Stair Skirt Board Installation Master Class | An In Depth Guide 

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I'm working in Georgia in houses that cost to build between 3 and 10 million dollars and trust me when I say this....nobody take his time like you doing a better, durable and quality job as you do.....I learn a lot from your videos and I put it in practice every time that I can.....Thank you....👍

A lot of guys have gone to charging for their “master classes” and such in depth content, not judging them for it, but I can’t thank you enough for the exceptional content you provide at no cost.

Hey Spencer, this video was very timely for me. Although I have been doing carpentry for almost 47 years, the majority of my work has been in the commercial world. I have built a lot of stairs in my time, but most were plywood treads and risers that were covered by rubber treads and risers, and most didn't have skirt boards. Right after you posted this video, I was going to do my first residential finished staircase in 30 or 35 years. Watching your video brought back all of the things that I had forgotten, and I learned a few things I didn't know. The staircase turned out great, and the skirt boards fit the first time. Next, I'm going to re-watch your pocket door trimming video. You can teach an old dog new tricks. I enjoy all of your videos very much.

I did my first professional stair job and I wanted to thank you for helping me make a living with the knowledge you shared

I have a great respect to someone who can build stairs like this

I didn't think I'd enjoy a 40 minute video... but here I am! What felt like ten minutes later! Great video

My fav RU-vid carpenter! He explains himself clearly and includes the tools he uses to accomplish various tasks. He's honest and takes his responsibilities and job commitments seriously, but makes his videos enjoyable to watch while you learn.

I love how confident you are with your measurements. I’m always struggling with remeasuring and getting doubts that cost me time and, as result, money

Spencer - Bro...I’m a custom woodworker and former aerospace engineer, and I still feel intimidated by any kind of stair work. You’re a master craftsman!!! Great work 👍 BTW...I just finished making three miter-fold beams out of Ash that I’ll be installing in my client’s house next week. Your videos gave me the knowledge and confidence to tackle the job. THANK YOU!!!

Recently did one very similar Spencer except with housed stringers, I am very grateful to have a trim carpenter on our crew with 35 yrs under his belt to tackle it with. Dealt with many of the same issues but came out beautifully. Most people never know what goes into a good set of stairs, but when I see good quality work my wife can’t get me to shut up about it 😂. Thanks for everything, your channel is invaluable.

Spencer, I have installed a lot of rough stairs but nothing like what you have done here, what I refer to as formal steps. I watched your videos on these steps and paid close attention. Since I used 1/2" plywood for the skirtboard I put a trim piece on the top of the skirt board. It was all painted afterwards. I started at the top of steps and started installing from the top down. By doing that I could hide all my nails. I also used Gorilla glue on the stringers when I was installing the treads. Without watching your videos I dare say I would have a more difficult time. The building inspector (who use to install stairs) told me I had something I could be really be proud of. It made the wife happy anyway. I have been in the construction industry for over 50 years and you are without a doubt the best and smartest trim carpenter I have ever seen.

I've been doing flooring for 32+ years. I have always tried to do as good of a job as I can. I learned from many different sources and made up lots of my own tricks and techniques. it's nice to see someone on RU-vid not start the episode by saying I've never done this before but here's how to do it. Impressed by your experience and quality. Thanks for sharing.

I have to say, this is the very first video that I've ever downloaded from youtube so I can watch it again, anywhere, anytime. This is a wealth of knowledge and a great reference! Thanks, Spence!

I’m doing my first finish stair. Job right now and this video is going to be a great help on things I was not sure on. Thanks a lot!!!😅

I rarely 'Like' any videos and subscribe but just 10 minutes into this - I did just that. This is amazing detail!

Just finished my first stairway with a center landing. It turned out well, but I wish I would’ve caught this video first😏 Great job and great teaching. So grateful 👍🏻

Your ability to walk up an down the middle stringer is impressive! Exceptionally good video; thanks for sharing your expertise.

If I could give 10 thumbs up, I would. I have watched many of your videos and I enjoy them all. But this one is by far my favorite. Thank you for the drawings and the explanation of how to cut the boards at the correct angles. For those of us who are visual learners, that quick sketch of the shape of the skirt board is priceless.

