Stairs 9: Answers about Stairs
Here's a list of Dave's answers about building stairs you might find of help. Click on a title to see its answer.
How do we get the correct angles to cut the stair stringers and handrail posts?
[see answer]I have straight-run, open riser stairs up two stories. Each flight has about 17 risers. I was planning on using 2x12s for the stringers, but once they were installed and the treads were put on, they were still very bouncy.
[see answer]How to cut the bottom of the stair stringers so the steps of the backyard wood deck stairs stay level to make up for the unevenness of the ground.
[see answer]I took the old concrete landing out from under the front steps because it was not level. How would you go about replacing it with a new one?
[see answer]I'm pretty good with tools, but I'm concerned with getting straight cuts on the stair stringers with my circular saw. Are there any tricks or helpful hints on making straight cuts with a circular saw?
[see answer]Some stairs are made by cutting a groove in the stringers for the threads to fit into. Is this done with a router? If so, what kind of jig does it require?
[see answer]I have a 21 inch plumb from my deck to the concrete below. My problem is that the concrete is not even, it slopes away from the house. I'd like to use two stringers (2x10) and then bracket two steps between them. How do I measure the dist
[see answer]What would be the best railing and baluster combination for a glass pane?
[see answer]I am installing a handrail on my landing and down the stairs. Your instructions given on how to do this includes everything I need except how to attach the handrail to the newel posts. Could you explain how to do that?
[see answer]How new hardwood should be attached to an existing stair case.
[see answer]I just built a new backyard wood deck, which turned out rather well. I am however having difficulty making up deck stairs. My total rise from the ground to the top of the deck board is 20.5 inches.
[see answer]How to determine an equal size spacing between stair spindles.
[see answer]What is the recommended distance between newel posts for a balcony?
[see answer]With an open riser stair, how do you connect the stair treads to the stair stringer?
[see answer]Is pine okay for stair treads or is it too soft a wood?
[see answer]When installing stair treads and risers some people are telling us the riser goes on top of the tread. We prefer the look of it behind the tread and thats what it looks like on your page. We just want to know the correct way of installin
[see answer]I need to make stair stringers for a 10' rise. This will work out to the stringer being 18 to 20 feet long. I can only find 16' 2 X 12's. Is it okay to splice them to make them long enough? if so HOW?
[see answer]Should I add a landing in the middle of a 10' rise or use stronger wood for the stringer?
[see answer]One stair in my basement stairs is shorter than the rest by about 1/4 inch. I'm thinking of two solutions, but wanted to see what you say first.
[see answer]What size nails or screws would you suggest using for nailing/screwing the stair risers if I'm using 1/2 inch plywood for the risers?
[see answer]I want to build some stairs and I want the total rise to be 2 1/2 feet high, the rise 6 inches and the run 12 inches. Can you give a diagram of what it will look like?
[see answer]Why our Stair Case Calculator always gives one less run than the number of risers.
[see answer]I want to replace the stair skirt boards with oak to match the stairs. Treads and risers were cut and installed to match the old fir skirt boards, and oak is thicker dimension. Where do I start?
[see answer]I've got a nice stair case but it needs support stringers. How do I cut the stringers?
[see answer]If I cut 16 runs at 7 1/2 inches each, wouldn't my very first step be 9 inches?
[see answer]I used 2x12 non-pressure treated boards for the treads. A couple of carpenters told me the treads should be ripped into two 5 3/4 inch treads to avoid splitting and cupping of the stairs in a couple of years. Any advice on this?
[see answer]I'm going to be installing yellow pine over the stairs inside my house. They are between two walls and I would like to put trim boards along the walls on both sides, down the stairs. How is this typically done?
[see answer]What width should indoor stairs be? They will be going to a master bedroom upstairs. I was thinking about 42 inches. They will be a straight run.
[see answer]How do you build winder stairs to save space?
[see answer]The level of the concrete in my basement floor is off about an inch between where the ends of the stair stringers will be. This means the stringer height will be different. How should I fit and trim these two stringers?
[see answer]What are the measurements of one story or the total rise of a one story staircase?
[see answer]Dave what's the standard size board for a stringer?
[see answer]The inspector said I have to protect my outside stair stringers from the concrete on the outside landing. What does he mean?
[see answer]How do I secure the bottom of the stringer to the paving slab?
[see answer]What is the best way to attach the stair stringers to the floor joist?
[see answer]I want to replace my existing painted wood risers with slate or some durable tile. Is this possible and if so, how do I remove them to replace them or should I tile right over the existing riser?
[see answer]Does the thickness of the stair tread change the total rise?
[see answer]I need to put new treads and risers on my indoor entry stairs. How do I remove the existing skirt boards? Or do I just veneer the old ones?
[see answer]The bottoms of my stringers are resting directly on cement. How can I maintain some sort of dry spacing so they don't rot out like the old ones did?
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