I completed the staircase today by gluing on all the parts I painted yesterday. I installed the risers last, but it doesn't matter if you do them first as the instructions suggest. I found it easier to attach the risers from the back of the staircase.
Once the glue is dry, fill in any gaps with spackle. Be careful not to overdo it, especially at the joints between the risers and treads, unless there are large gaps. You want clean lines on your staircase.
I also started painting the exterior window trim. I discovered an efficient sanding trick for multiple pieces - stack similar pieces on top of each other with their edges aligned, then sand them all at once. Unfortunately, you can't use this method for painting, so you'll need to paint each piece individually. Remember to paint all sides, including the side that will be glued.
After the paint dries, join the two halves for the window casings and glue them in place. Adjust them until they fit perfectly, then add the top trim. Although I planned to finish the bottom first, after painting so many windows, I didn't want to tackle the interior ones yet. Instead, I glued on the front attic walls.
