Start to Finish Skirt Board Cutting Guide: How to Get Professional Results 

I've been a trim carpenter for 20+ years and truly enjoy watching your videos. Learned some nice techniques and different, effective ways to complete a task. Keep up the nice work. You are a true craftsman thats dedicated to the job.

You are really a very good "teacher" I love to see you work Marc from Belgium

I definitely do it different. I sit in my recliner and watch you do it! 🙃 After 35+ years in the construction industry, including everything from site work to roofing, my old bones are rockin' it a lot slower these days. Fine woodworking is still my favorite activity, production carpentry is in my distant past. You do artful and amazing work!

I learned a lot that I will put into practice tomorrow! Thanks for taking the time to make such high quality videos.

Everyone says 'who needs math'. Well, you answered the question. Incidentally -> complement for 90 degree angles (40 +50) etc and supplemental angles for 180 degrees (120 + 60) etc. And yes, I always got them confused too because supplemental versus complement are just so similar in meaning. Supplement -> add onto and complement -> to complete. You would think they would have terms that helped you see the differences between the two. Glad you see the value of math!

Spencer thanks for sharing your knowledge for the rest of us to aspire to

The video paid for itself with that tip about adding the 3-5 deg on the mitre cut.

I really enjoy your teaching technique. I really understand everything you’re saying. I’d be very interested to see you do the mitered risers.

You're the only finish carpenter I watch

Great job. I've said this before but man, on man would I love to work with you for a month. Looking forward to the rest of the series on stairs. Really liked that Dutchman pants jig. Thanks sir.

Great video, you covered all the details, and especially how to adjust for framing. In older houses here on the west coast there is rarely a chance to remove the original stringers, and adjusting is necessary. I don't work in new construction. Thanks for all the excellent comments too, great community here !

Great tutorial, Spencer! Clean and clear delivery. Brings back a lot of good memories of when I did these projects regularly in new construction. The only thing I do differently as a remodeler is to cut new corrected stringers, sub treads and risers prior to cladding the staircase with the finish materials. Much easier to trace skirts and the solidity of a bomb shelter.

Great job , I’ve never seen risers not mitered on the end’s except some post and beam jobs we do

Hey Spencer, a great video again. It is sweet to revisit all the techniques that you had shared in your previous treads and risers and skirt board videos. I’m happy to say that these techniques have become second nature over the last couple of years since I had originally started following thanks again hope all is well.

If this isn't a republished video from a year or more back... I'm having a serious case of deja vu!!! LOL Either way, I love watching your work!!

Great job Spencer! I love building stairs

I just used everything you taught in this video yesterday. The best looking set of stairs I’ve ever built. You are an amazing teacher. I’ve shared your channel with others. Thank you

Hi Spencer. First time commenting, I have learned alot of great stuff from your videos over the years and am very thankful to you, so hopefully I can return the favor here with an idea for you. I recently did the same detail with the risers overlapping the skirt boards. What I did was run the vertical part of the skirt board about 3/16"ish proud of what would be the stringer in your case (I had shop built rough stairs so there was an OSB riser in my case, but same idea). Then I setup a dado stack and dadoed 3/8" out of the back of the risers to accept the skirt board. Doing it this way had the advantages of faster layout and skirtboard cutting since it saved me the trouble of trying to get my skirtboard cuts dead on, as well as plenty of forward/backward adjustment for the riser to make sure everything lined up and sat plumb without relying too much on the framing. Since the dado in the riser sets the overhang past the outside of the skirt board, I could mindlessly click the risers and skirtboards together like legos without worrying about the overhang. The extra space leftover inside the dado left plenty of space for glue to go. I also think this technique will better accommodate wood movement over the seasons. I think the extra time spent cutting the dados paid dividends, especially since my skirtboards were stain grade like the treads and risers, so I had no leeway for caulking any gaps. Unfortunately I couldnt think of a good way to make the method work for the treads without cutting a much less forgiving and more time consuming stopped dado, so those cuts still need to be close to perfect in the absence of cove or some other trim to cover gaps. I know you are a very busy man (so am I), but I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

Nice way to start a weekend! A new Insider Carpentry video!

