How To Cut A Set Of Stairs

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Stair stringers are the backbone of any set of stairs. They support the treads and provide the structural support of the stairway. In order to cut your stair stringers perfectly, you demand to take the fourth dimension to measure and lay them out correctly. Once y'all have established the rise and run of your stairs and have fatigued them out on your wood, you lot only need to cut along your lines with precision and care.

1
Mensurate how much total rise your stairs need. Your full ascent is the height from one story to the side by side that the stairs will connect. The total rise should exist set in almost cases, so y'all simply need to measure out the height.^[ane]
- This distance should be from the elevation of the finished floor beneath and the finished floor at the height. If the flooring is unfinished when you are calculating your stringers, you need to take that into account.
2
Determine how tall you desire each step to be. The height of each step tin can vary a bit but there are general standards. It is standard to have your riser be about 7 inches (xviii cm) alpine, and then utilise this measurement unless y'all have specific parameters that prevent information technology, such as limited headroom. ^[2]
- This measurement is sometimes called the individual rising of the stairs.
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3
Dissever the overall rise by the individual rise to become the number of stairs. For this calculation y'all are simply figuring out how many stairs information technology will have to become the height you need. Apply a calculator or practice the arithmetics by hand, as it is generally pretty simple.^[3]
- For example, if you want vii inches (18 cm) alpine stairs and your overall ascent needs to be 56 inches (140 cm), and so 56/seven=viii. You will need 8 stairs.
- The number of treads you lot have (individual runs) will automatically exist one less than the number of risers.
4
Determine how much run each stair will need. Your total run is the horizontal distance betwixt the pinnacle and the bottom of the stairs. How far the stairs stick out can vary depending on your needs, just keep in mind that stairs should usually be at an angle of about 40 degrees.^[4]
- In general, the run of each stair should exist about 10 inches (25 cm) in society for people'south feet to fit comfortably as they walk up them.
- There are many stair calculators that you can use online to effigy out stair measurements. You but need to input your rise and the angle you lot desire for your stairs and they volition calculate the other measurements you need, including your run.
5
Summate how long the stringer needs to be. Once y'all have the overall ascension and run of the stairs, you lot can calculate how long the stringer needs to be. You can either use an online stair calculator, a hypotenuse figurer, or you can practise the math yourself.
- To calculate the length yourself, you will need to apply the Pythagorean theorem, which is a² + b² = c². So, for example, if the rise needs to exist 60 inches (150 cm) and the run needs to be 84 inches (210 cm), and then you would summate threescoreⁱⁱ + 84² = cⁱⁱ, with "c" beingness the length of 99 inches (250 cm).
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Double check your measurements earlier you showtime marker your cuts. Ensure your math and calculations are correct then that you don't waste matter your fourth dimension and materials cut risers that don't fit. It's better to have a few minutes to double bank check yourself than to waste a whole lot of time redoing your work.^[five]

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i
Start laying out the outset stair. Place a framing foursquare nearly the finish of a 2 x 12 (38 x 286 mm) board, leaving a few inches at the end before the end of the foursquare. Apply the individual rising and run figures marked on the exterior scales of the square that matches your desired measurements. These figures should touch the upper edge of your lath.^[6]
- The brusque end of the square (tongue) should be on the rise measurement. The long finish of the foursquare (torso) should be on the run measurement.
- The board should be at least 12 inches (xxx.48cm) longer than the planned length of the stringer, just to give yourself some play.
ii

Mark the outline along the square'southward outer edges. Move the square downwards to extend the run line to the lower board edge, if necessary. This is the outline of your summit stair.^[vii]
3
Lay out the rest of the stairs. Slide the framing square along the lath then your calibration run effigy touches the end of your first marked run line. Double check that your rise and run figures are lines up with the top edge of the board and then mark your second stair.^[8]
- Continue down the board, making certain to line upwardly the scale's ascension and run effigy at the top edge. Mark the new outline and repeat until you have marked ane extra pair of runs and rises.
iv

Mark the lesser of the stringer. In order to brand the get-go pace the same acme equally the others, y'all need to subtract the depth of the thread from the rise, so the finished stair is still 7 inches (18 cm). Simply make another mark to the right of the run line that is parallel and equal to the thickness of the thread. This marks the stringer bottom.^[9]

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1
Prepare to employ a round saw safely. Put on your personal protective equipment, including safety glasses. Information technology's likewise of import to apply general condom precautions when using a circular saw. These include keeping your body parts away from the blade while the tool is running and being certain that the cord is out of the path of the tool every bit it'southward running.^[10]
- You should too clamp down your stringer lath, so that it doesn't motility while you cut it.
ii
Cut downward the lines you marked on the stringer with a circular saw. Start the saw running before information technology makes contact with the wood. And so slowly work the saw in from the outer edge of the marking towards where information technology ends, where the rising and run meet.^[11]
- Go out almost .5 inches (ane.3 cm) of the line uncut, which you will stop with a manus saw.
iii

Stop your cuts with a handsaw. Cutting beyond where the ascension and run lines meet tin severely weaken your structure. Instead of accidentally going too far with the circular saw, choose to cease your cuts with a handsaw so that you can be exact.^[12]
iv

Trim the lesser and top of the stringer. Cut the top of the stringer forth the get-go rising line. Then trim the bottom run line, which was marked so that it is shorter than the others past an amount equal to the thread thickness of your stairs. ^[13]
five

Use the first finished stringer as a template. Use this one as a stringer template for all of your other stringers so they all match exactly. In about cases, you will need only 1 or ii more than stringers, although a very wide stairway could require more.^[xiv]

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Wear gloves and eye protection while operating saws.
Consult with authorities in your area to familiarize yourself with your local edifice codes. Comply with local inspections and rules in your surface area.

Things Yous'll Need

Computer, if necessary
Gloves and heart protection
2x12 (38 x 286 mm) wood board
Framing square
Pencil
Circular saw
Manus saw

About This Article

Article Summary X

To cut stair stringers, you'll need to use a framing square to draw out your stairs along the top border of your lath. Then, employ a circular saw to cut the lines you marked on the wood, only always complete your cuts with a mitt saw to avoid accidentally cutting likewise far. One time y'all've finished cut out the stairs, trim the bottom and top of the stringer to size. And then, use your start stringer equally a template to ensure the second one is identical. For tips on how to summate the length of your stairs, go on reading!

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