If your clients want to replace their carpeted stairs with hardwood but don’t quite have the budget, RetroTreads might be an option. These solid hardwood treads — available in oak, maple, hickory, cherry, or poplar — have a full-size nosing and integral 1 1/4-inch cove molding, but the tread surface is only 5/8 inch thick, so the staircase rise won’t be significantly affected. The treads come in lengths of 36, 42, 48, and 60 inches. A 42-inch red-oak tread costs $28 at Lowe’s.
Young Manufacturing Co., 800/545-6595, youngmanufacturing.com.
