Lesson 9: STAIRS

Learning Objectives:
Cognitive:

 Describe the stairs.

Affective:

 Study and Value the parts of stairs.

Psychomotor:

 Identify and Draw parts of stairs.

STAIRS
Stair Layout
The stairs are easier to lay out than many people think. But before one can lay out the stairs, he has
to learn how to compute the number of risers and treads (or runs) of the stairs and the size of the rise and
run step. Fig. 243 shows two flights of stairs below a well hole.

Rise and Run

A rise is either the vertical distance between the treads, or it is the vertical height of the stairway.
Fig. 244 shows the rise of the steps and the rise of the stair. It is important to note the difference between
the two.
A seven- or eight-inch rise of the steps is ideal for easy ascent and descent.
 A run is the horizontal distance between the rise of the steps, or the horizontal distance from the
first to the last rise of a flight of steps, fig. 244. The run of a step should be wide enough to be stepped
upon. It is usually from 10” to 12” wide.
A certain proportion between the rise and the run of the steps is generally followed. This
proportion is: RISE + RUN = 17” to 18”. This means that if the rise of a step is 7” then the run can be either
10” or 11”. The sizes of the rise and the run can be adjusted to suit a particular situation. However, the
stairs should neither incline too much nor be too steep. A steep stairway is dangerous, and one that is too
inclined takes too much time to ascend. To make a stairway steeper, increase the height of the rise and
decrease the width of the run. To make it incline further, decrease the rise and increase the run.
Though the expressions riser and tread refer to the boards that constitute the steps, they can be
interchangeably used with the expressions rise and run.
Number and Height of Risers and Number and Size of Run
In most instances, the height of the rise of a step is not exactly 7” or 8”, so there is a need to find
out the exact height. Seven inches is generally used as the trial divisor for finding the number of risers in a
stairway.
The procedure to follow in determining how many and how high the risers should be and how high
the runs is illustrated by the following:
Example: The distance between the first-floor line and the second-floor line of a building is 10 feet. To find
the number and size of the risers and the treads:
Step 1. Divide the rise of the stairs by the rise of the steps. Change the rise of the stairs to inches by
multiplying it by 12”. Use 7” or any height desired as the trial divisor.
In the above example, 10 feet is the rise of the stairs. Therefore:
10’X12” = 17.14 or 17, the number of risers
7”
The quotient 17.14 is not the number of risers because there can be no fraction of a rise; otherwise,
one of the risers would be lower than the rest and therefore the whole number 17, is taken as the number
of risers.
Step 2. Find exactly how high the rise of the steps is. To do this, divide the rise of the stairs by the
number of risers.
 10’X12” = 7.05” rise of the step
17”
Step 3. Determine the number of treads of the stairs. The number of treads is one less than the
number of risers. Therefore:
17-1=16, the number of treads in our example.
Step 4. Find the size of the run. Run=18” or 17” minus the rise. Therefore, 18”-7.05” =10.95” or5
11” is the width of the run.
Step 5. Find the run of the stairs. The width of the run of the steps times the number of runs gives
the run of the stairs. Therefore, 17X11” = 187” or 15’-8”.
Laying Out of the Rise and Run of the Steps on the Stringer
When the rise and run of the steps has been determined, it is a simple process to lay out the steps
on the stringer. The laying out is done with the framing square.
The following is suggested for laying out the rise and run of the stairs:
1. On the framing square, locate the run and the rise. There are cases when the calculated size of
the riser is within a fraction of an inch-that is, in tenths or hundredths- and this is not usual
divisions of the inch.
If the framing square at hand has an inch divided into tens it into hundreds, you will find it
at the corner of the body and tongue. Measure the hundredths of an inch and add it to the
whole number. If the framing square at hand has no such division, then the procedure is to find
the equivalent of the tenths or hundredths of an inch in millimeters, which is the equivalent of
one inch. The product found will be in millimeters, which is the equivalent of one inch. The
product found will be in millimeters. Add this to the rise in inches. In the above example, the
rise is 7.95”.
.05”X25.4 mm. = 1.27 mm. Mark the 1.27 mm. is negligible, so add one mm. to the number
of inches.
2. Lay out the square as shown in fig. 245. Mark along the rise and run with a knife edge. Lay out
the square as many times as the number of risers. In our example, there are 17 risers, so that
the square is laid out 17 times. Exercise great care in laying out.
 For more accurate work, use a divider to lay out the hypotenuse of the rise and run. Mark the rise
and run with the framing square as usual.
As simple device for clamping the framing square is shown in fig. 246. Hold the fence against the
edge of the stringer while marking the rise and the run on the stinger.

