Construction of Stairs

Components

• The staircase begins with the stringers, which start as 2-by-12-foot boards with notches cut into them. These boards rest at an angle from the top to the bottom of the staircase. Make your own stringers or buy them from a lumber for home improvement store to save time. Treads attach to the stringers to create the flat surfaces where your feet land. Indoor stairs have risers, which are the vertical boards at the back of each step. Deck stairs sometimes include risers, but they aren't required. Railings are also included on most staircases for safety.

Design

• The total rise and run measurements create the basis for the stair design. The rise is the distance from the top landing straight down to the bottom of the ground where the landing is located. The total run is the distance from that point directly below the top landing to the end of the staircase where the steps hit the landing. A staircase generally has a 30- to 35-degree angle. Once the total rise and run is determined based on the measurements and angle of the staircase, the rise and run of each step is calculated. Local building codes often specify the requirements for these measurements. General measurements for staircases that are safe and comfortable to climb are 7 inches for the rise and 11 inches for the run.

Assembly

• Stringers are attached to the top landing through the use of screws and angle brackets. Level, square stringers are essential to creating a stable staircase. You then screw the treads into place with the screws running down into the stringers. The front edge of the treads hang over the stringers by 1 inch. If risers are being used, they are attached to the vertical surfaces of the stringers.

Finishing

• The railing and any decorative trim used on the stairs round out the construction process. The railing is typically between 30 and 34 inches above the treads. The railing mimics the same angle of the staircase. Decorative trim is an option where the treads and risers meet. Another way to add a finishing touch to the staircase is to install a decorative cap on top of the railing posts.