How to Build Stairs
If you have no experience in construction, then building a set of stairs can seem like a nightmare. Even for an experienced builder, building stairs can be a daunting task. Only once you get the overall basic feel, can this job be an easy task.
Required Equipment
Stairs contain three major parts listed as follows:
- The riser
- The tread
- The stringer
The riser is the vertical portion of the step between steps and the thread is the part of the step that is stepped on. Two stringers support the treads on either side of the staircase.
Getting Prepared
Step one: Plan out and calculate the measurements and number of steps.
Step two: Divide the total rise by 7 inches, which is a good rise height for most cases.
Step three: Round up your answer and determine how many stairs are going to be placed in effect.
Step four: Calculate your total run, and on a stairway, you go up or down, so you would need one less thread than the number of risers.
Step five: Before you can lay the stairs on your stringer, you need to calculate the exact height of each riser. This can be found by dividing the total rise by the number of risers.
Step six: Use a frame square to lay your stairs on 2x12 stringers, and mark your long arm and shorter arm with masking tape, these will be your rise and your run.
Step seven: Position the long end of the framing square toward the end of the board, line up the two marks with the edge of the board facing you and mark the outline of the square.
Putting the Stairs Together
Step one: Attach the stringers to the deck, by attaching to the deck frame.
Step two: Starting at the bottom, install the stair treads, using 3" nails or screws to lock them in.
Step three: Rise, wash and repeat.
General Advice
Number one: Check with all of your building codes and regulations before attempting to build stairs.
Number two: Make sure when you purchase your wood stringers that they are perfectly straight with no dents or knots.
Number three: Building stairs can be a hard task if you are not a registered builder, so before you start to cut and layout your stairs, draw up a detailed scale plan and follow through.
Number four: Do not let this be a task you cannot manage, there are many resources out there to get you started if you are having trouble. You could contact a licensed building contractor to oversee the construction.
