Simplifying Stair Rise And Run Calculations
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When I first started my career in carpentry, building a set of stairs
seemed like a complicated and daunting task. We're not talking finished
oak, curved or spiral staircases. I'm talking about your normal carpet
covered straight run staircases or porch and deck staircases. My first stair building
experience sort of took the mystery out of it all. I didn't have to do
much figuring because it was a deck replacement job. All I did was
save the old stringers from the demo of the old deck. In doing so it
all started to make sense to me. |
How the stairs were attached,
the width of the treads, and how high each step was became less of a
secret to me.
Anyone with the courage to take on this job needs only
patience, basic math, a framing square and the ability to stand back and
look at the big picture.
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The first thing I look at is how high it is to the top of the landing or
deck the stairs will be rising to. A comfortable step is in the 7 to 8
inch range. With this in mind I divide the height to the landing by seven.
If the height to the landing is 70" then it will take 10 rises to get to
the top of the landing. I used 70" to simplify this example. Ninety-nine
times out of a hundred it will be 7" and some odd fraction. For instance
if the height was 73 1/2", the rise would be 7 1/2". |
When building stairs there is always one less tread than there is risers.
In this case with 10 risers, that means there are 9 treads. When cutting
my stringers, I like to make the cuts for my treads 10" long. At this
dimension I can use a 2x12 for treads without ripping them to a narrower
width. This gives me a nosing or overhang of 1 1/4". It also makes it
easier to figure out how much room the stairs will require. In this case 9
treads X 10" = 90". The total run of the stairs is 90".
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An example of how easy this works are stairs that go from the 1st floor to
the 2nd floor of a house with an eight foot ceiling. This takes 14 risers
at 7 and 5/8 inches (I've cut so many of these it is forever imbedded in
my mind). This means there are 13 treads. Thirteen times ten is 130". I
always made my stairwell opening 120". This lets 10" of the stringer (a
full tread) sit on the deck or concrete floor. It also leaves plenty of
headroom for the stairs below if there is a basement. The same well
opening above (120") also gives you enough headroom.
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This can seem like an overwhelming project. Like any other project, if you
take the time and patience and a little thought you can acquire the
ability.
(c) 2005 Mike Merisko
www.sawkerfs.com
About the Author: Mike Merisko has been a carpenter for 26
years. Most of those years were spent in the homebuilding and remodeling
industries. He was also in business as a carpentry and general contractor.
While that is his forte, he also has experience in bridge building, commercial
construction, and exhibit building which is how he earns his living these
days. You can browse through articles by him and others at his web site.
http://www.sawkerfs.com
