QA

How To Build Stair Risers

How do you calculate stair risers?

There are four main components that need to be considered when measuring a staircase: Rise, Run, Width, and Headroom. To determine the number of risers in the staircase take the total height between floors, in inches, and divide by 8.25. In a straight staircase, there will always be one fewer stair tread than riser.

Can I use 2×10 for stair stringers?

Pressure-treated or cedar 2×10 or 2×12 can be used depending on the depth of the cut-outs you’ll be using. By code you will need a minimum of 3-1/2″ of material left on the stringer after the cut-outs and that area should also be free of large knots which would weaken the stringer.

What size wood do you use for stair risers?

It is acceptable and within building code guidelines to use either 2×10 or 2×12 dimensional lumber to create a set of stairs; however, a stair stringer should not be less than 3.5 inches wide at its narrowest point to provide adequate strength for the load the stairs will be supporting.

What material is best for stair risers?

What is the best wood for stair risers? White oak is the best option if the finish is your priority. However, paint grade wood like poplar is also great for color. For the strength and stability of risers, hard maple is the way to go.

What is a good rise and run for stairs?

Over the years, carpenters have determined that tread width times riser height should equal somewhere between 72 to 75 inches. On a main stair, the maximum rise should be no more than 8 1/4 inches and the minimum run should be no less than 9 inches.

How long should a 2×12 stringer be?

How to Use the EZ Stair Calculator. We suggest 10.5″ for 2×12 or 2 – 2×6 Treads. Treads may be cut to suit other widths.

Can I use 2×12 for deck stair treads?

Stair treads may be made of a single 2×12, but are often made of two decking boards or 2x6s. A stringer is a wide board, usually a 2×12, that runs at an angle from the landing pad to the deck framing and supports the treads. The stair treads should be at least 36 inches wide.

What size lumber should I use for a stringer?

Use the best 2×12 boards you can find for stringers. Open stringers should be cut from pressure-treated lumber. Remember to apply preservative to the cut edges.

How long of a board do I need for stair stringer?

Stringers should always be cut from 2x12s. Notching smaller stock doesn’t leave enough wood to safely carry the loads of a stair. When ordering stringers, allow about 14 inches of stringer length for each step.

Can I use plywood for stair risers?

Risers do not have to be made of any thick material, as they provide only minimal structural support. Therefore, they can be made of ½” thick plywood or OSB . Those are normally installed first, with the treads following.

Is MDF good for stair risers?

MDF is the most inexpensive and commonly used product for stair risers. Because it’s so smooth, it’s a great surface for painting.

What can I use for white stair risers?

Poplar is a good material for paint grade. Avoid finger jointed pre-prime, the glue can bleed through the paint.

What is the typical stair riser height?

For each rise: minimum 130mm, maximum 225mm. For each going: minimum 215mm, maximum 355mm. The going shall be not greater than the tread depth (TD) plus a maximum gap of 30 mm between the rear edge of one tread and the nosing of the tread above.

What is the most comfortable stair rise?

Rule one says that rise plus run (r+R) should equal 18 inches. Why? That’s what most people find to be a comfortable stride on most stairs. You can cheat a bit up or down, but below 17” and more than 19” will result in steps that require strides either too big or too small for most people.

What is the typical rise for a step?

It’s important to have the right ratio of tread to rise to make going up and down safe and easy. In general, the smaller the rise, the bigger the tread. You can choose what’s comfortable for you but generally outdoor steps have a rise of 5 ½ to 7 inches and a tread of 12 to 18 inches.

How many stairs do you need to go up 8 feet?

Stair Rise for 8-Foot Ceilings An 8-foot ceiling will need 14 treads. Divide 96-inches (8-feet) by 7-inches to get 13.71 treads, and round up to 14. In this case, you would not round down as you would have one step that is too tall.

How do you find the rise and going of a staircase?

Divide the overall change in level (overall rise) by 150mm. 450mm / 150mm = 3. This tells us that with a riser of 150mm we will need 3 risers/steps. 450mm / 2 = 225mm. Twice the Rise plus the Going (2R + G) should be between 550mm and 700mm. 2 x 150mm + 275mm = 575mm.

What is the ideal tread to riser ratio?

Exterior Stairs Tread and Riser Ratio The ratio for exterior stairs is two risers + the tread = 26 inches. The optimum riser for exterior stairs is 6 1/2 inches, making the tread 13 inches wide.

What is the angle of a stair stringer?

The standard staircase angle for commercial stairs is a maximum 32.4 degrees. Commercial building egress stairs are designed to be used by the general public in case of an emergency. The 32.4 degree angle provides adequate tread depth for users to walk up and down comfortably and easily during an emergency situation.

How do you calculate rise over run?

Multiply the slope by the run to calculate the rise between subsequent points. In the example, if you wanted to know the rise given a run of 10, multiply 10 times 0.6 to calculate a rise of 6. Divide the rise by the slope to calculate the run.