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Stair Supplies

Building Stairs

by Andrew Kozlov

Stair building is a multiple step process. Even experienced carpenters usually require at least five days to install a simple set of stairs. If you want a more exotic design, like a spiral staircase, circular staircase, or stairs which turn at right angles, installation can last a week for more. Moreover, if you err in any one of your major measurements, it can be very costly to repair your staircase.

What are some measurements you need to consider? First of all, you need to keep at least two meters--approximately 72 inches--between the floor of the staircase and the ceiling above. This is a minimum requirement for domestic staircases, but public or industrial staircase requirements may call for even more headroom.

The Basic Terms of Stair Building

There are two basic kinds of stringed steps--opened and closed. Open stringed stairs are easier to build, but potentially more dangerous, as there is no wooden riser in between the treads. Close stringed stairs are more common and ultimately more aesthetically appealing. If you have small children or pets in your house, you will likely want to choose one of the close stringed models.

Each step is composed of two basic elements--the rise and the tread. The width of each tread is known as the "going." The angle that the riser makes with the going should be no more than 42°, if you're building a domestic staircase. The front end of the tread is known as the nosing--it sticks out over the rise. The pitch line is the theoretical slope of the staircase, and it makes an angle with the floor equal to the pitch angle.

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