Professional Stair Tread & Riser Installation - Complete Install Process 

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!! Festool HKC 55 Track Saw - geni.us/festoolhk (Amazon, Earns Commissions) Collins Stair Tread Gauges - geni.us/BcY0VaH (Amazon, Earns Commissions)

Beautiful stuff man. As a young carpenter I find well done videos like this better than working with grump old dudes who don’t know how to communicate. You’re doing a service to anyone wanting to get better at their job...

Spencer we are going have to start calling you Laser Cut Lewis. Those were some very nice fits on that staircase.

As a retired carpenter/cabinet-maker, I can assure anyone watching this tutorial that this guy is really good. Follow this advice and you will end up with good-looking, solid, squeak proof stairs. My step-son and his wife just moved into their new house and want to keep their paid-for condominium as a rental property. They asked me to get rid of the carpeted stairs so I was brushing up. This is the only video I'll watch. That stair tread guage is new to me, but I'll get one because it will pay for itself on this one job. I wish I could say the same for the track saw. Thanks Spencer, tools and techniques are changing at an unprecedented rate and I subscribed so you can help me keep up.

For sure you’re the absolute best instructor on RU-vid. In every single video I learn incredibly valuable techniques. Thanks sooooo much for being so generous with your expertise.

Spencer, the install on these stairs was INCREDIBLE. You showed the closeup of that last stair tread/riser combo and I just let out a long whistle of approval. Well done sir! Keep up the good work, positive attitude, and integrity!

Great work Spencer. I've been a carpenter 50 years this month. 69YO. I enjoy watching and learning new techniques. Great educational videos. Keep it up young man. Dave

Retired as a flooring contractor for 45 years .... You are a special breed keep up the GREAT work

At 76 years of age, and a woodworking hobbyist, I Love your videos and often wish I had had your inspiration in my youth, my career choice would definitely been different. Thank you for ALL that you do

I always finish a stairwell with the first riser, gives you an opportunity to clean out and retrieve anything you dropped 👍

As a former custom builder, I really enjoy watching your videos and seeing alot of familiar techniques. One thing I used to do when building stairs was to leave the bottom riser off just in case I dropped a tool or something. Also had homeowners leave a time capsule of personal items under the top stair tread.

I happened upon your staircase video maybe a year ago and right away thought this is a much more efficient way than what our carpenters do. I shared the video with two of our stair guys and they switched to your way immediately! The time savings of using a track saw and the stair gauges and utility knife for marking is a major game changer!!! Thanks brother!

Just started doing staircases about 2 months ago. Im pretty new to carpentry, other than watching/kind helping my dad or grandfather build stuff. I'm 22, btw. My Boss started me on paint grade with painted knee walls and risers and white oak treads, newl posts and handrails. We use a #2 pencil, kept sharp for fine lines and a skill saw for most cuts, except for 1×4 trim and smaller trim (ex. 1/4 round.) Its definitely a challenge making cuts like that without a brace, but when they fit in place perfectly, its so freaking satisfying. I've worked on new and old cars, mechanically and and some body work. I've cooked, worked in production, worked in a chicken factory, and cut grass, but this by far takes the cake when it comes to being satisfied with what I do. When the staircase goes from an empty turd with seetrock to a finished, ready to stain/ paint staircase, it makes me appreciate the hours spent on something other than a paycheck. I plan to get as good as I can and see how far I can take it while also enjoying the paycheck that comes with it lol. But, I'm definitely going to get a tread jig, because this would make things a lot easier in the measuring department.

You do some amazing work . I worked for over 35 years in construction mostly as a finish carpenter. But I did almost everything. I would have to say that my favorite thing was trim carpentry. From what I can see you are top notch. I can tell you take pride in your work and want to provide a top level product. I would like to see where you end up in 20 or even 30 years. With that much more experience it's unimaginable what you may become. Just remember that a customer may not be able to afford the best that you can produce but you should always try to produce the best that the customer can afford!!! Best of luck to you, you young wood wizard.

Always wondered how stairs were built and have everything so tight. Now I know! Excellent video!

