Replies

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Nov 21, 2000 04:26am | #1

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   with 8 ft treads, i'd use 5 horses (stringers).. with the sides as finished skirts.. build it in place...

1. 
   Chris_Robb | Nov 21, 2000 06:39am | #2

   *I'd agree with Mike, 5 (or more) fully depending on finish material. IE: Hardwood overlay/sturdi-stair underlay? Carpet over sturdi? Half n Half? The biggest thing to think of is time-vs-squeek. Squeeking stairs are not only annoying, but show lack of stability over time and are harder to fix when finished (if at all) than to go a little overkill from the start. Definitely build in place.

1. 
   Andy_Engel_ | Nov 21, 2000 03:52pm | #3

   *I'm going to disagree. Tear out what's there and build new stairs using housed and wedged stringers on both sides. Build them upside down on horses, then flip them into place. I might put a third stringer in the middle, but probably not. I think 5 is overkill and wasteful of lumber. The key is having rigid enough stringers and/or stoutly fastening them to the walls from below where the fasteners won't show. Here's why I'm comfortable with this. Think of your risers as if they were floor joists. Would you be comfortable with 2x8 joists spanning 8 ft. on anywhere between 9-in. and 11-in. (Your likely tread runs)centers? I think that 5/4 hardwood risers would be equivilent to softwood 2xs. Just glue and screw to both the upper and lower treads, you'd be fine on an 8 ft. span. I've built dozens of porch stairs from 2 x material in this way with nary a problem.Of course, if these are open riser stairs, I agree with all that was said before. Andy, as a participant, not an editor.

1. 
   blue_eyed_devil_ | Nov 22, 2000 02:45am | #4

   *Hear hear! Our participating editor is herby declared an owl saver!I agree that five stringers is overkill, depending on the structural dimensions of the risers. There is nothing preventing you from using 2x8's as risers, or even doubling them. Of course, then you problably have more material in the stairs.The other consideration is the underside. If it's getting drywalled, then you are going to need the "joists" spaced at a minimum of 24" oc anyways. Decisions, decisions...blue

1. 
   Andy_Engel_ | Nov 22, 2000 03:30pm | #5

   *Blue, I'm no owl saver, just cheap. You raise a good point about the drywall nailers, though. I was just thinking about the stairs.Andy

2. 
   jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Nov 22, 2000 08:54pm | #6

   *Screwing through the back of the riser up into the tread above would be a great place for pocket holes too. Findin' more uses for that Kreg jig every day.

2. 
   william_ritchie | Nov 22, 2000 08:55pm | #7

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   Just wanted to get your attention! I have a stairway(rough) enclosed by a wall on both sides and I'm starting to do the finish stairs, I would like to have housed stringers but am unable to think of how to assemble them other than putting the whole thing together and then putting it in place. I don't feel particularly comfortable doing this and I'm not even sure it will work, any suggestions out there? Also, the treads are 8' long and there are four of them. the stringers next to the wall on each side are out from the wall 1" leaving me just enough room to fit a 5/4 finish stringer in. any help would be much appreciated