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Stairs

Staircases have a simple job: Get people from one floor to the next with a minimum risk of tripping or falling. Grand or simple, staircases all have the same basic parts. There are treads, stringers, risers, skirt boards, railings and balusters. It’s the putting them all together part of it that can get complicated.

Any good carpenter can bang together a basic set of porch stairs in a couple of hours. But even here, there is some basic planning and basic math. Treads and risers should be uniform and fall within the limits set by the prevailing building code. The stringers and other structural parts have to be beefy enough to do the job. When stairs get more complex, so does the design and construction. A truly elaborate staircase, with a curved railing, say, or a handrail that twists around its lower newel, is going to take a lot of math, and a lot of skill to pull off. Even minor variances from a plan can make staircases difficult or unsafe to use.

One of the intriguing things about stair construction is the sheer variety of possibilities that carpenters have in building them. There are as many design ideas for balusters, railings, treads and trim as there are stairbuilders. No less important are the construction tips that result in tight joints, no squeaks, and long-lasting functionality. Here again, watching a professional tackle a problem can be a lifesaver.

Building a set of stairs, particularly a first set of stairs, can be a daunting exercise even for the experienced. Don’t be put off. This collection of videos and articles will get you headed in the right direction. And if you’re a seasoned professional, there’s still something to be learned. Either way, you’re in the right place.

  • staircase renovation

    Staircase Renovation

    Loose, tilted flights signal trouble underfoot, but even major problems can be fixed with screws, blocks and braces.

  • Staircase slide

    Skip the Stairs, Take the Slide

    Learn how custom stair-builder Clyde Martin completed a 33-ft.-long stacked-lamination slide with wraparound staircase.

  • Installing the Stairs

    Installing Interior Stair Framing

    On this stair, the tops of the stringers attach to a plywood hanger nailed to the stair-chase framing.

  • Cutting the Stair Stringers

    How To Cut Stair Stringers

    First make a test stringer on 2x12 stock, then use it as a template for the rest of the stringers.

  • contractor working on stairs

    Calculating Stairs

    Overall rise and run, riser height, and headroom are just some of the factors to work out for a safe and comfortable stair.

  • 2020 Best Remodel: Two Structures, Two Treatments

    A restored Massachusetts farmhouse receives a modern addition inspired by traditional New England barns.

  • Framing the Stairs for an Elevated Deck

    Pro deck builder Bobby Parks builds stairs from the top down on this second-story deck.

  • Boxes Instead of Stringers

    Stacked boxes stand in for stringers on this three-riser deck stair.

  • Building Box-Style Stairs

    Faster to frame than cut stringers, wraparound stacked boxes make a lot of sense for short, wide deck stairs.

  • build stairs for a curved deck

    Multi-Feature Curved Deck: Building the Stairs

    Stairs on the curve are a challenge, so take your time to plan them out.

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