Thanks, Spencer, for yet another terrific and thorough video on your craft. We always appreciate you going to such effort to share your hard-earned expertise. This will be yet one more of your videos to go into my reference file for if and when.

This is why you pay professionals. Anyone handy can cut wood. A true professional knows the tricks.

You are amazing with the vids and it’s always impressive how you can share so much while you work …. Best tips and your passion comes through in every vid

Absolutely love the more detailed videos you have been putting out lately, I have leant so many carpentry tricks that I get to try out so my work comes out better! Thanks!!!

I used your previous stair installation video with great success. I picked up a few more tips on in this video. Thank you very much.

Thank you for the tips and tricks. Your stair video from a few years ago walked me right through the process for me to pull a 1995 vinyl village carpeted staircase out and put both hardwood treads and balusters as well. Used my Mortise machine for the wrought iron ends. Worked great and looked outstanding. Thank you my Indiana brother.

You are a freeeeeking MASTER. I just realized this is the second time I watched this and that's after doing my own stairs over a year ago from watching your other stair videos. I'm eternally grateful for the info you put out there.

What another wonderful behind the scenes learning exclusive! Thank you so much for putting these videos out for everyone, you have helped me in so many ways showing me better and different ways to improve my skills each and every day. I love soaking up all the knowledge and using it in my company whenever the need arises, I can just say, hmmm, I wonder how Spencer does it!!

Excellent, good take aways that should help anyone with tackling stairs. I know I learned something. Love the craftsmanship.

This is amazing! I'm about to redo the stairs in my old house and this video helps tremendously. Thank you

Thank you for this video! This was the primary how-to that I used to install treads and risers in my own place. First time ever doing anything like this and it turned out beautifully!! Thanks a million!

we've been watching loads of stair building vids & this is the best one we've found, with loads of great tips to help us get a professional look to our diy stair build. thankyou!

I learned a lot from this video. There are some simple things that you showed that I never would have thought of. Thank you for the education

Totally awesome video of tips/tricks! As I've said before, your videos are always a must see! Thank you.

Amazing work Spencer! Such tight seems, it looks like it´s one piece! Thanks for the tips and tricks !

Spencer thank you. Spot on as usual you just take carpentry to the next level. You give guys like myself & teach us how an experienced guy like yourself does what he does best. I've learned & just keep learning so much from your videos. Thank you so much. 🙏

keep videos coming! like a sponge trying to catch on to all the details! thanks for taking the time to educate! Great video i would love to understand more concerning railings and spindles and all associated with stairs parts.

I will be removing carpet and putting in treads and risers, and this video is perfect! Thank you for the information!

Thank you young man for doing this! I’ll be redoing my stairs ripping out the nasty carpet and putting wooden ones! I’ve learned a lot of tips from you,really appreciate what you do!

Much better and easier to follow video than the This Old House video.

Thanks for put this up. Excellent as always. This is exactly how I install my staircases. The only difference is that I remodeled them so a lot of times I have shim them as I install them. And I also install a Scotia molding under the nose of the tread. I wrote an article for JLC on installing treads like this. Thanks again!

Fantastic work. It is great to see such pride in one's work.

Spencer you make some of the best carpentry videos I've seen, Plenty of useful tips for all experience level. I also like that we've chosen many of the same hand tools, Power tools, Have a Ron Polk bench , And I made a similar Extensions for my compound miter saw

Another Awesome video Spencer, I am keeping this for my upcoming stair job at my parent's place. Keep up the great content.

Very interesting and informative. There is so much more involved to building stairs than I realized. You did a beautiful job and explained everything very well......thank you!

You are great. Clear and concise I don't have any questions after watching this video. I am ready to install like a super star.

Spencer I like your channel because you show people how to do carpentry right and your work is always quality driven … keep up the great work

I've been schooled. Fantastic. This 15 minute video has upped my game considerably! Thank you so much.

The Larry Haun of modern day production carpentry. I watch a lot of RU-vid videos from a lot of carpenters/tradesman. This channel is the only one that I can’t recall thinking “eh there is a better way to do that”.

love the pride you take in your work. excellent job

Great work. Thanks for the instructions. I’m making my first staircase for my son and your videos have been vital!