Another masterful performance! I've used a lot of you tips before but I've definitely learned a lot more watching you. I love the attention to detail and also quality!

I will never in my lifetime finish a stair case, but this was fasinating. Thank you!

Well, I wish I would've seen this video a month ago. I'm currently doing an oak stair case remodel. Replacing carpeted stairs with oak. First time for me. No major screw-ups, but a couple of tips you show here would have helped me immensely. The "Dutch pants" jig being the main one. I marked my skirt boards on the back and cut from the back. Ugh... Also the slight bevel cut I did think about, but was wary of because of cutting from the back side. Lots of offsets to deal with, and in the end just cut square. So, "minor" gappage. Ugh. Next time... My saving grace is the customer is great to work with, and is letting me take as long as I need for the most part. And I need to go slow for my old brain's sake. I really appreciate your channel. Very well explained, no bs. Good stuff here.

Goodvideo Spencer!! Your making it look easier than it should be🤔🤔 I've heard that if someone can make his profession look easy, he is probably a good craftsman. I'd say you qualify 😊😊😊

Great video! Thanks so much for passing along the knowledge and techniques you’ve worked hard to attain!

Thanks for the video! Great timing too. I'm in the middle of this exact type of project including the wainscoting. Tomorrow is the wall between the lower flight of stairs and the upper which will have a notched skirt board. Have to mitre for the risers too. I don't have a sliding mitre saw but just picked up a track saw like you've used in other videos. I'm planning on doing mitred rabbit joints to make them stronger. And it should help keep the mitres true and tight. I appreciate all your videos, and that you take the time to put in all the chapter marks so I can go back to specific points. I always pick up something from each one of your videos, thank you.

Thank You for sharing your knowledge and experience!!! Priceless…. Blessings to you!!!

Excellent work.

Congrats on your new van, now I want to see more trims work.

Masterful tutorial. Your Dutchmans pants jig and your explanation of how to use the 3-5 degree back cut and why so necessary to delivering quality stairs. Of course using PL Premium is a critical step that will never be seen by others.

Very sorry about your luck with framers. I am a rough carpenter and take pride in my stairs. I communicate with the superintendent and the trim carpenter to figure out floor coverings and tread material exactly. My stringers are always right on the money.. but sometimes the 2x12 stringer crowns or twists, risers cup and treads can be different thicknesses. At least there is one carpenter out there whose thinking of you guys!

Loved the video, very instructional and informational. I've been a general carpenter all my life and it does not hurt to learn tricks. You got my respect👍😎

Thanks Spencer. Each video I learn something new.

I have used your stair videos in the past with great (from DIY point of view) success. I am going to need to install some stair posts this year and will start with your video library to learn how to do it. Thank you.

In my case i found that it is 100% not correctly. You have no idea what a great help you are to my skills chest. Thanks.

Here I am making a custom toe Kick? And in comes a new video! Great !

Thanks for the tips! Complement is 90. Supplement is 180 😊

Best explanation i’ve ever seen. Thank you.

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing!

As always, a pleasure to watch and learn! Thank you! 👊👊👍

This video was informative and very detailed. Just like the rest of your videos. Thanks!

Great video Spencer!

Takes a long time to learn to be able to this type of quality work. Well done.

Thank you for taking the time to make this excellent video. I appreciate your work

That’s a good trick using the width of the stabila level to determine the height above the nosing. I hadn’t finished stairs in a few years (since I mainly do remodels) and couldn’t remember the height so I had to call a friend a few weeks ago. In my experience, stringers shrink and are no longer plumb or level by the time they’re finished. I know this since I framed it, and the stringers were perfect. I ended up shimming each tread and riser plus a few big tubes of PL premium. Also, I used Kreg screws to attach the treads to the stringer for a fastener free installation. The trick is to start from the top and work your way down and install the the riser after each tread as you’re working your way down. By installing the (painted) risers after each tread, you can reach in to shim the tread tight into the rabbet slot of the previous riser. Lastly, I’m up in Maine and the only options for poplar is either solid poplar or primed solid poplar-no finger jointed available. There’s plenty of radiata (primed) pine available however. Great content as always!

