Stairs & Railings

Pencil & Paper Stringer Layout

Step 1 - Calculate The Rise Divide Total Rise By Maximum Riser Height Before you can begin calculating your stair stringer layout, you'll need to measure the "total rise". For stairs that land on the ground, the total rise is the distance from the ground to the top of the finished floor. Once you know the total rise, divide this number, by the maximum allowable riser height. According to International Building Code (IBC), the maximum riser height is 7-3/4". (Other codes limit the maximum riser height to 7".)

Parts Of A Step

Note: You don't have to use the maximum allowable riser height. If you look at the Rise & Run table on the following page, you may elect to use a smaller value

for your maximum allowable riser height. For example, if your knees just aren't what they use to be, you may elect to reduce the riser height to 6". Always Round Up Gives Number Of Risers - For this example, we'll assume the total rise from the ground to the top of the decking is 53". Since I personally don't like risers any taller than 7", I divide 53" by 7 and get 7.57. Always rounding up gives me 8 risers. At this point, I now know that my steps will have eight risers. By the way, even if the total rise had only been 51" and I divided by 7 to get 7.29, I would still round up to 8 risers. Dividing Total Rise By Number Of Risers Gives Riser Height - Now that we know how many risers the stairs will have, divide the total rise by the number of risers to get the actual riser height. For my example, I divide 53" by 8 to get a riser height of 6-5/8".

Check Point - It's the lower part of the stair stringers, below the notches, that carries all the weight. It's important to size the stringers based upon the total stair run, the width of the stairs, the type of stringer, and the number of stringers. When you get a password, we'll help you to select the right size stair stringers for the job. Step 2 - Calculate The Tread Run Determine The Number Of Treads - If you're building stairs that place the uppermost tread one step down from the deck/floor then the number of treads is one less than the number of risers. If your stairs have the top tread level with the deck/floor then the number of treads is equal to the number of risers. Since the stairs in my example have two or more risers and are over 30" high, by IBC code, I'm required to install a handrail and railing. Knowing this, I'm going to elect to place the top tread one step down since this will make it easier to install the handrail - won't require additional posts to prevent the stair railing from overshooting the deck guardrail. So for this example, I know there are 7 treads. Dividing Total Run By Number Of Treads Gives Tread Run - In this example, since the stairs are used outdoors and extend to the ground, the stairs don't need to have a specific total run. In this case, a standard tread run of 10" is selected. This is a good tread run because two 2x6 boards laid side by side add up to 11" which will give a comfortable 1" nosing. Looking at the Rise & Run table on the following page, we see that a rise of 6.625" and a tread run of 10" produces a nice 33.5 stair angle so we're all set; the tread run is 10".

Check Point - The area of the deck where the stairs connect must be reinforced to handle the weight from the stairs. You don't want the framing to fail if there is an emergency and a lot of people fill up the stairs. The amount and type of reinforcing depends on the location where the stairs attach. There are four different types of reinforcing approaches (depending on whether the stairs attach to a side or end band joist and whether the joists are cantilevered). When you get a password, we'll teach you how to add extra stair reinforcing so your deck is strong enough to support the heaviest of stair loads. The content under the "How-To" menu is a small sampling of all the material covered on BestDeckSite. For immediate access to in-depth information on Building Codes related to

stairs and railings, an on-lineStair Calculator, selecting the size of lumber for the stringers, and intermediate landings, as well as, comprehensive coverage of all aspects of gazebo and deck building, get a password and log-in now.

Pencil & Paper Stringer Layout (Cont.)

