Landing Step

We have lived with a loose squeaky temporary step on the landing for some time so this weekend became the time to do something about it. First, the old step was stripped out to expose the edge of the oak beam that supports this section of the landing. The metal straps are the joist hangers (extra long) from which the joists that run toward the camera are suspended. The up-standing to the right is a section of the facia board (which I now know should be called an "apron lining") in readiness to form the left hand edge of the step.

It is not particularly clear, but the foreground floorboards need a longitudinal board on the right of the picture to cover the joist top and bring up the level. This was fitted first. It overlaps the apron lining and has a half-moon moulding added with Dad's router :

A closer view of the step-end shows the mitre cut to interlock with the step riser and the first 4 components of the step structure in place :

These have been glued and fixed with diagonal screws through into the floorboard and (hopefully) the joists underneath. This step is not going anywhere !

Viewed from below, the edge moulding above the apron lining looks good :

The front member of the step construction was screwed in place, then the riser glued and dowelled to it's front edge. It is almost certain that this step will be carpeted, but I didn't want screw heads showing, just in case. The riser has the same moulding in it's right hand side and is mitred to meet the longitudinal floorboard below :

I had previously glued and cramped three T&G floorboards together to make the top of the step. The same half-moon moulding was routed onto the tread nosing and a mitred section cut out to avoid showing end-grain. The finished step looks like this :

Still to do is a riser to cover those joist hanging straps, and tidy up of the floorboards on the top section of the landing. This too will need a nosing and a longitudinal board to cover the apron lining.

That'll have to wait until after an Easter break in North Wales.