I do a similar process but I plumb my jig when marking the skirt board. It eliminates the step of coming back with a level. More efficient. Less steps. Great video

I’m speechless everything just perfect

always outstanding work and explanation. Truly inspirational and these builders are fortunate to have your skills to button up their constructions with your perfection. Cheers and hope the glorious Sun is shining on you and all you love.

Nice technique. Thanks Spencer

Nice I'm always the guy people call for stairs and rafters I wish someone told me years ago that in general most building returns to 90 60/30 45/45 70/20 and so on

Perfect. I'm going to try this soon.

The bevel cut is a great trick..seen you do that in a few things, I worked on a framing crew for years and really a lot of it is the material they get for stringers and it's been on site through the whole build, able to twist and bend, and the other part is a lot of framers just don't care, get it done and get out mentality...I'm glad i made the move to get out of framing it'll make an old man out of you quick, and i dont like sloppy framers....

Very nice clean work as always! Keep it up!

very well explained. thanks

Great work !

Thanks for the direction on the proper cuts and fit, looks good on the stairs. You got some really good Skills, my man.

Great job as always

Love your work

That was an amazing lesson. Thank you

Spenser we need to start a charter for Tool Junkies-great video as always.

Very informative. Thanks for sharing

Amazing work. Thank you great video.

Great work you make it look so easy

Thank You so much, I have been learning a lot from you.

Best finish carpentery in the game 💪💯

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’ve only made skirt boards for decks. And it was extremely difficult the first few times. But I have additional know. Thank you.

Absolute beauty job. Total pro.

Always enjoy your videos

You are a legend! Well done as always.

Good tips!

Thanks, Spence!

Amazing content. Thank you 🙏

Awesome video.

Well explained sir! Excellent job!

This was a big help. Thanks man.

Nice job !!

You are an excellent teacher

Good job. Love your idea's

Amazing work . Do u think there is much in this world care about all this important details?! No they don’t . Most important to the most is get paid and run away. Thanks for ur honesty

love your work .Best on you tube

Oh Man great video. Thank you.

Amazing😍 thank you love it.

Great job

great video.!!

as always you are the master 👍👍 thanks

Slick work, always tricky work.

Nice. Thanks.

Great technique !!! I've seem guys just set skirt board in place and trace inside at whatever the framer cut, usually not that accurate definitely not always plumb !! Care and quality !!!

Very nice work man 👌🏼

That bar is interesting. I usually use a block and a 2x4 to make a fulcrum.

Thank you

Great work as always. I have done skirtboards and stringers by using a acrylic drafting square. Find it easier for layout to get perfect 90s. Just an idea.

Nice job

Best of the best

Dude I’m this close to moving to Indiana and working for you! Tired of struggling, tired of the old guard not teaching me.

You did a very good job of explaining. I’m glad I’m not building steps . Sounds complicated.

Love your videos Very well done Do you have any videos on mounting and securing different types of Newell posts. I used to cut out the sub floor and mounts to floor joist. Would love to see how you install. Also, I'm in Columbus Ohio and would love to come see you at one of your job sites sometime

Master!

Great content but I wouldn't expect anything else from you 👍🏽

Awesome as always. Looking forward to the next video. You do amazing work and I want to know how to do it. If you ever need an apprentice, I'll be here just waiting for you to ask.

Here in Ontario, stairs are built off-site by a stair company. The sets are brought in and set in place, either before or after drywall. They have all the finished treads and risers and stringers all on and ready to paint or stain.