Take the total height of your stairs divided by the number of steps. This will give you the exact height you should cut each rise in your stair stringer boards. You can use the chart below to help convert the decimal you calculate into a fraction you can use to measure out your stringer in inches.
How do you figure and cut stair stringers?
To cut stair stringers, you’ll need to use a framing square to draw out your stairs along the top edge of your board. Then, use a circular saw to cut the lines you marked on the wood, but always complete your cuts with a hand saw to avoid accidentally cutting too far.
How do you cut a 2×12 stringer?
Laying out the stringer
Hold a framing square with the rise dimension on the tongue and the run dimension on the blade intersecting the edge of the 2×12. Clamp a scrap of wood to the underside of the of the square to serve as a guide, then mark out the first cut with a pencil.
How far apart should stair stringers be?
Stringers should be spaced no more than 36 inches apart from each other for maximum stair support, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. However, local residential codes may vary slightly, so check the building codes before building a staircase.
How long should a 2×12 stringer be?
We suggest 10.5″ for 2×12 or 2 – 2×6 Treads.
How do you calculate the angle of a staircase?
If using a trigonometry table, calculate the quotient of the rise divided by the run, then look up the arctan value for that number in degrees. That will be the stair angle.
How many steps is 4 foot rise?
Use your minimum riser height; if you roundup, this would push the riser under the minimum limit. In Edmonton, the minimum is five inches. Nine rises (round down) with eight steps (minus one). A four-foot high deck can have a range between 6 and 8 steps.
Can you cut premade stair stringers?
But you can use pre-cut pressure-treated stair stringers. “It’s much simpler for a homeowner to use pre-cuts, instead of having to calculate exact cuts and cut a 2-by-12 to make stringers,” said Chris Doerfler, contractor sales representative at Lumber in Fallston.
What size lumber is used for stair stringers?
Deck stairs are typically made from 2 x 12 stringers spaced about 12 to 16 inches apart.
Can I use 2×12 for stair treads?
Stair treads may be made of a single 2×12, but are often made of two decking boards or 2x6s. A stringer is a wide board, usually a 2×12, that runs at an angle from the landing pad to the deck framing and supports the treads.
Do stair stringers need support?
Yes, the stringers need to be supported along their length, but they can span a few feet too, depending on 1) the width of the stairs, 2) the number of stringers, and 3) size of riser board. 1) The wider the stair the more load will be transferred to the stringers.
