Need Advice on stairs rehab

[Cameron Richard]

Hey everyone,

I’m currently working on my first rehab project — a duplex I bought in Des Moines, IA for $236K that I’m house hacking. We’re nearly finished renovating the bathroom, but now we’re moving on to the interior stairs.

The stairs were previously carpeted. I ripped up the carpet and found old hardwood treads underneath that are in rough shape — visible cracks, staple holes, and general wear. There’s also a curve at the top landing, which adds a little complexity.

I’ve narrowed it down to two options:

Option 1 (Leaning Toward This):

Patch, paint, and add non-slip grip strips

• Sand and fill the damaged treads with wood filler or Bondo
• Paint the treads and risers 
• Add non-slip grip strips for traction and durability

Option 2:

Install vinyl stair tread caps or a Cap-A-Tread system

• More expensive
• Looks nicer and matches our LVP
• Trickier to install, especially the curved top step
• Might make more sense long-term once I move out and fully rent both sides

Curious what other investors and DIYers would do in this situation, especially those with rental experience. Would you go with the budget paint/grip strip approach for now and maybe upgrade later? Or would you spend the money up front for a more durable and finished look?

Appreciate any feedback 

[James Mc Ree]

The big box stores have stair treads you can use to replace some or all of your treads. I do that on my rental stairs either for individual treads or all of them.

I have also ordered cut to spec treads from Hardwood Lumber. They were great quality and cut exactly to my specs. They are nicer than the big box stores, but more expensive.