Wondering where to start? Knowing the lingo behind the parts that make up a staircase can go a long way toward taking accurate measurements and simplifying the process. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful deck screw guides and videos below! Use a 2-foot level on the tread runs and place a 4-foot level across the stringers to make sure their height is correct. To calculate the stringer length, follow this formula: (run) 2 + (stair rise) 2 = [square root of your total] To simplify the process, we’ve created this deck stair calculator to help you determine the correct measurements needed to carry out your project. You are correct in saying that the rise and run should be the same on all the stairs. Actual experts on the phones, chat & email. Redraw … Total Run = Number of Treads on Stringer x Tread Depth (step run) Total Run = 4 x 10.5". Wondering where to start? Make sure you don’t round your answer before the final calculation. For stair landing; the width of the landing shall not be less than the stairway width and a minimum of 600 mm clear of cross-traffic, door swing or any other structure. Attach Stringers to a Deck – How to Make Stair Stringers. You can see all of the Building Regulation Approved Documents here. Building taller steps can make them difficult to climb, while a shorter rise height can feel awkward and lead to stumbles. Wondering where to start? The vertical distance between the floors to be linked by the stair­case is the principal deter­minant of the riser and tread dimensions. total run of stairs; the length of the stringer ; Note: after you enter the total rise and the run measurements try different values for number of risers till you get a riser result that you are happy with. Try using the world's #1 decking brand with 25-year Limited Residential Fade and Stain Warranty. Measure the height from the surface where the stairs will start to the bottom surface that the stairs … JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. This will determine how many stairs will make up your outdoor staircase. This step will confirm your exact rise height and the spacing of the steps to deliver a consistent walkway for guests. The above stair run will have 5 risers at 7.25", and 4 treads at 10.5", resulting in a total run of 42". Check out our article, Building Deck Stairs and Steps, to find tips and tricks to help make your deck building project run more smoothly. But you have some freedom in the way you design the tread locations. Cut a notch in the bottom of the stringers to fit over a piece of 2" x 4" lumber, making sure to cut the notch in the same place on each stringer. Use common joist hangers to attach the stringer securely to the upper tier. The stair stringers are essentially the backbone of your staircase. It helps to label certain measurements such as the overall height, step rise, step run, and total distance. Then fill in the stairs, the stringer and the risers. Is there a … Wondering where to start? Because there’s an infinite amount of possible riser / tread combinations the code said something like, “The combination of any two risers and one tread must not be less than 24 inches and not exceed 26 inches.” This will tell you exactly how high the new stairs will reach. This will represent the total run of your staircase which is the total distance the stairs will extend from the starting point at the deck itself. 2) Decide the height or "rise" you'll want for each step. Click the "Calculate"button. Solid stringers can only be used on the outer sides of a set of stairs. How do you enhance a splintering, wobbly exterior stairway into beautiful and secure steps you'll be proud to showcase? 5) Determine how deep you want your steps to be and multiply that distance by the number of steps you'll have. Use stringer … $$Stringer\,Length = C_3 + B_3 + (Number\,of\,Steps – 1) × (B_1 + C_2) = 8.62\,in + 2.84\,in + (17-1) × (3.96\,in + 8.62\,in) = 212.72\,in$$ Be careful! To calculate the stringer length, follow this formula: (run)2 + (stair rise)2 = [square root of your total]. By clicking FIND A BUILDER, you acknowledge that you have read Trex's Privacy Policy. Stair stringer treads: rise and going. 4) Run that formula again, however, divide the total height of the staircase now by the total number of steps. Wondering where to start? How to Calculate Stair Stringers. If the final amount comes out to a fraction, round down to the nearest whole number and adjust the stair height as needed. — Be sure to check the Building Regulation Approved Documents when designing your stair, with different requirements stipulated according to whether the stair is an escape stair in the event of a fire. For concrete stairs, select Concrete Thickness and enter the throat thickness (see diagram) and Stair Width to calculate formwork dimensions and concrete volume. A general rule of thumb is that stairs should have a height of about 7 to 7-1/2 inches. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Easy enough to accomplish in just an afternoon, read more on how to calculate stair stringers quickly and take your home's deck to the next level. Check your local building codes for allowable rise and run. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful guides and videos below! The first formula necessary for building stair steps is that the number of steps is equal to the height divided by seven inches. If the stairs are wider than 1000mm a handrail must be provided on both sides. A stair stringer is the support frame piece to which the risers and treads of the stairs are attached. Clamp a guide to the square.. To make it easy to align the framing square on the stringer consistently, clamp a... 2. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful baluster guides and videos below! Having a stable, sturdy set of stairs leading to and from your deck is one of the most important—and complex—parts of the deck building process. I'm a professional carpenter and have build many sets of stairs but I couldn't have learned to build stairs … Either B or C is required. Cut the stringers. ⚠️. You can change this value as many times as you like and hit the calculate button to get the new result. Build your own design with our free and simple deck designer software. Treads may be cut to suit other widths. Enter Total Stair Rise* inches : Enter Your Run: inches: We suggest 10.5" for 2x12 or 2 - 2x6 Treads. x 4 in. Verify the total run The finish floor represents the tread at the top of the stair, so the total run is the number of risers minus 1. For this calculation you are … Wondering where to start? Do not round the measurement at all. Using a target run of 10 inches, the rise/run ratio is well within the “safe and comfortable” formula for this stair: 7 5/8 + 10 = 17 5/8 (Step 6). Note, that with this stair design, the last (top) riser is part of the landing or upper floor. Stair stringers are the component on the stairway that bears the weight and the load. In the end, you will get a 3D model of the staircase designed according to your parameters, the resulting estimates are of ladder design, which includes the angle of the stairs, number of steps, the height and width of each step, and straight wooden staircase. Total Run = 42". Sat., Sept. 10, 2016. 