Updating Your Stair Treads Is Easier Than You Think

A staircase can make a dramatic impression. And it can look like a slow trudge up to a dingy bedsit. When TikTok couple Claudia and Jimmy (@creating.a.casa) remodeled their apartment staircase, they found a way to make a grand, refined statement without a lot of difficult rebuilding by virtue of using a common but often unknown shortcut: a product called a "retread." It's basically a new tread and nosing that fits into place over your existing tread. As an upgrade to builder-grade pine treads, these hardwood replacements are quite an improvement.

Since the retreads have to be cut to size, sanded, and finished anyway, you might wonder why one wouldn't just refinish the existing treads instead. Aside from the obvious aesthetic advantage of hardwood over pine, you are likely to find that your existing treads aren't in great shape, especially if they've been carpeted. They're likely to have nails, screws, old paint, and even glue marring the surface that you might be planning to stain. Retreads are definitely the path of least resistance in most cases.

Claudia and Jimmy are in the process of completely renovating their apartment, and they're doing a great job of it. The staircase in their TikTok video was upgraded in a previous apartment, but they still paid an admirable amount of attention to the quality of the finished work. Using 48-inch Red Oak Modern Retreads from Floor & Decor ($9.98 each at the time), they installed the retreads efficiently. First the couple did the necessary paint prep — spackling, sanding, and the like — to the staircase and the existing risers, then painted the risers. They installed the retreads, then sanded and stained them, and the result was great.

They accomplished their stair remodel for less than $200. The retreads are considerably more expensive now, but it's possible, based on the TikTok comments, that you can get the retreads for the lower price by contacting Floor & Decor about the discrepancy between the old $9.98 and the current $38.99 price.

If you decide to attempt to use retreads, there are a few things you need to pay attention to. Technically, these retreads are designed to be installed over old treads with the nosing cut flush with the old riser, and with a remodel riser installed (a remodel riser would add about $16.48 per step to the job, based on a reversible model from Home Depot). The additional nosing in front of the old could create a tripping hazard, and common building codes indicate that the tread overhang should be between ¾ inch and 1 ¼ inch. You should also take care with your final tread depth and riser height in order to keep your stairs up to code. The installation manual for the retreads @creating.a.casa used (available on the Floor & Decor product page) has a page detailing common stair codes.

These caveats might make refinishing the existing treads a more attractive option, especially if they're hardwood as well. But you're unlikely to get a perfect finish like the retreads have by default, and you might be stuck with a standard bullnose profile. It's also possible to replace the old treads with new ones. Lowes offers unfinished pine stair treads for $14.98 and red oak treads for as little as $32.98 each. And, however you personally feel about the look, there are good reasons to add carpet to your staircase. But there are lots of other ways to do a staircase makeover on any budget.