Straightening the Edge of the Stringer

Be sure that the edge of the stringer upon which the framing square us based is straightened
before laying out the rise and run, especially if you are using a framing square fence. Sometimes you will
find it enough to snap chalk line to establish a straight line where the lay out is based.
Limited Run
There are cases when the space for the run of the stairs is limited by a wall or by the headroom, fig.
244. The headroom is the vertical distance between a step and the lower edge of a floor or ceiling at a stair
well. In other words, the headroom is the clearance for passage. The headroom should be at least 7’. To
remedy a limited run:
1. Adjust the rise and run of the steps
2. Break the flight of the stairs with a landing or,
3. Change the direction of the stairs.
To find the run of stairs below a well hole, hang a plumb bob at the edge of the hole, fig. 247. Then,
along the plumb bob string, measure the required headroom. From the upper floor, stretch a string
passing through the point of the head room measurement to the lower floor. Measure the run of the
stairs and compute the rise and the run for the steps.
Length of the Stringer
Once the rise and run of the steps is determined, it is a matter of measuring the hypotenuse and
multiplying it with the number of rises to get the length of the stringer. Another way is the step-up
method, which is the same as that which was explained in laying out the rise and run on the stringer.
However, the easiest is the scaling method by the use of a framing square. This was explained in the
chapter on roof frames. In any of the methods, always add allowance for cutting the bottom and top cut of
the stringer.
Cut in Stringers
1. Plumb cut and horizontal cut for stringer. The plumb cut is marked on the rise of the framing square
and the horizontal cut is marked at the run side.
2. Cuts for treads and risers. There are various ways by which the treads and risers are attached to the
stringers, and these call for different cuts. Fig. 248 and 248-A show the housed and the open
stringers. In the housed stringer the treads and risers are attached to the stringer by means of
grooves. In the open stringer, the place of the riser and the tread is cut off.

a. In stairs with cantilever treads, as in fig. 249, a recessed cut at the stringer, as shown at A, is
made to admit a portion of the inner edge of the tread. This helps hold the tread when
stepped upon at the ends. Without this counter acting stop, the nails holding the treads are
subjected to strain and soon loosen themselves.
Treads and Risers
Fig. 250, 251, and 252 show the details on different constructions of the treads and risers and how
the steps are assembled. One way to attach the riser to the open stringer is to miter-join the end of the
riser to the stringer, fig. 253.

The treads are usually 2” thick and have a nose of 1”: or more, fig 254. The risers are made out of
thinner stock, usually 1” thick. There may even be stairs without risers.
Fastening Treads and Risers to Stringers
Nails or lag screws are used to secure the tread and risers to the stringer. This is true for both the
open and closed stringers. In the open stringer, the nails or screws are driven below the surface of the
tread and then the holes above them are covered with pegs. In some instances, the housed stringers are
held together with long bolts.
Attachment of Stingers
Figs. 255 and 256 show various methods of attaching the stringers at both ends. The point to
consider is that the stairs should not slide.

Hand Rails
Hand rails are made parallel to the stringers. There are many designs for hand rails. The hand rail is
mortised to the newel post or vice versa. The hand rail should be made as smooth as possible.
Balustrades
Balustrades are used as guards and as decoration. There are many designs for the arrangements of
the balusters. In good constructions, these balusters are mortised to the treads and handrails.
Well Hole
The well hole is the opening on the floor above a flight of stairs. The well hole has to be located
before the places of the floor joists are laid out. The well hole is bounded by the headers and trimmers are
two or more floor joists placed together because these joists support a partition.

Bamboo Stairs
Fig. 258 illustrates a stair constructed out of heavy bamboo. A wide tread can be achieved by
attaching rungs of split bamboo to spacer supports. Study the details.
References:
Building Construction House Plumbing House Construction and Estimating (Pg.112-117)
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/stairs/21072564/all-about-stairs\

https://piaresearch.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/5/5/38550975/stair-1.pdf

https://www.woodworks.org/resources/code-requirements-and-resources-for-wood-stair-framing/