I am going to replace out the carpeted stairs with wood.
Unfortunately for me the existing treads are dado'ed into the stringers.
So really I only have access to the front and top of each tread.

I don't know what to do here. I have seen the retro treads where you can fit the new tread over the old tread.

I really want to do the job right and make it look good, but I don't want to demo my stairs. The house was built on 2001, so fairly newish.

If I did do the retro tread I think heightwise I think I should be okay because the tread would be about the same thickness of the existing carpet + pad.

Is there any way to remove the existing tread and replace it with a new one? I was thinking up ways to do that in my head. If I cut the existing tread in half I could get it out, then If I chiseled out a slot where the dado is now I could slide a new tread in place of the old one from the front, then fill in where I chiseled out with some kind of joint compound or putty.

I am sure someone can point me in the right direction here, hopefully.
Thanks

Are the stairs fully carpeted or just carpeted up the middle of the treads? What are the existing treads made of?

Can you post a picture? Also, what state are you located in? Need to keep stair building code guidelines in mind.

Sorry pics ended up sideways. I am not sure why.
I am in VA.

Ideally I would like to remove the existing treads and put in new solid ones.
I would guess the existing treads would be pine or something.

Whatever you do it's important that your stairs meet building code. The maximum riser height is 8 1/4" and the minimum tread depth is 9". The largest variance between the largest riser height and smallest riser height is 3/8". The largest variance between the widest tread depth and narrowest tread depth is 3/8". The minimum Winder tread depth is 10". How does everything measure out with and without the carpet? Having this info will be the starting point. My initial thought would be to cut of the existing stair nosings and use full 3/4" thick treads right on top as a replacement for the carpet. This should result in the same riser heights as you currently have with the carpet. Same wood as the new treads or painted risers? Is top landing carpeted? If so will it remain. If you cut the noses the ends can be cut off flush with the skirts with a multitool,,,,the new treads and risers would cover the dado partially or total depending on current and new tread overhang.

The top of the stairs floor has carpet now, but that is going to be replaced out with hard wood.

I will need to measure things out, but from what I recall the last time I measured things, there was a bit of deviation with the heights, but not that much.

The wood would be maple like the floor I am installing up top, but not flooring wood. The mill said they can make treads as well.

If you can replace the stair carpet and flooring carpet at the top of the stairs with the same thickness wood then your riser height dimensions will be proportionally the same as they are currently. If you decide to just cut the nosing off the current stairs and lay the new treads on top you will then need to calculate the thickness of new risers which will be layed on top of the current risers so that the tread depth and tread overhangs are correct.

You had asked about a finish in another post. Check out Last N Last brand. Really good stuff.