Types of Stairways
Stair Components
Stair Terminology
Stair Calculations
Stair Layout and Construction
Stair Mixed Bag
100
A stairway that has solid walls on each side.
What is a closed stairway?
100
The name of the stair part that the arrows are pointing to.
What is a newel post?
100
The degree of a stairway incline: how the slope effects the size of the size of the risers and treads to within code limits.
What is "rise and run"?
100
The most commonly used stair rule, rule #1.
What is run (tread) and rise added together should equal 17"-18"?
100
These super handy little tools clamp on a framing square for laying out stringers.
What are "stair guides"?
100
The most important concern with the design of any stairway.
What is "safety"?
200
The type of stairway that is one direct, interrupted line from one floor to another, which would not have a rise more than 12'.
What is a straight-run stairway?
200
The stair component that supports the treads and the riser of a stairway- the "bones" of a stairway.
What is a stringer?
200
The ratio of riser height (unit rise) and tread depth (unit run) dimensions or total rise and run of the stairway.
What is slope?
200
For maximum safety, the preferred slope of a stairway is between these two degrees.
What is 30 and 35 degrees?
200
The reason why minimum tread depth is 10" (residential) and 11" (commercial).
What is "so people's feet will fit on the step"?
200
How many stringers that are required if the stairway is 30" or less.
What is 2?
300
The area at the end of a flight of stairs or between two flights of stairs.
What is a landing?
300
The portion of a stair tread that extends beyond the face of the riser.
What is nosing?
300
When using the principles of a right triangle, the length of the stringer is equivalent to this.
What is the hypotenuse?
300
Standard handrail height from nosing to top of rail- the same for both residential and commercial.
What is 34"-38"?
300
When using a framing square to layout a stringer, the short side (tongue) of the square goes here.
What is "on the rise measurement"?
300
What the arrow with the ? is pointing to.
What is a spindle or baluster?
400
The style of stairway shown here.
What is "U-Shaped"?
400
The name of the stair component that the arrow is pointing to.
What is skirting or skirting board?
400
What long stringers may be reinforced with, typically a 2 x 4 or 2 x 6.
What is a strongback?
400
Commercial stairways, per the IBC code, requires a maximum riser height of 7" and a minimum tread depth of this measurement.
What is 11"?
400
What happens if you overcut the junctions of the rise/run when cutting out a stringer.
What is "weaken the stringer"?
400
The size stock you use to make a pitch board.
What is 1 by w/1 by 2 stock?
500
This type of geometric stairway is circular, but specifically has the treads coming off one center pole.
What is a spiral staircase?
500
The minimum headroom distance required for residential and commercial stairways.
What is 80" or 6'-8"?
500
The word for the continuous and unobstructed path from a point in a building to exit the building, such as in case of an emergency.
What is "egress"?
500
A dimension you must know to determine shaft openings AND rise and run for a pre-framed stairwell.
What is final thickness of floor assembly at the top of the stairs?
500
What you should always do when you very first start to layout a stringer on a 2 x 12.
What is "leave a couple of inches on the end of the board before you start marking"?
500
When stairways are over this measurement wide, they usually require handrails on both sides.
What is 44"?