Impressive precision and simple explanation for a complex assembly. When he said a pencil line is too imprecise for a cut mark, I immediately subscribed to his channel!

I always enjoy your stair videos I haven’t put treads on open stringers in a long time builders always cut the stringers with 2x12 already on top I spend more time shimming and prepping for treads and risers and that cupped weathered framing…

Man I love this video but I really wanna see a video on how you prep the stringers to get them ready for step treads

I am always amazed by your knowledge, the best on the internet

I love the GRK construction screws. Those things hold so much better than any other ones I've used!

I watched this video before rebuilding my stairs yesterday. They turned out beautiful thanks to you.☝️👍😁

As always your work is flawless!

Such a wise young man!! Mad skills Spenser!!

Everything I know about stair carpentry I learned from you, Spencer. Looking at doing my first paying install gig this spring. Thanks for the instructionals.

This is another one of your fantastic videos. This is really going to help me with my stair replacement project. Your instructions are excellent.

You explain things amazing well. The video's are so in depth and I feel confident to build a set of stairs now. I love the tools you use and will invest in a set of gauges for sure!

All the stair vids have been superb ... this one is really special and once again the results are incredible this video is full of wonderful tips and thoughts. hope your weekend is a perfect one. Thanks Spencer!

Fast and Good- A rare combination!

Great video! Thanks for posting. You truly are a master of your craft.

That was crazy cool. Seriously a perfect fit

Good to know craftsman like this still exist. This is what you call real carpentry. Much better than the prefab pine stairs that you buy and nail into place.

You made that look so easy! Totally enjoying you videos. Great series 👏

@InsiderCarpentry, you could permanently mark your stair tread gauge blades with 'R' and 'L' instead of marking the 1x2 each time it's cut. As ever, another master class. 👍

Fantastic job Spencer! You are a very fine craftsman.

I like the way you work with all the details that make sense. Very happy to see you video l am doing my oak stairway tomorrow. Thanks a lot😊

Really great videos. Been a carpenter since I was 16 , now I’m 51 . Not afraid to admit But there is still things I learn . Stairs can be intimidating but you make it really easy for others to understand . Well done

Quality work as always. A little bit different than the way I do it, but I can see that it works well for you. I never did like the stair jigs. I don't think they are accurate enough. I haven't seen a flat skirt board for years. I scribe the tread to the skirt and cut it on the miter saw. I can compensate for a cupped skirt by pushing or pulling the tread towards or away from the blade as I make my way through the cut. I've done some doozies over the years. Worse one was about a ¼".

I needed this video! You summed up everything without any fluff. Thank you and nice work.

Electrician here watching b/c i have a small project to take care of in my house. Good video answered all my questions in one video. On another note, i have been an electrician since early '80s i have never seen nor have i pulled wires through stair stringers.

I’m going to watch the rest of this video but I gotta say you find the coolest gadgets…that riser gauge is just great.

I know that this is an older video, but I wanted to tell you that I recently used this method to do my entryway staircase over and it came out amazing!

I love how putting a screw in the right place at the right time pulls everything into place.

I absolutely love your channel. Keep it moving, man!

Great little tread jig that, helps keep everything tight. Thanks for the tip!

Amazing bro. Those are some tight stairs. I’ve learned a lot from your channel and it has made me a better carpenter. Thank you. Keep it up!!

Your attention to detail is very impressive.

Nice to see someone this day in age who knows what they are doing. Way too many out there are not taking the time to learn from someone and do things the right way! It's unbelievable how many are out there doing work that looks like a 3yr old did it and homeowners don't know the difference because said "carpenter" is a "licensed Contractor " . For the young guys out there, be humble enough to take the time to learn before going out on your own calling yourself a Contractor! I like how this video shows the reality of the materials like boards being cupped and having the experience to know how to work around it to make your work look good and completed correctly. Only thing I would make sure to mention is to ALWAYS predrill the top board before running a screw in. I noticed you did but didn't not mention it. Good job sir!

