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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> Stair stringers https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1191414622 Message started by zturbo on Oct 3^rd, 2007, 1:30pm

Title: Stair stringers
Post by zturbo on Oct 3^rd, 2007, 1:30pm

Hello- Having a little problem on building stair stringers. The vertical rise is 31" and the hortizontal span is 81". I have tried working it out on paper and the only thing I could come up with is the treads to be 11 1/2" and the risers to be 4 1/2". When I took a 2 x 12 and tried to lay it out I ended up running out of space do to the tread length. What I mean is that I was running out of wood space. I did take a stringer I bought from lowes and kinda used that as a template. The treads on it was 10" and the risers are 6 1/2". Maybe that is what is messing me up.I just need some help on this or ideas on what to do.Thanks

Title: Re: Stair stringers
Post by jasonB on Oct 3^rd, 2007, 6:11pm

Thats a very shallow staircase, can you not reduce the total going?

With such a shallow stair there should be no problem getting it to fit 12" wide stringers, you could probably fit it into a 6" deep stringer but it would not have sufficent strength.

What are you using to lay out the stringers, a roofing square with clamps is the easiest but you could just make up a triangular MDF or PLY template with one side 4.5" and the other 11.5".

Jason

Title: Re: Stair stringers
Post by woodsmith on Oct 3^rd, 2007, 7:04pm

There are building regulations regarding stair construction, so you may be wise to get building permission that is if you are installing new stairs.

The normal relationship between the dimensions of the rise and going is detailed in Approved Document K, which states that twice the rise plus the going (2R+G) should be between 550mm and 700mm.

Your stairs are going to come in under that :-/

As for the technicalities there is no reason why you can't make a very wide stringer by gluing two pieces together.

Title: Re: Stair stringers
Post by zturbo on Oct 3^rd, 2007, 7:04pm

I guess Im not understanding :-?what you said. When Im trying to lay this out on a 2 x 12 x 8 I end up being out of the 2 x 12 in about the 3rd riser. I could be doing it wrong but the 11 1/2 riser is messing me up. :-?

Title: Re: Stair stringers
Post by woodsmith on Oct 3^rd, 2007, 7:13pm

I've just sketched this out and you should be able to fit the treads within the 12" stringer

Title: Re: Stair stringers
Post by jasonB on Oct 3^rd, 2007, 8:54pm

wrote on Oct 3^rd, 2007, 7:04pm:

I could be doing it wrong but the 11 1/2 riser is messing me up. :-?

Though you said the risers wer 4.5"

I have only plotted a couple of steps and they fit easily into a 12"
string. Note going is 11.5" not tread which will be about 12"

Don't forget stairs have one more rise than tread as the last riser is actually the landing

As it so shallow a ramp may be easier ;)

Jason

Title: Re: Stair stringers
Post by zturbo on Oct 3^rd, 2007, 9:17pm

OK Thanks Guys. I must be sketching it out backwards or some thing. Can any one do a full sketch and put it on here. Maybe the problem is that my trade is plumbing but I do feel as if I able to do this.Thanks again

Title: Re: Stair stringers
Post by jasonB on Oct 4^th, 2007, 7:36am

I'll see what I can do this evening

J

Title: Re: Stair stringers
Post by jasonB on Oct 4^th, 2007, 7:50pm

As I said in my earlier post it would appear that you have 7 risers and seven treads which just won't work, I have worked it out usingbased on 31" total rise and 81" total going with your 4.5" (112.5mm) rise which gives six goings of 343mm which will fit easily into a 12" deep stringer as you can see

If not this may make it easier to visualise

Hope that its all clear now

Jason

Title: Re: Stair stringers
Post by zturbo on Oct 4^th, 2007, 8:00pm

Thanks Jason- Looks good and I am getting closer to my goal. Will let you know.