| When making a stairs, you must think about the | | | | as this is the standard step height. Round off the |
| functionality which is its most important feature and | | | | result to the nearest whole number. For example if |
| as such, safety must be taken into deep thought. | | | | the overall rise is 68, divide it by 7.25 which will give |
| The first thing to do before you begin building the | | | | you 9.4 so you round off to 10. Hence, you would |
| stairs you must ascertain the size of the stairwell and | | | | need 10 steps to finish the staircase. |
| the headroom. If this is not done, you risk having to | | | | The last step of a staircase is either ground or the |
| demolish what you made and to endeavor to build it | | | | deck, thus you need one less tread than riser. In this |
| again. A stair normally includes three sections, the | | | | instance where you have 10 risers you would only |
| riser, the stringer and the tread. | | | | need 9 treads. To calculate the overall run, multiply 9 |
| The stringer is the part that reinforces the stairs. | | | | by 11 inches (width of a typical step). This will result |
| Some stairs have two stringers, one at both sides | | | | in 99 inches which is the overall run of the staircase. |
| while some have only one. The riser is the height of | | | | The height of the risers needs to be discovered. This |
| an individual stair and the tread is the width of the | | | | is done by dividing the total rise by the total risers. In |
| stair. | | | | this instance it would be 68 divided by 10 which |
| Materials Necessary: | | | | would give you 6.8 inches. |
| 2 x 4 wood | | | | Instructions: |
| Sheet of paper | | | | 1. Use the framing square to lay out the stairs. Use |
| Masking tape | | | | masking tape to mark the long side at 11 inches and |
| 2 12-foot wood for stringers | | | | the short side at 7.25 inches. |
| Joist hangers | | | | 2. Place the long side of the square on the end of |
| 3" nails | | | | the 12-foot wood and align the tape marks facing |
| 2" x 6" boards | | | | toward you. Mark the places on the board using the |
| Tools Necessary: | | | | pencil. |
| Carpenter's level | | | | 3. Slide the frame up to the top mark and mark once |
| Hammer | | | | more. Continue to the end of the wood. |
| Calculator | | | | 4. Use circular saw to cut along the marks. Stop at |
| Pencil | | | | the corner marks and finish cutting using a handsaw. |
| Framing square | | | | 5. Try the stringer to make sure the measurements |
| Circular saw | | | | are correct. If accurate, use that stringer as a guide |
| Handsaw | | | | to cut the others |
| Before you make the stairs do your calculations | | | | 6. When finished cutting all the stringers attach to the |
| beforehand using a calculator and record the findings. | | | | deck by using the joist hangers affixed to the frame |
| Overall rise is the vertical height from the landing of | | | | of the deck. |
| the stair to a point that is level with the top of the | | | | 7. Use 3" nails and hammer to attach the 2" x 6" |
| stair. To discover this, position a 2 x 4 on the deck | | | | boards (treads) in position starting from the bottom. |
| of the stair and measure from the end of the 2 x 4 | | | | Tips: |
| to the ground. Ensure that it is level by testing with a | | | | Always choose straight lumber for your 2 x 12 |
| carpenter's level. | | | | stringers. It is best to sketch a plan to work from |
| Next you need to discover how many steps or risers | | | | when building a staircase. Think about installing a railing |
| the stairs will incorporate. Divide the total rise by 7.25 | | | | to prevent individuals from dropping off the stairs. |