actual stair measurements

[flinchlock]

If I create a 42" "Sec Width" set of staris, what is the actual width of the stair?

Assuming each stinger is 2" thick and the stair tread goes into the stringer 1", then the actual stair tread is 40" wide and 38" is actual visable?

I would buy a 40" long board?

Mike

[daydreamer]

Thart would really be considered the "tread"

2" stringers will be hard to come by unless you have them made. 1-1/2" would be typical.

Yeah, but buying 40" boards cut to length will probably be expensive.

Probably better of getting an 8' piece and cutting it yourself.

[flinchlock]

Thart would really be considered the "tread"

So that exposed piece I can see is the tread?

2" stringers will be hard to come by unless you have them made. 1-1/2" would be typical.

Our existing house has 2" oak stringers, 1 1/2" + 1/2" = 2", and I am not sure how far the treads are into the stringers.

I am just trying to understand what exactly is created by the stair tools.

An example, (assume the stringers are 2")...

If I have a 42" wide staircase that has real walls, then 42" stairs would actually actually be 38" threads. But, if there are no physical walls, the treads would be 42"?

That is why the Staircase Specification dbx says "Sec Width" instead of tread width... right?

Mike

[daydreamer]

Yes the exposed piece is the tread.

The reason I mentioned the 2" was that typically a two by is 1-1/2" and a one by is 3/4". Plywood or planed lumber would be used to get something 1/2" thick.

Actually I think the treads would be 42" because they usually sit on top of the stringer. (see attached stringer)

No the section width is the tread width.

[flinchlock]

Yes the exposed piece is the tread.

GREAT

The reason I mentioned the 2" was that typically a two by is 1-1/2" and a one by is 3/4". Plywood or planed lumber would be used to get something 1/2" thick.

Yup, been there, done that... understand.

Actually I think the treads would be 42" because they usually sit on top of the stringer. (see attached stringer)

No the section width is the tread width.

What about if "Closed Sides" is checked?

Mike

P.S. Please be patient with me, I am not trying to be a PITA, I have a built-in need to understand stuff.

[daydreamer]

Mike,

Click Tools and then on Material list then on Calculate From all Floors. You will see what the program is calculating.

[flinchlock]

Click Tools and then on Material list then on Calculate From all Floors. You will see what the program is calculating.

COOL!

It says "44x11 5/16-1"" even though the Stair Specifications dbx says 42".

THANKS,
Mike

P.S. I think I have asked enough about this.

[daydreamer]

You're welcome...

[Larry]

Hardwood and all wood originally is cut to 4/4, 5/4 and 8/4 (four quarters, five quarters and eight quarters). This is rough lumber, after drying and need to be planed. This determines how thick a finished product you will get.

If I intended to make my own staircase I would peobably laminate a 5/4 and a 4/4 piece of oak together. These would give me about 1" and 3/4". I would cut all the treads and risers into the 3/4 piece and then glue and screw them to the 1" pieces with the grain opposite ways to help eliminate warping and make the insets easily done.

This would give me a finished stringer of 1.75", have more stability than a single piece and be easier to cut out then so much router work.

OTOH, I would go to a staircase maker because they make the insets wedged and glue wedges into them to keep it all tight and avoid squeaking. They also have the wood available and mistakes are paid for by them.

[Larry]

One point (for newbie)

The backclipped view: This will give you a slice of the house from wherever you start the arrow line to wherever you stop with the arrowhead. This is idea for zooming in on detailed crosssections like you want for this.

[flinchlock]

I found this interesting chart about Stair Angle Based On Rise and Run...

http://www.bestdecksite.com/introStairsPg2.htm

Mike

[billgilbert]

Found other interesting links and tools. Nice reference. Thanks.

[flinchlock]

More stair stuff...

http://stairways.org/pdf/2006%20Stai...C%20SCREEN.pdf

http://stairways.org/staircase.htm

http://www.blocklayer.com/Stairs/StairsEng.aspx

Mike

[flinchlock]

http://www.sizes.com/home/stairs.htm

"Among American architects, an old rule-of-thumb is that the sum of the unit rise and the unit run should be about 17½″. Common practice has been to make the unit rise about 7½ inches, the unit run 9″ for interiors and 11″ for exteriors."

Mike

[daydreamer]

So much for rule of thumb...