Wood lovers of the world, let me draw upon the vast reservoir of skill and knowledge if you will grant my request for urgent help. I am stuck deeply in a honey-do project for which all phases of construction have been approved by the the ChaNCCELOR OF lOVE; SAVE ONE. My task is to replace the steps in a 32 yr. old split foyer with red oak steps stained and varnished to perfection to match the Gunstock finish on the new floor in the livingroom at the top of the stairs. The plan calls for me to produce the stair treads in turn, finish before installation, then install such a way that nails don't show--AT ALL. My solution, after fitting and scribing each tread to its riser, as the tread will be finished and dry, would be to use construction adhesive instead of those ugly old nails that my lovely bride gets excercised over,
My question is this; Would construction adhesive hold the tread risers strongly enough, give the red oak enough give to allow expansion and contraction wirhout coming loose, or should I violate the purity of those natural wonders by driving (gasp!) nails through them? I weep at the thought. Actually, I think it will work, but I don't someone to tumble because we were to worried about esthetics. So help me out here. Because they will be in use as soon as they go down, they will be finished and dry beforehand, so a nail or two will show.
What are my options? Glue, nails, combo, or dowels glued in tread, finished on top, then glued into pre-drilled holes in each riser. Not as pleasing to contemplate, but might get past the powers-that-be. What say you, my friends?
Steve
My question is this; Would construction adhesive hold the tread risers strongly enough, give the red oak enough give to allow expansion and contraction wirhout coming loose, or should I violate the purity of those natural wonders by driving (gasp!) nails through them? I weep at the thought. Actually, I think it will work, but I don't someone to tumble because we were to worried about esthetics. So help me out here. Because they will be in use as soon as they go down, they will be finished and dry beforehand, so a nail or two will show.
What are my options? Glue, nails, combo, or dowels glued in tread, finished on top, then glued into pre-drilled holes in each riser. Not as pleasing to contemplate, but might get past the powers-that-be. What say you, my friends?
Steve