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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. A complete discussion and demonstration of how to measure and cut stair stringers for a deck or porch or other use. Cut only the top and bottom of the stair stringer with a circular saw. Should a stair stringer be 2×10 or 2×12? When you’re done, check both lines with your tape measure to confirm that they’re the right length. Then measure down from the level line to the top of grade. That's a pretty narrow stair at 7" 1/2" is a heck of a lot off level in 7" Can you remove the treads fairly easily or is it a housed stringer? Since I had carpet installers coming in the next day and it was late at night, I decided to shim the stairs to make all the risers equal height (see Figu… Step Two: Level Ground Surface. They should be stout enough to support the weight of the steps and the people using them. LP® SolidStart® LSL & LVL Stair Stringers 2 PREDICTABLE PERFORMANCE LP SolidStart LSL and LVL Rim Board and Framing Lumber is straight, uniform, and won’t split like traditional lumber when notched. Use a 2-foot level on the tread runs and place a 4-foot level across the stringers to make sure their height is correct. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. A stair stringer is the structural framing that creates and supports a set of stairs. Almost exactly six years ago, I wrote a poston a carpentry hack that resolved a problem I had with a stairway after a contractor installed an insulated floor in my basement. Also attach the stringer to the legs of the third landing. Using the formula for comfortable stairs, our optimum riser height will then measure about 7″. A nice finished look uses a design where the nosing of each tread is hidden within the width of the stringer. The slightest movement could throw off the measurements of the finished stairs. The stair stringers were hung from a 2x6 connected to the rim joist with vertical blocking and a combination of structural screws and ThruLok bolts. Because deck stairs may land on uneven ground or on a wavy concrete pad, the stringers eventually move out of alignment. You might guess it was the walls below the stairs, but actually stairs are self-supporting structures that are held up by their stringers, the long pieces to which each tread is fastened. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcrf_llYL-M&feature=youtu.be&t=4, http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/how-to/a2145/4224738/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/decks/how-to-build-stairs-deck/view-all/, http://www.finehomebuilding.com/2014/11/05/laying-out-basic-stair-stringers, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcrf_llYL-M&feature=youtu.be&t=50, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Extends stringers below the base level of the stair. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. More than likely you will have at least 3 stringers under there. For most sets of stairs, a pair of 5.5 inch (14 cm) deck boards will be just the right size to form the treads of each step. If you’re unsure whether your finished stairs will turn out as exact and structurally sound as they need to be, it may be better to leave it to a professional. Stringers, which are the basic framing and structural supports for staircases sized to meet proper code ordinances, must be added along the edge of the deck to create solid, level steps. This document contains strict guidelines dealing with the required dimensions of stairs for different types of structures. Clamp a stair gauge on the inside edge of the leg so it won’t interfere with the marking. % of people told us that this article helped them. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. • Use a dimensional sized 2-by-2 piece of lumber for blocking material. A total of 8 steps multiplied by 10 (the width of each step in inches) gives you an overall run of 80 inches (200 cm). Deck Stair Stringers Spacing The load supporting requirements for stair treads are more severe than for the rest of the deck because the force exerted by a person walking downstairs is a more intense blow to the surface than a standard stride across a level surface. This helps to keep the stringers aligned, which add stability to the steps you're building. In order for your stairs to be consistent (and to avoid a cumbersome head or foot step) it’s important that the distance between each step be as precise as possible. They support the treads and provide the structural support of the stairway. After fastening the stringers to the hanger and rim with structural screws, I installed 2x8 blocking between all of the stringers … Measuring and cutting stair stringers for your own DIY deck or porch project may seem complicated, but the process is actually quite simple. Prior to drafting up a set of detailed plans, review the International Residential Codes (IRC) for building stairs. • Adhere the blocking to the risers and the stringers using a construction adhesive. • Install the risers with a level top edge slightly above the top edge of both the blocking and the stringers. Scribe a line with a level across the landing and attach the second stringer in same manner. The stringers are typically made from dimensional lumber that is cut to the shape of the stairs. Set offsets. To measure stair stringers, start by dividing the height by the approximate rise to determine the total number of steps, and then take the difference to find the exact rise of each step. When fashioning them, you’ll need to account for both the height and length of the stairs. Most steps will have a rise, or step height, of about 7 inches, so you can divide the height by the rise to find the total number of steps you’ll need. Divide the height by the approximate rise to determine the total number of steps needed, then take the difference of the height and that number to find the exact rise of each step. