Step 1 · Step 1: Count Your Steps & Gather Your Tools

First, walk your staircase and count the number of flat surfaces you step on—these are your treads. Fun fact: you'll always have one more riser (the vertical part) than treads. Now, let's grab your tools for the job: a rigid tape measure for precision, a carpenter's square to check for true corners, a level for flatness, and some masking tape and a pencil for notes. You're already on your way!