6) Lastly, with all of the dimensions in hand, sketch out your stair plans to get a clear vision for your stringer boards. 1) Start by finding the overall height that the staircase will be. Need professional help to build your deck? Step-by-step 1. A staircase will typically have two stringer boards (one on either side) to three stringer boards (one on either side and one down the center) at minimum. EBTY Hidden Deck Fastener by Simpson Strong-Tie, Aluminum Post Sleeves & Aluminum Post Covers, How to Measure Your Deck for Railing Video, Trex RainEscape vs Zip-Up UnderDeck Video, How to Install the SCREENEZE system Video, How to Install Scenic Glass Panel Railing. Wondering where to start? Check building codes in your area to make sure of the maximum riser height and … Extend a level out across the upper edge of the deck or porch (or the entry point, if you’re building stairs for a shed or similar structure). Cut three stair stringers from 2" x 12" lumber to accommodate a 3-1/2" stair height. They keep the stairs secured on either side. Having the right calculations before getting started can make the task a lot easier. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful pergola guides and videos below! You want the crown side of the board to be on the cut side. These small rounding errors can have a great difference on the final answer! Decades ago, the building code had a very common-sense approach to the formula used to build code-compliant stairs. A general rule of thumb is that … The International Residential Code (IRC) recommends building your steps with a minimum stair tread depth of 10 inches to allow for proper and comfortable foot placement. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Hook a tape measure to the top of the deck surface or a level extended off the deck edge. How to Build Stairs | A simple way to mark and cut stringers Find the best deck builders near you and get a quote. If it does, lay out the... 3. The L shaped framing square will also show where the cut the top and bottom of the stringers. So you have decided to build a set of stairs and now need to figure out how to calculate the length of your stair stringers. Use the calculator to add your deck’s measurements for: Having a stable, sturdy set of stairs leading to and from your deck is one of the most important—and complex—parts of the deck building process. Once you understand the basic math and planning needed, updating your stair stringers and steps can be a quick enhancement to your home's outdoor space and entertaining area. Then we "fit" that stair into the building design plan, or outdoors we let the stairs end where they may, provided there is adequate entry/exit room at the stair top and bottom. Our stair stringers range from 1-17 treads (steps) and are made for standard ‘rise’ and ‘going’ and work on a 1000mm between centres of the stringers. Pre-cut stringers come in a variety of sizes and make building stairs a much easier project. Cut a notch along the bottom of each stringer for space to position it over a pressure-treated 2 in. Products are in-stock & ready when you order. Rise/Riser: The rise, or height of a step is measured from the top of one tread to the top of the next … The key components of a set of deck steps are: A shorter rise may be more comfortable to climb with a deeper run. Take the square root of the resulting number and multiply it by the number of treads. 3) Divide the total height of the staircase by the height or "rise" you want for each step. How to build exterior stairs that last. Decide the height or "rise" you'll want for each step. Always use straight, high-quality, pressure-treated 2x12s for stair stringers. Cut a notch along the bottom of each stringer for space to position it over a pressure-treated, 2 x 4 inch piece of cut lumber. For each stair, cut 10" … Enter Total Stair Run: inches: Use if Total Run is restricted by obstacles such as doors or landings. Copyright © 2021 Trex Company, Inc. All rights reserved. There are a few easy things you can do to calculate this length. Terms of use, Single board or two smaller boards for stair tread. This should provide a more exact measurement of the length of the stringer needed to support the stairs. cut of lumber. A nice finished look uses a design where the nosing of each tread is hidden within the width of the stringer. Stretch your tape measure from the bottom of the board to the ground. But for our example low-slope outdoor stair situation, the stairs described by a reader needed to climb a … If you are planning on resting the stringer on the ground, make sure the wood has .60 RET level. Sight down the edge of the stringer stock to determine if it crowns. Once you have the number of stairs, divide the height by the number of steps to find the exact height of each step. Similarly, a taller rise might work better with a shorter run. Divide the overall rise by the individual rise to get the number of stairs. Will tell you exactly how high the new stairs will reach deck screw and. Tape measure from the bottom of each stringer for space to position it over pressure-treated! Don ’ t round your answer before the final amount comes out to a fraction, round down the! 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Helpful baluster guides and videos below Treads on stringer x tread Depth ( step Run, and the... Used on the ground allowable rise and Run taller rise might work with! But you have the number of Treads on stringer x tread Depth ( step Run, between! Stringer for space to position it over a pressure-treated 2 in are worn and bottom of the stairs are.... Does, lay out the... 3 sure you don ’ t round answer. Either side helps to label certain measurements such as doors or landings confirm your rise! Might work better with a deeper Run place a 4-foot level across the stringers splintering... Runs and place a 4-foot level across the stringers the first formula necessary for building steps! ) divide the total height of about 7 to 7-1/2 inches stairs make... 1 decking brand with 25-year Limited Residential Fade and Stain Warranty rise and Run calculate this length started make! A bit easier comes out to a fraction, round down to the height or `` ''... 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