Check Point - Did you know that the riser height and tread run can not deviate in size beyond the limits set in the building code? If the ground isn't perfectly level, you'll need to know how to accurately measure the total rise. If your total rise measurement is off, the last step won't be the same height as all the others and the stairs will not only fail inspection but will also be dangerous. When you get a password, you'll learn all about building codes and how to build stairs that are safe and last a lifetime. Step 3 - Layout Adjustments At this point, you can begin marking out your stair stringers. Since you did your calculations by pencil and paper, you'll need to make two adjustments as you lay out the stringers. The first is to reduce the bottom riser height. The amount to remove from the bottom of the stringer is equal to the thickness of the treads minus the thickness of any finish flooring that is installed on the lower landing after the stringers are in place. Doing so will make the height of the bottom rise the same as all the other steps once the treads and finish floor are installed. For this example, since the deck stairs land on the ground, the thickness of the finish flooring at the lower landing is zero. In this case, you would just subtract off the thickness of the tread material since clearly there isn't any finish flooring like carpeting or hardwood floor at the base of the stairs. Assuming you will not be adding a top riser board, the edge of the deck or the header joist will serve as the top riser. As such, you will need to make a second adjustment as you layout the stairs. You will need to subtract off the thickness of the riser boards from the top tread run. This will make all the tread runs the same once the risers are in place. Note: If your risers will be "open", you don't need to make this second adjustment.

Check Point - Building codes require that all railings are capable of resisting a 200 pound force applied at the top of the railing. That's the equivalent of three average sized men all leaning very hard against the railing at once. The method used to attach railing posts on many owner-built decks will readily tear off under this type of force. When you get a password, we'll show you how to reinforce the framing so your railings and framing are strong enough to keep everyone safe and meet building code requirements.

Stair Angle Based On Rise and Run

Run 10" 10.5" 11" 11.5" 12" 12.5" 13" 13.5" 14" Rise 5" 5.25" 5.5" 5.75" 6" 6.25" 6.5" 6.75" 7" 7.25" 7.5" 7.75" 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 25 27 28 29 30 31 31 33 34 35 36 36 24 26 27 28 29 30 30 32 32 33 34 35 23 25 26 27 28 29 29 30 31 32 33 34 23 24 25 26 27 28 28 29 30 31 32 33 22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 32 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 20 21 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29

The content under the "How-To" menu is a small sampling of all the material covered on BestDeckSite. For immediate access to in-depth information on reinforcing the deck where stairs attach, the various ways to attach stairs, making stairs with metal stair-angles, lots of information and examples on building railings, and an online Railing Calculator, as well as, comprehensive coverage of all aspects of gazebo and deck building, get a password and log-in now.

Password Area Coverage

If you haven't already read our free information on stair building, please check out our Stairs & Rails section under the "How-To" menu. Otherwise, below is a detailed list of additional topics and features available in the Stairs and Railings section of the BestDeckSite Password Area. For a complete outline of all the sections and topics covered see the Password Coverage Page. If you want the best gazebo and deck building information, Get A Password Today. Stair & Railing Calculators There is no need to struggle through the math needed to layout stairs and railings with BestDeckSite's Stair & Railing Calculators. Getting The Posts To Work Together What types of railing styles are stronger based upon how

well they transfer loads to neighboring posts. Reinforcing The Rim Joists How to meet the IBC 200-pound load requirement and what this means in terms of additional reinforcing required at the band/rim joists. Post Spacing & Notching How much spacing is too much between neighboring posts and how much you're allowed to notch posts without affecting strength. Decorative Touches A short list of ideas to make your railings look good. Guardrail Examples Numerous examples for you to look over as you create the railing design of your dream deck and gazebo. Stair, Landing, & Railing Building Codes All about the many building codes related to stairs and guardrails and how to avoid having to redo your hard work. Measuring Total Rise & Run How to correctly measure these two critical dimensions when the ground isn't perfectly level. Layout & Cutting Stringers Step-by-step directions starting with selecting the correct size of stringer lumber to accurately marking and cutting stringers. Three Ways To Attach Stringers Three options for securely attaching the top of the stairs to your deck or gazebo. Reinforcing The Floor Framing For longer stair runs, the floor framing where the stairs attach needs to be reinforced. Here's how to do it right. Stair Assembly How to put together your stairs including additional reinforcing to make them extra strong. Stair Landings For longer stair runs, code requires an intermediate landing. Learn how to make a landing and get the railings to work out. Box & Flared Stairs Simple box stair construction and stairs that are wider at the base than at the top.