Thanks buddy for all the useful content , appreciate every time, keep up the good work

Super vid. Self taught contractor, frame to finish, who developed the exact same techniques over the years. (38) Bought the stair gauges after seeing you use them in a previous vid. The kind of purchase you’ll never regret. Should probably get the festo. My Mak track saw needs a neat aftermarket similar attachment!!!!!! Always have cut my stairs with sliding compound. 1 degree. Or what I call the pencil cut…pencil under the end to cut. Creates a 1-2 degree bevel. Used a square -each -end 1x12 , cut 1/4” or less too short to test fit and eyeball off angles. Often meant I could cut the tread square or eyeball a slight off angle. ( I framed the walls and stringers VERY CAREFULLY, so that helps. Plus BLOCKING IN THE WALLS!) Use shims to slightly change the treads angle slightly to a square blade. Don’t try to keep changing the saw angle. Two bevel gauges, R and L. Made one cut one end leaving tread 1/4” too long . Test fit and or alter before final cutting the other side. Saw setup at bottom of stairs. Sharp hand plane speeds things up, tweeks cuts, and rounds bottom cut on side pushed down last. No need to recut a bigger bevel. For those who can’t afford all the goodies!! Love your stuff. Wish you and RU-vid around when I started!!

Talk about a young man who is extremely detailed oriented . I recently read a message inside a fortune cookie that said : “ No matter the job , big or small , do it right or don’t do it at all . “ Keep up the great work …

Dude, amazing video, excellent tips and craftsmanship as always

Beautiful work... Always enjoy watching a Craftsman at work.

Man I wish this video was out when I learned, so many good tips and great video editing really enjoyed this one 👍🏻

You are one of the best in the trade. Your attention to detail is outstanding. I enjoy watching and learning from every one of your videos.

Lots of new details on this one! Great info.

The quality of this video matches your work!....that good. PL glue is the best thing ever for stairs. Worked without it for years, and fought squeaks and cracks by additional fastners that dramatically increased effort.. Subfloor adhesives don't cut it. Did you mention the shiming of the stringers?....can be a real pain and effort sometimes, depending on the framing......edit: after reading the comments, plenty of input on the stringer shims😀 (Old guy disclaimer)...Almost exactly my normal process, after refining it for 47 years and 400 plus installs.

The tip at 7:06 is great! Definately a Pro tip. It really improves the fit and finish. The only thing that would make this better would be if your riser stock was primed before installation.

Wow, we just made almost the same video on our build that posts tomorrow morning. I've watched all your other stair videos and learned a lot, so thank you. I'm tackling building custom box newels now trying to use your tape folding method. It's freaking difficult. 😣 I don't have a track saw and my table saw is pretty clunky, but we're getting there.

I really like the screw idea into the framing.. ur a great problem solver

Excellent video as usual! I'm going to give my two cents worth on one thing: I would recommend that you treat every tread just like the last one by putting a thin bead of construction adhesive on the back edge before screwing through the riser into the tread. I get LOTS of calls to repair squeaky stairs done by other contractors and the usual culprits are rubbing between the treads and skirt boards and treads and the risers. Gotta remember kids, it looks great when you're done but give the stairs 10+ years of wear and tear and seasonal expansion and contraction and what you wind up with are squeaky stairs. PS, trim contractor and stair guy 38+ years experience. 👍

Great video, I have a staircase coming g up and the tips are greatly appreciated 👍

Great vide, the tool you have for getting the exact shape is so cool.

I was waiting for that calming music toward the end 🙏

I've done a lot of stairs but you're killing me with that saw. The tool budget is about to take a big hit lol great work as always man.

Best stair tread how to video period.

Actually doing this very process in two days. Your timing is perfect, your work excellent. Now, if ya just post that video on the JambMaster use, I'll buy it from your store and be all set for the next trim job! LOL!

That's trade school grade material. Top-tier trade school. Brilliant video.

Upvoting for the stair tread gauge. That's an 11/10 tool I didn't know I needed.

Love the attention to detail man