A common tool used to speed up the layout of a stair stringer will automatically set the correct stair angle. % of people told us that this article helped them. ", "This really helped me in the way of measuring he steps out before cutting, Thanks. Step 2 – Measure the overall length. Building stairs for your deck is often considered “the most difficult part of” the construction project. With a few tools and some guidelines, you can learn how to measure for stairs while eliminating confusion. staircase and the wall it was going to be installed on, followed the diagrams and instructions, and it all became pretty straightforward. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 619,988 times. No. That gives us (30/6=5), so 5 steps (including the final level) at a height of 6 inches each. Measure the stair tread from back to front, placing the measuring tape against the vertical riser and extending it to the outer edge, or nose, of the stair overhanging the next riser. Stair runners, usually sold by the running foot or yard, can be 22 to 36 inches wide. This should be no more than 7 3/4 inches. When measuring winders/curved stairs, measure each one individually. For a specific minimum width, contact your local government about the building code for stairs. The depth of each stair has to be enough for a person to safely walk up. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Lui Colmenares is a handyman and licensed home improvement contractor for Mr. You'll also want to determine where the stairs have to be placed, then measure out a depth for each stair such that a person can safely walk up and down the flight without falling. icons to determine the best calculator to use for your stairs. Stair Tread and Riser Measuring and Dimension Guide The Stair Tread and Riser Dimension Guide is designed to assist with specifying and ordering Artistic Finishes staircase accessories. Please refer the figure. If the individual stair rise is 7 inches, square 7 by multiplying it by itself to get 49 inches. 6. You'll probably need at least two coats of paint; wait at least 24 hours after the final coat dries before removing the masking tape from the stair … For convenience and flexibility, this stair stringer calculator comes in two forms, the Determine the overall height of the stairs. The Ontario Building Code | Dimensions for Risers 9.8.4.1. Click The guide outlines each product type with standard measurements, along with the ability to define custom measurements. Step 4. How to Measure Stair Rise & Run over Uneven Ground. Dividing 25 by 7 ¾ and rounding up will determine the number of risers in the stair: 25 ÷ 7.75 = 3.23 = 4 risers If you don't want to get hurt too badly, just fall lightly and try to roll with the stairs as you fall down them until you hit the bottom. Handy NYC prides itself on quality work performed with speed, skill, and punctuality. Take that measurement and divide it by a 7" average riser height. You did that, thanks. Pile direction needs to go over the nose of the stair at a right angle so measure from the back of the stair tread, over the nose and then down the riser of the stair to the next tread, then record the size (see grey line). Dimensions for Risers (1) The rise, which is measured as the vertical nosing-to-nosing distance, shall conform to Table 9.8.4.1. It is used to determine the length of 2x12 material required to build the stair stringer. Then, multiply that figure by the width of the tread and riser (which should be the same). Paint the risers with a paintbrush, starting at the top or bottom of the staircase, whichever is more convenient. Please use the This is called the "rise" of your measurements and will determine how high your stairs will go. **"Where the stairway has a straight run, the depth in the direction of travel shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm)." Doing home renovations yourself is fun and budget-friendly, but building stairs can seem intimidating. When measuring total run of a staircase, the length of the tread above the last riser is not included in the measurement. Stairs and Landings - Landings are used to break up runs of stairs. This will help you avoid waste. Open risers with openings more then 30 inches (762 mm) vertical to the floor should not permit the passage of a 4-inch-diameter (102 mm) sphere. They are cut from 2x12s or larger material - the uncut portion of the stringer should not be less than 5 inches (127 mm) (see diagrams below). In a given run of stairs, the greatest step height and the smallest step height should not vary more than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm). the cuts at the correct angle based on wall and step placement. For example, if you are installing a stair on a deck, your floor to floor measurement would be the length between ground level and the finished deck flooring. Divide the height of the rise on the chosen precut stringer by the height needed for the stairs to determine the number of risers the precut stringer needs to have to fit your deck. Having a stable, sturdy set of stairs leading to and from your deck is one of the most important—and complex—parts of the deck building process. Staircase riser height translates to the distance you move your foot either up or down from one step to an adjacent step. The IRC also requires 80 in. You will need approximately 4' of carpet to cover the width, to allow the carpet to flow through the posts and wrap around the outside of the stair. If you want to measure and cut them all before removing the old stairs, be sure to number each position. What measurements are needed? Provides a step by step display and a print out option showing the finished stringer with cut dimensions and a materials list. Great work. Stair risers are usually not more than 1 inch (2.54 cm) thick. Here are the steps to cutting your treads and risers. Now, simply divide by your RISE by 7" to determine the max. It has the same measurements for the tread and riser as a box stair (combined 18"). 18 August 2020. You’ve now got the total area of one step. Step 1 Measure the total rise, or overall height, that your staircase will be covering. 120÷7= 17 steps, minus 1 for last step from stringer riser to top of flooring. For safety and code compliance, the riser height and tread depth must be consistent along the whole stair. What measurements do you need to build stairs? I have a space that is 8 feet wide and 8 feet deep for stairs into a basement. Measure the stair riser height (B) from the bottom to the lip of the step. Once the stairs are ready, it's best to start by painting the risers. ", "Great help in calculating step construction. of headroom measured plumb above the line of the tread nosing. Handyman. Headroom heights usually aren't regulated by building codes, but your local building code may have recommendations for stair headroom, so be sure to check. The first time you enter a value in the Number of Steps field, it will likely be a guess. But once you learn the basics of making measurements, planning new stairs is not a difficult project. For more information, click the Help buttons located on each calculator. Multiply the number of risers by the height of a single riser from step 2. Now divide the overall rise by the number of risers: 46 in. and Flush options to compare the results. Stair stringers create the foundation for a set of steps or stairs whether built indoors or outdoors. Rise is the distance from one tread to the next while run is the distance from riser to riser. Your staircase will have 7 stairs. Measure the length. Note: For commercial stairs, I.B.C. Step 1 Measure the height of the rise, or back section, of the precut stair stringer. Unlike the Automatic Calculator, you will notice that the Tread Depth [B] will vary on the Manual Stair Calculator because the Total Run [G] is a constant and the Tread Depth [B] is a variable. To simplify the process, we’ve created this deck stair calculator to help you determine the correct measurements needed to carry out your project. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. You'll need one less tread than you will number of risers if you step down from your deck to your first stair tread. To calculate the stringer length, follow this formula: (run) 2 + (stair rise) 2 = [square root of your total]