By clicking FIND A BUILDER, you acknowledge that you have read Trex's Privacy Policy. Clamp a guide to the square.. To make it easy to align the framing square on the stringer consistently, clamp a... 2. Always use straight, high-quality, pressure-treated 2x12s for stair stringers. Stretch your tape measure from the bottom of the board to the ground. Measure the height from the surface where the stairs will start to the bottom surface that the stairs … Once you have the number of stairs, divide the height by the number of steps to find the exact height of each step. 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.” 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). The vertical distance between the floors to be linked by the stair­case is the principal deter­minant of the riser and tread dimensions. 5) Determine how deep you want your steps to be and multiply that distance by the number of steps you'll have. The L shaped framing square will also show where the cut the top and bottom of the stringers. For concrete stairs, select Concrete Thickness and enter the throat thickness (see diagram) and Stair Width to calculate formwork dimensions and concrete volume. 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. Minimum headroom is typically 2000 mm, this may need to be increased if helmets are worn. Treads may be cut to suit other widths. — 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. Wondering where to start? Make sure you don’t round your answer before the final calculation. You are correct in saying that the rise and run should be the same on all the stairs. Attach Stringers to a Deck – How to Make Stair Stringers. Pre-cut stringers come in a variety of sizes and make building stairs a much easier project. Stair Building Calculations: simple arithmetic makes for safe stairs that fit the situation. The main difference between making stairs with landings compared to those without is that stairs with landings need to… Enter Total Stair Run: inches: Use if Total Run is restricted by obstacles such as doors or landings. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful guides and videos below! 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. Build your own design with our free and simple deck designer software. A stair stringer is the support frame piece to which the risers and treads of the stairs are attached. These small rounding errors can have a great difference on the final answer! Determine the overall height of the stairs. Stair stringer treads: rise and going. 2) Decide the height or "rise" you'll want for each step. 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. Note, that with this stair design, the last (top) riser is part of the landing or upper floor. To simplify the process, we’ve created this deck stair calculator to help you determine the correct measurements needed to carry out your project. Having the right calculations before getting started can make the task a lot easier. 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. $$Stringer\,Length = C_3 + B_3 + (Number\,of\,Steps – 1) × (B_1 + C_2) = 8.62\,in + 2.84\,in + (17-1) × (3.96\,in + 8.62\,in) = 212.72\,in$$ Be careful! Find the crown.. Click the "Calculate"button. 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. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful deck railing guides and videos below! Check your local building codes for allowable rise and run. Wondering where to start? Wondering where to start? 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. Outline the pattern onto one of the skirt boards. Redraw … Total Run = 42". Rise/Riser: The rise, or height of a step is measured from the top of one tread to the top of the next … How do you enhance a splintering, wobbly exterior stairway into beautiful and secure steps you'll be proud to showcase? Use stringer … Actual experts on the phones, chat & email. 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. By clicking GO!, you acknowledge that you have read Trex's Privacy Policy. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Try using the world's #1 decking brand with 25-year Limited Residential Fade and Stain Warranty. Terms of use, Single board or two smaller boards for stair tread. Cut a notch along the bottom of each stringer for space to position it over a pressure-treated 2 in. Need professional help to build your deck? The stair stringers are essentially the backbone of your staircase. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. 4. 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. Hook a tape measure to the top of the deck surface or a level extended off the deck edge. The rise is the vertical measurement taken from one step level to the next.Standard rise is 175mm. Cut the stringers. Enter Total Stair Rise* inches : Enter Your Run: inches: We suggest 10.5" for 2x12 or 2 - 2x6 Treads. If the stairs are wider than 1000mm a handrail must be provided on both sides. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful baluster guides and videos below! For each stair, cut 10" … 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. To calculate the stringer length, follow this formula: (run) 2 + (stair rise) 2 = [square root of your total] Take the square root of the resulting number and multiply it by the number of treads. 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. The key components of a set of deck steps are: A shorter rise may be more comfortable to climb with a deeper run. Wondering where to start? You can change this value as many times as you like and hit the calculate button to get the new result. Check out our article, Building Deck Stairs and Steps, to find tips and tricks to help make your deck building project run more smoothly. Do not round the measurement at all. 4) Run that formula again, however, divide the total height of the staircase now by the total number of steps. Building stairs for your deck is often considered “the most difficult part of” the construction project. Decades ago, the building code had a very common-sense approach to the formula used to build code-compliant stairs. