Step 1 · Count Your Steps & Gather Your Tools

Start by counting the number of individual steps (treads) on your staircase. A fun fact: you'll always have one more riser (the vertical part) than you have treads! Now, let's gather your toolkit. You’ll need a good, rigid tape measure for accuracy, a carpenter's square to check for true right angles, a level to ensure your measurements are flat, masking tape for easy marking, and a pencil to jot everything down. Having the right tools makes any DIY project a breeze.