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This article has been viewed 103,933 times. For maximum efficiency, consider attaching adjustable stair gauges to your framing square. • Never nail into a block from either a tread or a riser. There are two ways to attach stair stringers to your deck. 1. We don't think about what holds stairs up when we walk down them. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Know Your Stuff: The 110 Best DIY Tips Ever, Planing Thin Stock: Master-Level Woodworking Tip, How to Build a Backyard Pergola: Simple DIY Woodworking Project, 5 Pro Painting Tips Every Amateur Should Know: DIY Guy. Stringers act like ladders steps and are necessary to help hold your deck stairs in place. Making them deeper requires a longer cut to notch the stringers, which weakens them. Because deck stairs may land on uneven ground or on a wavy concrete pad, the stringers eventually move out of alignment. References. Test-fit the stair stringer by placing it against the deck, and check the tread level with a small level. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 103,933 times. To learn how to draw out the plans for your stairs on paper, keep reading! wikiHow's. To ensure a precise fit, first clear, and then level the ground where they’ll rest. The Terror of Russia's Nuclear Submarine Graveyard, The Most Promising and Exciting Tech at CES 2021, How Biden's Peloton Could Be a Security Risk, Secret New Fighter Jet Uses F1-Style Engineering. That gives you an 11″ tread depth – and a starting point for planning your stringers. Popular Mechanics participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Stretch your tape measure from the bottom of the board to the ground. There are a few things that you must do before you install stair stringers. You’ll be able to cut a maximum of 14 steps into a standard 16 foot (4.9 m) 2x12 stringer board. Angle the top of the ledger on the table saw so that it fits tightly between the stringers … Keep your plans more or less to scale so it will be obvious how everything is supposed to fit together. Monolithic Stairs : Specifies that the stairs … To level existing stairs, remove any baseboard or pull back the carpet to access the underside of the stringers at the floor. Set Stair Measurement on Square Lay the framing square on the stringer board so the unit run measurement on the outside of the wide body of the square intersects the edge of the board. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Pressure-treated lumber is the best choice for outdoor stairs that will be exposed to the elements, like those leading up to decks, porches, sheds, and barns. This should be more than enough for most types of structures. A 57 inch (140 cm) deck divided by a 7 inch (18 cm) rise will give you 8.14, which means you’ll be measuring for 8 steps. when you pull up the old treads you should be able to see the rough stringers. Use stringer hangers even when they are not required. Check across the tread cut on each stringer using a level, and be prepared to shim the foot of the stairs to bring the stringers into alignment. How we test gear. Solid stringers can only be used on the outer sides of a set of stairs. Check across the tread cut … You use a framing square to draw the stair’s notches on the stringer, then you cut them out. Using the level, mark a horizontal line near where the stairs will land. Be careful not to left the square shift while you’re drawing your lines. Follow the old handyman’s adage: measure twice, cut once. To extend the stringer below the floor, enter a negative number. Stair stringers are the backbone of any set of stairs. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. For additional support, attach another 2" x 4" ledger under the stringers. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This will tell you exactly how high the new stairs will reach. The stringers are the notched, sloping boards that will go on either side of the stairs to hold the steps and support the weight that’s placed on them. Desired Stair Height will … Test Fit the Stringer to Make Sure Your Stair Rise and Run are On Point. Make sure you leave at least 7 inches (18 cm) inches at the head of the board for the final riser, which you can trim to fit later. Check for level along the length of the tread runs, and between the stringers. These can be adjusted to your exact specifications, making it easier to ensure that each angle comes out identical without the need to realign the square every time. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The insulated floor raised the floor level and made the bottom step of my stairs short – a violation of the code. Measuring and cutting stair stringers is a relatively simple process once you understand how it’s done, but it can be easy to make mistakes. For example, if you have a height of 56 inches and a rise of 7 inches, then you’ll have 8 steps. Run/Tread: The run or tread is the part of the stairway that a person steps on. Determine the overall height of the stairs. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. For deck stairs, the tread depth and the run are generally givens, because treads are often built of three 2 x 4s, with a 1⁄4″ gap between each board. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. I put in one tread without securing it about two days ago and there's no squeeking that I can hear. 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