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Deck Stair Layout 101
comments (0) February 15th, 2013 in Blogs
Matt Jackson, member
Deck stairs are simple to layout and build... unless it's your first attempt.
Beyond the Math:
With dozens of stair calculators like those at blocklayer.com available online, doing the math to figure rise and run for a set of stairs is a simple matter. Enter jobsite dimensions, click "enter" and presto: you have an instant list of stair layout figures. For seasoned carpenters the hard part, (doing the math) is over. It's off to the sawhorses to layout, cut and assemble. If this is your first stair building project, using those figures for stringer layout is another matter. Questions need to be answered:
- How do I layout for nosing?
- What IS nosing?
- How do I adjust for stair tread thickness?
- How are stringers cut to attach to deck framing?
- Where do I start?!
This video uses a SketchUp deck model to provide a look "beyond the math" into how rise, run and angle dimensions are applied to stair stringer layout to answer these questions and more.
I appologize that the soundtrack for the video got out of sync by a few seconds during recording. It gives this tutorial the feel of an old spaghetti western that was recorded in Italian and dubbed over in English. Mi dispiace, il mio male!
Building Code Disclaimer:
Many building codes apply to deck design and construction with numerous specific requirements for deck stairs alone. The information in this tutorial is limited to giving insight into stair stringer layout leaving application of local building code requirements up to the individual carpenter.
Model Deck:
The complete SketchUp 3D model created for and shown in this blog post is available from the Trimble SketchUp component warehouse by clicking here. It was a fun model to create and I hope it's useful for you in planning and doing layout for your first deck stair project!
Getting Down with Stairs:
As mentioned in this blog post my earlier Stairmathter Series has additional stair building and design information, geared more towards interior stairs, that you may find helpful in understanding stair construction geometry, math, building and design. Beyond that the Steps in the Right Direction contains more information yet. All this info should help you get down with the low-down for stair design, layout and construction, or at least give you a respectable start in the process.
Thanks for visiting The Digital Jobsite here at finehomebuilding.com. Stop back often and feel free to participate with comments, insight and feedback.
posted in: Blogs, framing, deck, stairs, layout, slope, square, stringer, housed stringer, tread, riser, rise, landing, run, total rise
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The Digital Job Site
Get the inside scoop on how builders, remodelers, and architects use the free 3-D modeling software Google SketchUp to design projects and present them to clients.
You'll find practical advice on how to use this powerful drawing tool, and get some insight into how some experienced builders and designers have workied it into their set of everyday tools. If you are new to SketchUp, you might want to get warmed up with a few of Google's free tutorials.
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