This is my first time watching your tutorial video on what you do. The algorithm chosen this video by chance 😁. I'm a journeyman carpenter and I've mainly done metal stud framing and drywall with the Southwest Carpenters with local 1319 in my younger days. But during the pandemic I happened to work some side-jobs during the COVID-19 lay-offs. So I've done drywall, tape/texture, baseboards, door trim, and siding work. The customer really appreciated my work. A year and half later just last week I've done more baseboards, door trim, and crown molding. To tell you the truth I have never done a crown molding work. But I had basic knowledge of how it's done. My first attempt I did a decent job. Chaulking the imperfect joints helped hide the imperfect miter joints. After my work was done I started watching crown molding tutorials because I enjoyed the crown molding work I've done. I believe being an all around carpenter is a must. I enjoy learning new things I didn't know. I also done laminated flooring for the first time this year. My work turned out really nice too. Hopefully in the near future I'll get into trim carpentry work professionally. Practice makes perfect so I plan to do some more side jobs. Even just utilizing 1 byes for baseboards.

Thanks for the great content Spencer. I have done a lot of finish carpentry and consider myself pretty good at it. Stairs are my kryptonite (specifically the transitions). The amount of time and detail in this video is top notch .

You're very thoughtful and meticulous and definitely one of the best professionals I've ever seen . I've learned so much from watching your channel I'm still learning.

Ive said it before and ill say it again… Spenser Lewis has the best carpentry channel on RU-vid. I work for a stair company, started about 10 months ago and i hold my own with the experienced guys but i am still learning the tricks that take the job from just ok to perfect. And this video has a lot of great tips, ill be archiving this one so i can reference it in the future for sure. Thank you for putting content on the Tube, i love watching all your videos!!

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I’m redoing the stairway at our rental, and it is a nightmare. It was built by a group of homeowners who were supposed to have an experienced contractor over-seeing the project, but he was rarely there, and the result is that the homeowners used 16-penny nails on the treads, risers, and everything else in the stairwell, ha ha. Anyway, I’m ripping out the treads, risers, and replacing a stringer. The stairway did not have skirt boards, so this tutorial is extremely helpful on how to get those installed. Thanks again! (“Oh, poo…” made me laugh. Highlight of the video)

Hello from Easton Maryland! With all my respect and in my humble opinion I think you can run in the middle of the right skirt board you can make an inch and a half return and meet the other skirt board and finish the bullnose in 90 degrees not in 45 and avoid the the ugly meet between wood and wall. Always is a pleasure to watch your videos and thank you to share your skills. Stay safe.

I appreciate your incredible patience in explaining and your workmanship inspires such respect. The insights on working with imperfect materials are invaluable! Thank you!!

Hi Spencer You and Robin Clevett in UK are outstanding examples of superb standards and detailed planning as well exceptionally clear and easy to follow instructional videos. Thank you. I have learned more than I will ever use from both of you. Mike

Your ability to explain a process is priceless. Thanks

I really like that you teach @ a near-if not- stain grade level, even for things you know you’re painting Spencer. I rarely get to paint anything and when I first watched your videos I almost cringed when you said paint grade. But then I seen YOUR work and you sir did not disappoint

Thanks for some really useful lessons on stair trim. The complicated miter cuts were especially informative.

This was incredibly useful. I've got a few puzzling steps in my current remodel that I'll definitely keep referring to this for.

Wow…if I did this, the drywall would have massive dents in it…from banging my head against the wall trying to figure out the skirt and baseboard joints! Spenser…you are a master…I’m just blown away!!

Man what a absolute pro. Wish I had the opportunity to work and learn from somebody of this caliber. Only ever drunks and idiots on the jobs I’m on. Nice job. Just did my first stair job last week. 2 full sets, skirts, skirts 45 into the new 1x risers. Wrapping trim around the landings. Rails and posts. So much work lol.

it’s amazing how well you work alone.

Hi Spencer. Greetings from North Wales, UK. Currently working on a refurb project, and needed to fit a 4M (c14ft) stair skirt (called stringers, here). My usual tame carpenter just did not have a few hours in his schedule, and as it was about to become a ‘stop’ on the project, I decided to do it myself. I am an enthusiastic builder, but tend to leave the front end, customer/home owner facing stuff to the professionals, esp the joinery. Anyways, I watched your vid a few times, and had a go. I followed your steps as close as possible, with the kit I have (eg no angle finder) using levels and careful measurements, and cutting. And lo, it fitted like a dream. Top job, and the project can continue, at pace. So, thank you Spencer. Keep up the excellent work, and I look forward to watching many more of your vids. Diolch yn fawr (‘thank you’, in Welsh)

When a 40 minute video is put on by Spenser, grab a beer and be inspired… fantastic tip on transitioning different thicknesses on the mitre cut…. Thanks !!!

Fantastic job. Great explanation and thanks for sharing your tips and techniques. You are a true craftsman.

