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Stairs consist of treads and stringers. Treads are the step part of the stairs, which are supported by stringers, 2x10's or 2x12's. Stairs are typically a maximum of 36 inches wide. Wider stairs need a reinforcement of a third stringer.
You have two options for stringers: closed or open. Closed is where there is a back to the step. When you walk up the stairs, you cannot see through the step to the other side. Open is far less attractive and can cause a problem for a young child, if they should happen to fall on the stairs, their leg can go through and become caught or scratched. Closed treads are the most common and favorite way to design steps in homes today.
Designing stairs for your home may be the trickiest part of the project. To build your stairs, you'll need to figure out a few things, including the number of treads, the rise between treads, and the total run of the steps-the horizontal distance between the top and bottom of the stairs. With closed stringers, treads are supported by cleats fastened to the inside face of the stringers. The stairs should be a maximum of 36 inches wide. The treads are made of two 2x6's, making for a step 11 1/2 inches deep. To be comfortable, the rise between steps should be about 7 inches. With gauges, mark the step's rise measurement on the short arm of a framing square and the run on the long arm. Mark a bottom rise line across the stringer from one corner. Then position the square and trace along it to lay out the first run and second rise.
Slide the framing square and gauges into position along the edge of the stringer, then outline the next run and rise. Repeat the process for each step.
Once you've drawn the line for the last rise, extend it across the stringer to mark the top end of the steps. Cut the stringer along this line with a circular saw.
Measure down from the top edge of the stringer along the bottom rise line and mark the rise height. Draw a line at 90 degrees across the stringer at the mark. Make the cuts for the bottom of the stringer with a circular saw.
Parallel to each run line, draw a second line to indicate the bottom edge of each tread. Lay out and cut a second stringer following the same process. Position a tread cleat at the bottom of each tread outline. Mark and drill pilot holes slightly smaller than the lag screws you'll use and fasten the cleats in place if using a cement base for your end step. This keeps the stairs from moving and shifting when you exit the last step or enter the staircase.
Installing open stringers need no metal cleats. The stringers themselves are cut along the rise and run lines to support the stair treads. You can also them pre-cut for various numbers of treads. If your staircase is wider than 3 feet, you will need to use an extra stringer in the center for support.
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