Carpentry and Woodworking - Softwood Skirtboard for Stairs
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rjordan392
12-31-05, 07:40 PM
Hello,
I saved the old outside skirtboard to use as a gage to check the replacement staircase as I progress and I noticed that it has develop a curve over the years making it useless when trying to match risers with the treads to keep gaps to a minumum. I believe the skirtboard is not oak but poplar because it has the same ugly black mark as the new boards in the homecenters. I would like to use 5/4 oak as its replacement. This will support the shoerail and balusters. But in the event that I cannot get the oak in close enough to the treads and risers, would it be sufficient to use 5/4 pine or two 1 by's sandwich together to support the shoerail? Softwood is more forgiven and would bend some to cover up some irregularities in my treads and risers. I will be using screws to mount the shoerail and am wondering if my idea means trouble down the road?
I saved the old outside skirtboard to use as a gage to check the replacement staircase as I progress and I noticed that it has develop a curve over the years making it useless when trying to match risers with the treads to keep gaps to a minumum. I believe the skirtboard is not oak but poplar because it has the same ugly black mark as the new boards in the homecenters. I would like to use 5/4 oak as its replacement. This will support the shoerail and balusters. But in the event that I cannot get the oak in close enough to the treads and risers, would it be sufficient to use 5/4 pine or two 1 by's sandwich together to support the shoerail? Softwood is more forgiven and would bend some to cover up some irregularities in my treads and risers. I will be using screws to mount the shoerail and am wondering if my idea means trouble down the road?
chandler
01-01-06, 06:01 AM
OK, I am trying to see what you can see. You are talking "skirtboard", which I assume is running along the outside of the exposed side of a staircase. You mention it supporting balusters, but that isn't the job of a skirtboard, because they are usually only 3/4" to 1" thick. The baluster plate is a horizontal board running the length of the framework which supports the base of the balusters, and the skirtboard attaches to the inside and outside of that plate. What width board are you talking about. Skirtboards on the inside of the staircase are usually 11 1/2" wide, and sit down below the stair tread/riser line to dress it off.
Anyway you could take a digital pix of the staircase and post it. I wouldn't want to give the wrong information not being there.
The "black" streak you are seeing in the poplar is the beauty of poplar. You may can use a softer wood, since it doesn't take direct contact, but it will take stains alot differently than the oak treads and risers, so take that into consideration.
Larry
Anyway you could take a digital pix of the staircase and post it. I wouldn't want to give the wrong information not being there.
The "black" streak you are seeing in the poplar is the beauty of poplar. You may can use a softer wood, since it doesn't take direct contact, but it will take stains alot differently than the oak treads and risers, so take that into consideration.
Larry
rjordan392
01-01-06, 08:51 AM
Chandler,
The balaster plate is called the shoerail on the installation instructions and is approximatly 2-1/2 inch's wide overall and is plowed with a fillet to cover the nails for the balasters as is the same for the handrail. I do not have these materials installed yet as I am concentrating on the treads, risers and the outside skirtboard.
The original skirtboard is 8-15/16 inch's wide and was fitted in height and projection to match the inside skirtboard which its inside treads and risers all slip into it. So far, the fit is ok on the inside portions. The outside portions were installed against the outside skateboard.
I have to order a new skirtboard as the old one has a bow along its entire width and a bit of waving along its length. This does not make it suitable to use as a gage. I will order oak.
Right now, it appears that I have some high spots on three treads and risers of the eight that are assembled. I will know how much when the new skirtboard arrives as it should be planed perfectly I hope.
If I have to, I plan to fix this by either first trying to tap them in using a block and lightly using a 5 lb maul or a belt sander or using my router to make some dado's on the shirtboard for the offending treads and risers.
You mentioned about posting a picture. Where can I find information on how to do this. I know that others are using a host to do it.
The balaster plate is called the shoerail on the installation instructions and is approximatly 2-1/2 inch's wide overall and is plowed with a fillet to cover the nails for the balasters as is the same for the handrail. I do not have these materials installed yet as I am concentrating on the treads, risers and the outside skirtboard.
The original skirtboard is 8-15/16 inch's wide and was fitted in height and projection to match the inside skirtboard which its inside treads and risers all slip into it. So far, the fit is ok on the inside portions. The outside portions were installed against the outside skateboard.
I have to order a new skirtboard as the old one has a bow along its entire width and a bit of waving along its length. This does not make it suitable to use as a gage. I will order oak.
Right now, it appears that I have some high spots on three treads and risers of the eight that are assembled. I will know how much when the new skirtboard arrives as it should be planed perfectly I hope.
If I have to, I plan to fix this by either first trying to tap them in using a block and lightly using a 5 lb maul or a belt sander or using my router to make some dado's on the shirtboard for the offending treads and risers.
You mentioned about posting a picture. Where can I find information on how to do this. I know that others are using a host to do it.
chandler
01-01-06, 10:22 AM
I misunderstood how you were attaching your balusters. Sometimes post type balusters are drilled directly into the top dress board. I see you are using the rail with square bottom balusters. Cool.
I think oak will run truer and will be an easier installation. A little more pricey, but after all it is for the eyes.
Most of the pictures people are posting come either from their own website, or from another one. At the top there is an "insert hyperlink" button, and that is how they do that. Like this: http://www.chandlerscarpentry.com, which is my website, to which I can attach pictures and send them to you with a subtag. This is an example, not an advertisement.
Good luck with the stairs!
I think oak will run truer and will be an easier installation. A little more pricey, but after all it is for the eyes.
Most of the pictures people are posting come either from their own website, or from another one. At the top there is an "insert hyperlink" button, and that is how they do that. Like this: http://www.chandlerscarpentry.com, which is my website, to which I can attach pictures and send them to you with a subtag. This is an example, not an advertisement.
Good luck with the stairs!
rjordan392
01-01-06, 12:15 PM
Larry,
I checked out your web site. What a beautiful valley where you live. Your skills in carpentry and artistic ability are second to none. Congratulations.
I have a website but never posted pictures when I learned that there is some type of maintenance fee paid each month if one wants to post pictures. It would be a waste of money for me as I would not be posting enough pictures to get the full value of the service. I'll check it out again, in case I misunderstood the service.
I checked out your web site. What a beautiful valley where you live. Your skills in carpentry and artistic ability are second to none. Congratulations.
I have a website but never posted pictures when I learned that there is some type of maintenance fee paid each month if one wants to post pictures. It would be a waste of money for me as I would not be posting enough pictures to get the full value of the service. I'll check it out again, in case I misunderstood the service.