How to use a stair tread template tool

Walls beside a staircase are rarely square or parallel, so every tread is a slightly different shape. A stair tread template tool copies that shape exactly, from 8 to 60 inches, so each tread drops in tight.

Why a template beats a tape measure

A tape gives one length. A stair tread needs two lengths and two angles: front and back are often different, and each end meets the wall at its own angle. The template captures all four at once and carries them to the board without any arithmetic.

Step by step

• Loosen the gauge and set it on the riser below the tread position.
• Slide the two ends out until each touches its skirt board or wall.
• Pivot each end flat against the wall so it matches the angle.
• Lock the knobs so the shape cannot move.
• Lay the gauge on the tread blank, mark both ends with a sharp pencil and cut on the waste side of the line.

Tips for a tight fit

The TANYO tool is an adjustable aluminum beam with a pivoting end at each side; build the shape at the step, lock it, and the template carries the exact length and both angles to the board, so the cut ends match the walls better than any tape measurement.

Mark each tread with its step number as soon as it is measured. Cut slightly long and plane or sand to the line, rather than cutting short. The same tool works for risers, shelves between two walls, window sills and built-ins in old houses.