I want to install hardwood on the 2nd floor of my house. The stairs coming up to the 2nd floor are hardwood, with oak treds. The 2nd floor is currently wall to wall carpet. I am wondering about the bullnose and how to install it. I don't know what is underneath the carpet yet, but I think the current nose is flush with the plywood floor in the hallway? How do I install the new hardwood bullnose so it is the same level as the rest of the plywood without increasing the stair riser height?

The framing of the very top step, sounds like it has an overhang bullnose that is upholstered with carpet right now.

If so, you have two options:
1.) Fur out the riser portion under the overhang, to be flush with the overhang bullnose.

2.) cut off the overhang to be flush with the riser.



After you address the riser with wood, painted wood or what ever it is you have on the risers of the staircase, the stairnosing gets installed, so it overhangs the riser, to be the new bullnose and the flooring started off of it with a spline/slip tongue.

Thanks for your reply. I guess my concern is that if i cut of the overhang, then install the bullnose on top, it will make the rise of the top step 3/4 inch higher than the rest (since I'm installing 3/4 inch hardwood), and I thought that would be a problem. Under the carpet on the top stair is a nose whose top is flush with the plywood behind it (into the hallway). So, the entire hall, up to the stairs will be 3/4 inch higher.

Is this a problem? I was possibly thinking about taking the treads of the existing steps and slightly raise them (on the last 3 or 4 steps) about 1/4 inch each, but seems like a lot of work to do that.

Are the stairs hardwood? It shouldnt be a problem. The carpet thats there now is resting about 3/4" up right now.

So once installed it all should be about the same.