In this classic ThisIsCarpentry article, Norm Yeager, gives us a lucid, step-by-step lesson on how to install a stair skirt board after installing the treads and risers. In case you’re wondering why anyone would install the treads and risers first and then scribe the skirt board to fit, Norm tells a wonderful story about the guy who taught him the technique – a story that perfectly addresses “why”:
At a JLC Live stair building seminar taught by Jed Dixon, I talked with Jed and Don Jackson (former editor of JLC) about installing skirt boards and how I was taught to install the treads and risers first, and then scribe the skirts over the top of them.
Don told me that they had a guy who taught that method in one of their Live events. Pre-built stairs were set up on stage with the treads and risers butting against the drywall on the closed side. The instructor told the audience that he was going to scribe the skirt over the in-place stairs.
During one of the sessions, an audience member raised his hand and said: “I’m sure it can be done, but for the time it’s going to take, and with the fit you’re going to end up with, it’s much better to install the skirt first!”
The instructor then asked the fellow if he had a $20 bill. The guy pulled one out of his wallet and the instructor pulled one out of his wallet. The instructor then asked the skeptic if he was willing to risk his $20 bill. The deal was that if, after the skirt board was installed, the skeptic could slip the $20 bill into any of the joints, he’d win the $20. If he couldn’t, he’d lose it. Game on!
In approximately 30 minutes, the skirt board was cut and installed while the step-by-step method was explained. The instructor left the event $20 richer.
The excellent Sketch Up illustrations and the rich comments that follow the article underscore why ThisIsCarpentry is such an incredible resource for the building trades.