The Money Mustache Community

Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Do it Yourself Discussion! => Topic started by: mozar on January 21, 2019, 12:14:07 PM

Title: Patch stairs?
Post by: mozar on January 21, 2019, 12:14:07 PM
Hello,
I recently pulled the carpet off my stairs and there are a lot of issues with them. Is there something I can do about the gaps without replacing the entire skirt board? Several of the gaps are quite large.
Title: Re: Patch stairs?
Post by: NoVa on January 22, 2019, 10:18:34 AM
I put oak quarter round across the treads, but not the sides, in my house.

Edit: I would probably just caulk and paint the gaps near the wall.
Title: Re: Patch stairs?
Post by: NoVa on January 22, 2019, 11:10:20 AM
If the gaps are too big for caulking (a bit hard for me to tell) I have seen old-time carpenters use Bondo to fill gaps and replace rotting wood when they didn't want to replace the piece.
Title: Re: Patch stairs?
Post by: EricEng on January 22, 2019, 03:57:36 PM
Giant tub of Drydex maybe?  Should be able to smooth it as needed.
https://www.dap.com/dap-products-ph/drydex-spackling/

Although I think caulk would be a safer choice as it can flex a bit which stairs tend to do as seasons change.
Title: Re: Patch stairs?
Post by: mozar on January 25, 2019, 10:45:13 AM
I realize now that I didn't explain my issue well enough. I had  holes in the wall next to the stairs. I decided to use spray foam and then I'm going to spackle over that.