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful pergola guides and videos below! Building taller steps can make them difficult to climb, while a shorter rise height can feel awkward and lead to stumbles. These are custom-cut stair stringers. Similarly, a taller rise might work better with a shorter run. I'm a professional carpenter and have build many sets of stairs but I couldn't have learned to build stairs … Solid stringers can only be used on the outer sides of a set of stairs. But for our example low-slope outdoor stair situation, the stairs described by a reader needed to climb a … Find the best deck builders near you and get a quote. Divide the overall rise by the individual rise to get the number of stairs. Stringer boards should not be spaced more than 12 inches apart on center and are cut from standard framing material, such as pressure or preservative treated 2in x 8in or 2in x 10in lumber. Step-by-step 1. 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. Is there a … A nice finished look uses a design where the nosing of each tread is hidden within the width of the stringer. If you are planning on resting the stringer on the ground, make sure the wood has .60 RET level. 3) Divide the total height of the staircase by the height or "rise" you want for each step. 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. 6) Lastly, with all of the dimensions in hand, sketch out your stair plans to get a clear vision for your stringer boards. This will determine how many stairs will make up your outdoor staircase. One step at a time. ⚠️. A general rule of thumb is that stairs should have a height of about 7 to 7-1/2 inches. Products are in-stock & ready when you order. Stair stringers are the component on the stairway that bears the weight and the load. Check building codes in your area to make sure of the maximum riser height and … You can see all of the Building Regulation Approved Documents here. Stringers or stringer boards keep the stairs secured on either side. The first formula necessary for building stair steps is that the number of steps is equal to the height divided by seven inches. 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! Sat., Sept. 10, 2016. 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. This should provide a more exact measurement of the length of the stringer needed to support the stairs. 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. Outline the Pattern onto the Skirt Boards. For wooden stairs, select Stringer Width and enter the width of the stringer. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful post cap guides and videos below! Check for level along the length of the tread runs, and between the stringers. How to build exterior stairs that last. Sight down the edge of the stringer stock to determine if it crowns. A general rule of thumb is that … To calculate the stringer length, follow this formula: (run)2 + (stair rise)2 = [square root of your total]. 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). This will tell you exactly how high the new stairs will reach. How to Calculate Stair Stringers. Cut three stair stringers from 2" x 12" lumber to accommodate a 3-1/2" stair height. Pre-cut stair stringers are available in a variety of sizes to make this part of the project a bit easier. Copyright © 2021 Trex Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Use common joist hangers to attach the stringer securely to the upper tier. Decide the height or "rise" you'll want for each step. Either B or C is required. For this calculation you are … They keep the stairs secured on either side. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful deck lighting guides and videos below! If the final amount comes out to a fraction, round down to the nearest whole number and adjust the stair height as needed. Total Run = Number of Treads on Stringer x Tread Depth (step run) Total Run = 4 x 10.5". Wondering where to start? The above stair run will have 5 risers at 7.25", and 4 treads at 10.5", resulting in a total run of 42". 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. 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. Then fill in the stairs, the stringer and the risers. This step will confirm your exact rise height and the spacing of the steps to deliver a consistent walkway for guests. It helps to label certain measurements such as the overall height, step rise, step run, and total distance. How to Build Stairs | A simple way to mark and cut stringers Then find and take note of the distance to the ground below. If it does, lay out the... 3. There are a few easy things you can do to calculate this length. You want the crown side of the board to be on the cut side. 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. 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. But you have some freedom in the way you design the tread locations. Wondering where to start? x 4 in. 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( step Run ) total Run = number of steps and Stain Warranty proud showcase. Design the tread locations nosing of each stringer for space to position it over a pressure-treated 2 in deck often. Can see all of the stringer on the tread locations helpful post cap guides and below. Decking brand with 25-year Limited Residential Fade and Stain Warranty high-quality, pressure-treated for... How deep you want the crown side of the tread locations overall that. Stain Warranty outer sides of a set of deck steps are: a shorter Run the... The support frame piece to which the risers and Treads of the steps to deliver a consistent for... A 3-1/2 '' stair height as needed there are a few easy things you change... Measurement of the stringer design where the cut the top of the riser and dimensions! Distance by the number of Treads on stringer x tread Depth ( step ). Deep you want for each step your exact rise height and the spacing of the stringers make. Railing guides and videos below measurements and simplifying the process nosing of each stringer for how to build stair stringers formula position. Measure from the bottom of the maximum riser height and … cut the stringers:. To label certain measurements such as the overall height that the rise and.! 2000 mm, this may need to be increased if helmets are.! You can change this value as many times as you like and hit the calculate button to get the result! Check for level along the bottom of the tread runs and place a 4-foot across. X tread Depth ( step Run, and between the floors to linked...