I always second guessed myself when how I finished where like you came down to the landing and had to wrap around and continue so I started looking at other folks finished stairs and realized that there are usually quite a few possibilities. You kinda just have a signature you develop in how you handle those situations and you stick with it. 🤷‍♂️. The only thing I probably do differently is use a framing square to get the top of my skirt marked but I like your method plus you get your exact angles digitally rather than say using a T bevel and transferring to a board and a speed square to see what angle you have there. Now a digital readout on the slide saw would be nice! 36.3 is a bit hard to dial in the saw. I’d be lucky if I hit 36.5. Close enough. I couldn’t fathom trying to video that process,you do an awesome job at it. Thanks. 👍

Hi Spencer im a carpenter too and just love your videos. tips and tricks you show. Your work is always premium mate great job.

I like you passion! And the day we stop learning is the day we die! Very good teacher! Excellent!

you are really very nimble. Great demonstration. you are an excellent teacher.

Thanks for taking the time out of your day to help us improve 👍

Greetings from Spain. Hard work on site, hard work to translate your knowledge to US,hard work to make this video. Thanks a lot.

awesome work Sir a huge fan from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 living in USA 🇺🇸 👍

Spencer thank you again for all the advice. I look forward to see these types of videos from you.

Mad skills , never knew about 1/8 miter setback for different sizes love it!!!!!

The absolute best video on RU-vid!! Thank you so very much!!

Spencer, thank you for your efforts to help all of us improve

Here’s an idea Spencer, because I know you ready this stuff. After you figure out that your scrap tread is 2 inches off the face of the stringer, then ca glue a stop block on that, so you don’t worry about the level pushing it past your 2 inch overhang inadvertently. I like the way that you do this. My hands are to shaky and unstable to trust myself not to bump the tread

When it comes to stairs prep is critical. Great video

Great content and a good save on not stepping through the sheetrock with the first skirt board.😅

This was a master class in stair building. Thank you so much! About to tackle mine this weekend!

A lot of pointers in this video!! Thanks, Spencer.

Thank you so much for all your time and effort on these videos. Been watching you for a couple years and have learned a ton. I did my first set of skirt boards today after your video gave me the confidence to do it. Thank you again and keep it up.

I like the chop saw umbrella

As always, thank you for sharing your expertise, you save many of us from making mistakes. I know I appreciate your knowledge sharing.

You sir have changed the game for me. Thank you!!

That's a cool chalk line 😎 You're an excellent RU-vid teacher I love the presentation and now presentation and how you even incorporate the small little facts that people will overlook. They play a huge part on getting it to Professional grade work.

What an excellent tutorial. Thanks! I recently installed a skirt board with similar transitions to deal with, but I took the easy way out. I added a transition block at the top outside corner and the transition to the baseboard. The blocks stick out 1/8" (ie 7/8" thick") for minimal reveal, stand 1/2" taller than the skirt, and have a 1/4" chamfer around the top. It turned out really nice.

welp. You confirmed it's scary, but you have a ton of great info to navigate through it. Stairs and the trim and things... So many parts. buying a digital level now.

Great video, Spencer! Thanks for putting out the in depth content!

Awesome work. Nice to see young people rise in the trade.

Great Lewis,as usual you try the best way possible to gain perfection. My inspiration

THIS IS MAGNIFICENT WORK i WISH HE LIVED NEAR ME.. NEED SOMEONE WITH HIS TALENT

I enjoyed this video. You're very efficient and clear in your explanations. Thanks!

I have always try to find an informative video on how to do stairs and youre amazing

Great point of putting the splice next to the nosing to minimize the visibility. Although that funky corner I would've left tall wrapping around the drywall so that that bottom nose piece would have been traditional. Great job I love your work. I learn a lot thank you so much for sharing.

the most impressive part of the video is how you walked on the single stringer i would of fallen thru the drywall you do fantastic work

'Keep up the good work!' (quoting Scott from Oregon.) I follow the best. good stuff.

"... or something dumb like that. " Yes! Even if there is plenty of material, trying to maximize the material you have by utilization of simple things like chopping the board square to save 3" of length is critical in becoming a good carpenter. This and thoughts like these are what set an average joe apart from top notch craftsman.

cupped skirt boards, when doing paited skirts, i use mdf or plywood, and although a real pain, i never leave end grain exposed, i always miter and return, with that being said, very nice job, and isn't it nice, that just about everything is painted now, it's amazing how many trim carpenters their are now, comment, not directed to you, nice job.

Finish carpenters rock!!! Beautiful

Very nice job. Definitely a craftsman. I wish I had you around when I removed the carpet off the stairs and re-placed with white oak treads. I couldn’t believe how different each tread length and width was. I basically had to use a trash board for each tread to get all the angles correct. It did turn out nice but I wished I knew more when I did it. Live and learn.

