your problem?
adam berk
Original Author
5 years ago
carpet:) looks great but would have been nice to know if this was actually a problem or just an over reaction... in this case all's well that ends well (now I have a new fish to fry with my garage door cabinet nonsense which is why I jumped on the site )
PRO
User
5 years ago
This is one of those very rare instances where I will say, Code, schmode. I can't count how many times we've laid down 3/4" flooring on 2nd floors where carpet, or older 3/8" strip flooring, used to be. So the last riser ends up being a smidgen higher than the others? BFD. The moment the HO starts using the stairs, they will adapt in a minute.

Wood floors on second floor impossible in remodel?

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Wood floors on second floor impossible in remodel?

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