How to Build Stairs: Stair Stringers, Treads and Risers
There are three basic components in a typical stair: stringers, treads and risers. Most of the time when I talk to customers they are only familiar with the term “tread”. So let me take a minute to define these terms and give you an overview of what each one is.
Stringers
Stringers are pieces of lumber that support the treads and risers from below. They are typically cut from 2×12 material. For most situations you will want two stringers. One stringer can be used for stairs up to about five feet wide. Three stringers would be used for stairs wider than five feet up to about seven feet. Anything wider than seven feet should probably have four stringers.
Treads
Treads are the horizontal pieces that you step on as you climb the stairs. They can be made out of lumber or concrete or even stone in some cases. The treads are secured to the stringers on top with 2 1/2″ deck screws or 3″ galvanized nails. Remember, if you do use nails (and I think using nails is fine) make sure they are galvanized so that they won’t rust and cause your
Concrete stair construction is not difficult if you follow the steps outlined below. A basic understanding of concrete and masonry products, as well as a willingness to do some physical labor is all that is needed to build your own concrete stairs. With the right information and materials, concrete steps can be built in a weekend.
Concrete Stairs Overview
Concrete stairs are most often used as an exit from the basement of a home to the outside. They can also be used as access to decks, patios, and other elevated areas of a building. Concrete stairs are most often framed with pressure treated lumber and covered with plywood or OSB sheathing. The stairs will then be covered with cement backer board and finished with tile or stone veneer.
Step 1-Lay Out the Form for the Stairs
The first step in laying out and installing concrete stairs is to lay out the form for the stairs. This can be done on a flat surface such as a driveway. The form should start with a 2×12 pressure treated board that is set so it is level at both ends and will have a slight pitch away from the foundation of the house. Using stakes and string, set two strings down along each side of the board parallel to it at 2 foot
A stairway is a series of steps that lead either up to or down from a doorway or other level change. Stairs can be straight, round, or may consist of two or more straight pieces connected at angles. The stairs are used to provide access to different levels of the house and in some cases, they are also used as an accent design feature.
The main parts of a stairway are the stringers, treads, and risers. Stringers are diagonal supports that run along each side of the stairs; treads are the horizontal boards that form the steps; and risers are the vertical boards between each step. These parts can be made with a variety of materials including wood, metal or concrete. Decks stairs can be built using pre-cut stringers from a lumberyard.
Stairways must be designed so that they are safe and comfortable to use even for people who have limited mobility. According to building codes, stairs should be at least 36″ wide with a maximum rise of 8″ and minimum run of 10″. The handrails should be mounted 34″ above the nosing and must be continuous for the full length of the stairs.
Stairs are made up of the following basic parts.
Risers – The riser is the vertical section of the stairway that connects one tread to the next. Most building codes require risers to be a minimum of 4 inches tall, and not to exceed 7 inches tall. Risers are required on all stairs except for stairs that serve as an egress from a building.
Treads – The tread is the flat surface of each step. Tread width should have a minimum width of 8-9 inches for comfort, although 10-11 inches is preferred for new construction. No maximum tread width is specified in most building codes, but all treads must be equal in size (except for the top and bottom treads).
Nosing – The nosing is the edge that extends beyond the riser and is attached to the face of each tread. Nosings should be approximately 1 1/8″ thick and extend no more than 1 1/4″ beyond the face of each tread. All stair nosings must be uniform throughout a flight unless a variance has been granted by local authorities.
Stringer – Stringers are the structural members that transfer load from one tread to another. Stringers are usually “cut” or shaped on site to fit properly between
Masonry Cement
Masonry cement is a specially blended cement that has the proper proportions of cement, sand, and lime to allow it to adhere tenaciously to building units. It is available in types N, S, and M. Type N should be used where compressive strengths are not critical. Type S is useful for heavy load-bearing walls, arches, and other masonry construction requiring higher compressive strengths. Type M is the strongest type and should be used for construction subject to high loads or severe weather conditions.
A mortar made with masonry cement will have a higher initial rate of strength gain than one made with a comparable amount of Portland cement paste or standard mortar mix. The low water-cement ratio of masonry cement allows for better bond with masonry units than does the use of Portland cement alone or straight mortar mix. This increased bond leads to greater resistance to tensile stresses that can cause cracking and spalling in exterior walls due to thermal expansion and contraction. In addition, the lower permeability of masonry cement contributes to improved durability by slowing water absorption by the wall system.
Masonry cement is a pre-blended mortar mix that can be used without the addition of mixing water on most jobs. Like Portland cement and Type S mortar, masonry cement is available as a dry pre-blended mix or as a premixed product.
The major advantage of using masonry cement over Portland cement and Type S mortar is that the amount of mixing water required for the job is greatly reduced, if not eliminated. As a result, the mortar will have more consistent properties, including resistance to cracking and staining.
Masonry cement is a blended mixture of portland cement and hydrated lime. It is designed to be mixed with sand and water to form a concrete or mortar mix. It should be used for applications where the strength and durability of portland cement are required, but where the special characteristics of Type N masonry cement are desired.
Masonry cement is available in Type S, which meets ASTM C 91 for above 60°F application, and Type N, which meets ASTM C 270 for above 32°F application. Both types meet ASTM specification C 1328 for plastic properties.