Awesomeness. Always love to listen and watch your tips and tricks. Keep on rocking!

You covered a lot of ground on this one. Skirt transitions on landings and around corners are sometimes real challenges and you had a few here no doubt. Very good info here for anyone who wants to learn skirtboard.

You do good work! I always called steps “furniture you walk on”👍

Great video. You are always very thorough with your explanations. Love watching the Pro's work.. Thanks... You always cost me money though just ordered some American made pinch dogs!!! I love tools...

Excellent craftsmanship!

What a brilliant video! So helpful, thank you!!

About to start some threds and risers.....thx for all your tips and techniques

fantastic know how, great teaching!

It is a sincere pleasure to watch you work. The old adage of the “painter is the carpenter’s best friend” is opposite of your skill & attention to detail. The painters must love following you. I’m old school & long for the days where the trades worked together & thought ahead. Kudos to you for sharing your knowledge

Great vid. When I have to use cupped boards....I will make a few relief cuts on cupped side back so I can flatten it out. I also usually have the high turn piece because I don't like the look of cold joints flush with drywall corner and I usually have cap on top also. With that being said.....you make fantastic vids with simple explanations. Lastly I like just measuring from inside corner of tread and rise for top of skirt....whether 10" or 12" skirt

Great content! I’ve got a job coming up that is laid out just like this but the first section doesn’t have a wall on the inside, I’m planning to do treads with miter returns. Would love to see more examples of how to join with profile base molding.

Thanks this method is so much better then how I was shown how to do skirt boards. Installed my first stet of skirts using this method and everything went much better and easier. Everything came out perfect. Thanks again

It would be nice if the state of Oregon (where I live) would accept watching your videos as part of the continuing education curriculum I have to follow to keep my GC license current. 🙂 One thing I do with cupped material if I can't replace it is to kerf it length-wise with the table saw. Not too deep to compromise the board but if you do a few it's easy to bend it flat at that point.

good looking job! and a very good teacher.

Excellent work and video!

Brilliant great to watch definitely a master carpenter from a general carpenter here in the uk

Love watching a master work

Great attention to detail! ❤

I want to thank you for giving your advice, which has helped me immensely. If you wouldn't mind hearing my advice read on. Assuming you haven't tried it yourself, I've found that when it comes to trim work, a vest works better than a framing belt. But if you've tried a vest and didn't like, nevermind. Everyone has their own preferences. But if you haven't tried it, I recommend you do. Thanks.

Excellent Job!!!

That's exactly how I would I have done it, but I'm glad you did it instead. I'll just sit here and watch. :)

Great job as always. Good job explaining too.

Another fine tutorial. Thanks!!

Thank you for sharing your process. Very helpful information 🙏🏼

Wow great job!! Looks awesome!

Having done alot of similar worrk on high dollar houses this guy is good watching his videos i have never seen him do anything that i would not do myself or learned a better technique or learned somthing new

Have you tried cutting kerf slots (kerfing) into the hidden side of your cupped lumber to correct or flatten the cupping? It makes the board more pliant in flattening it out. I've used kerfing on the hidden side of badly cupped fascia boards along roof eves, and on badly cupped deck planking. Using your circular saw, set the blade depth for your kerf cut slightly deeper than half the thickness of the board (but less than two thirds the thickness). Rip cut multiple parallel slots down the length of the hidden side of the board one to two inches apart. The more severe the cup or the thicker the board, the closer together the slots should be. If you have an exposed end, like on your skirt board molding, or you want to use biscuits at the end, plunge cut the start or end of your kerf cuts about 3/4" in from the end of your board. There is no need to plunge cut at mitered outside corners or coped inside corners. Essentially, this reduces the effective thickness of the board by half or more, making the board more pliable, as if it were only half as thick. The same technique can be used to curve plywood around rounded corners of any radius. The grain of the face ply (the exposed surface) needs to run parallel to the length of the corner or curved edge. Make multiole parallel kerfing cuts on the hidden face of the plywood equidistant apart. The tighter the radius of the rounded corner, the closer the kerf cuts need to be. Use a scrap length of plywood to test and determine the spacing of the kerf cuts (it doesn't need to be a fullsized piece, it can be narrow, but the face grain must be correct). Be aware, the length of the kerf cut side of the plywood will shrink as it wraps around the corner. Take this into account when planning your measurements. I find the best depth using this technique is to set the depth of my blade so it leaves all of the face ply and half of the adjoining ply (which has grain running perpendicular to the face ply and perpendicular to the length of the corner or curved edge). I hope this helps. Have fun!