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I built my first set of housed stairs last week for the basement of our new house. Made the treads out of 2×12 bullnosed and risers out of2x8s ripped to size. The treads are 44″ wide PL400 and wedged, 3 16d through the bottom of the riserinto the tread . They feal solid do I need a stringer in the middle?
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Don - what are the stringers cut from, and where are they located in relation to the ends of the treads? - jb
*Jim ; I used 2x12s routed grooves 5/8" deep . The 2x12s are between CMU walls. I plan to screw them into the wall with Tapcons under every 4th tread. Don
*Sorry Don, you said they were "housed" and I didn't catch it. So the question seems like, will the 2x12 treads flex in 44". Is that right? Seems to me you could screw them up into the riser above to better support the back, and the front has the riser below it. (this is probably exactly what you said you did) How do they feel? They sound like they should be hell for stout, but how do they feel? - jbp.s.- just read original post again and you said they feel fine. Sounds good!
*Jim, Is Don going to run into squeaking problems by tying the risers and the treads together? Curious....S.
*Don, 44" is not too large a span for most speciies of wood, especially since it is resting on a 2x8 riser. The back of the tread will be much stiffer than if you had open risers.Gluing the two components will make it stronger, and quieter.If you think it is sturdy, why do you question it?I have a saying that can be altered to fit this situation. I usually say "if it's look right, it is right".Now, I will say, if it feels strong, it is strong.Quit worrying, it's already overbuilt, unless you plan on having all the egos in this forum standing on the stairs at the same time.If so, there ain't enough lumber to build them!blue
*Hey Sam, nice you came up for air! What you say might have merrit. I guess there would be as much structural support if they weren't connected.Wouldn't there be a greater chance of one moving, and the other not, if they weren't connected though? I think that's what causes squeeks, when adjacent pieces move AGAINST each other. But I like the question. I'm gonna sleep on that one.Did you go see that Cedar yet? - jbNo, wait, gotta edit this - I think he needs to help keep the back of the tread from flexing when aunt Tilly goes down for another keg at the christmas bash. Seems to me the easiest way would be to screw up through the tread into the riser above it...or how would you do it?The general question you raise is a dandy though. (Aunt Tilly is TOUGH on anything structural, I think Patrick M. has written a couple of diddys about her)
*Thank you all. I just wanted to be certain. We have a few hefty relatives. Didn't want to have to repair no stair .
*DonYou got the makins of a fine tune thar:i "Got some hefty kin droppin by tonightand the doo-wah girls singi "Don't wanna repair no stair. . . "have at it before someone else steals it-pm
*Jim, how did you know that my aunt Tilly was so big that when you tell her to hall ass she has to make two trips? Patrick,If I could write songs you all would be building this house, I would be sitting in the shade by the stream. ok try this: we got fat kin that like to dop in ,on the party down the stair, If they can't make it there , we'll never be left their heirs...the doo-wah gals between each line: don't wanna repair no stair.......
*Hi Jim, Thinking about this a little more.... The stairs here at the Durham Domicile are to be carpeted (some day!) so when I built the staircase, I allowed a gap between riser and tread which eliminated that potential squeak. However.... In the case of a finished staircase, those handy little gaps wouldn't be allowed so tying the riser and tread together solidly would be the choice.Certainly be stronger from a structural standpoint.. Come to think of it, that's probably what I'll do next time around- probably being a little over-cautious in this instance. With Aunt Tilly haulin' those beer kegs up and down the stairs...... "Don't wanna' repair no stair" Yeah, came up for air and started to get back on track around here! Haven't made it downtown to see that Cedar but hope to soon:-) What'dya think about the weather this weekend?!?!?! Yousa! Sam
*Sam, man, it was beautiful! That's the thing, it only takes a couple days like that to make me forget how the other season (whatever it should be called) felt.Hey, you know the Pavilion at St Martins College? That place was FULL Saturday for Todds graduation ceremony. We were all tryin' to guess how many folks, somewhere around 3,000 I think. What a day for the Blodgetts!
*Jim, Well, here I am catching up with everything after a little hiatus from the forum! Yep, I know that pavilion alright! Haven't been in it for years but it sounds like you had a full house! Sounds like Todd graduated pretty high in the class- seem to remember you mentioning him on another post. Say, what happened to that weather we had a couple of weeks ago??? This stuff lately SUCKS! You saw my post about the nailer (I'm guessing). What framing nailer do you use? I've been using a Bostitch but am thinking about a Paslode PowermasterPlus. The different angle of collation worries me though- seems to be the only gun out there with the steeper angle.....
*Don,If this is any consolation, I just helped my buddy build a set of stairs that enter from the back of his 1850's something farm house. They were 12 feet wide. We put 10 stringers under treads. Everything was 2x12 2X8 fir. The skirts were cedar. I guess alot of people would consider it overkill, and the "codes" (minimum standards IMO) are exceeded. When I get involved in designing and build any structure I never want to question the future of the structual integrity. After all there is some history when dealing with a structure this old. One of the families farmers said that we could bring the cows into the house on those steps..and believe or not I think he's right :)