QA

Question: How To Lay Out Stairs

What is the formula for laying out stairs?

Determining the Rise You divide the height by 7 inches; if, say, the floor-to-floor distance is 8 feet, 10 inches (or 106 inches), then you’ll need 15 treads (106 divided by 7 equals 15.14). Next, you divide the height by the number of treads (15 into 106), producing the exact tread height (7.06 inches).

What angle should stairs be?

Standard stair angle by application Standard stairs have an angle of 30 to 50 degrees while steep stairs like alternating tread stairs and ship stairs have an angle between 50 and 70 degrees. Ladders have an angle range between 60 and 90 degrees.

How long of a stair stringer do I need?

When ordering stringers, allow about 14 inches of stringer length for each step. Look for straight stock with as few knots as possible. You’ll need at least one stringer for every 16 inches of stair width.

How many stairs do you need to go up 8 feet?

Stair Rise for 8-Foot Ceilings An 8-foot ceiling will need 14 treads. Divide 96-inches (8-feet) by 7-inches to get 13.71 treads, and round up to 14. In this case, you would not round down as you would have one step that is too tall.

How deep should steps be?

The depth (also called tread or run) of each step should be a minimum of 10 or 11 inches depending on the type of stairs. These measurements come from a number of general guidelines which determine this as the starting point for safe stairs.

How do you calculate slope of stairs?

Slope of staircase is calculated by trigonometric formula that is Tanθ which is equal to ratio of opposite to adjacent in a right triangle such as Tanθ = opposite/adjacent, and θ = tan^-1 (opposite/adjacent), and this value of theta (θ) will give us slope of staircase in degrees.

Are stair stringers 2×10 or 2×12?

It is acceptable and within building code guidelines to use either 2×10 or 2×12 dimensional lumber to create a set of stairs; however, a stair stringer should not be less than 3.5 inches wide at its narrowest point to provide adequate strength for the load the stairs will be supporting.

How far apart should stair stringers be?

Deck stairs are typically made from 2 x 12 stringers spaced about 12 to 16 inches apart. They rest on a solid foundation and are attached to the deck with hangers. They have risers (also called toe kicks), treads and railings. The stairs should be at least 36 inches wide.

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. The stair treads should be at least 36 inches wide.

Is 45 degree stairs too steep?

A standard stair has 11″ treads and 7″ risers. Using those dimensions a stair at 45° would have 7″ treads (too small) with 7″ risers or 11″ treads with 11″ risers (too big). So yes, a 45° stair is too steep and more importantly doesn’t even come close to meeting the building code.

How many stairs until you need a landing?

ADA Stair Landings – A landing must be at the top and bottom of each stairway. – A landing is required every 12′ of vertical stairway rise.

How long of a 2×12 do I need for stairs?

We suggest 10.5″ for 2×12 or 2 – 2×6 Treads. Treads may be cut to suit other widths. Either B or C is required.

How long do stairs need to be to go up 10 feet?

For most homes, the length of a flight of stairs is between 9 and 12 feet long. The total length of a flight of stairs for an 8-foot ceiling is approximately 9-feet long. The total length of a flight of stairs for a 10-foot ceiling is approximately 12-feet long.

How many steps do I need for 10 feet?

As per thumb rule and various building code or IRC, assume standard design, for 12 feet height of staircase, you will need approximately 21 stairs and for 10 feet height you need 19 stairs to go up.

How many steps does it take to climb 10 feet?

A staircase in a home with 10′ ceilings requires 17 steps. Stairs that have a tread depth of 11” will have a total length of 187”. Stairs with a tread depth of 10” will have a total length of 170”, which is the minimum length.

What is a comfortable stair rise?

Rule one says that rise plus run (r+R) should equal 18 inches. Why? That’s what most people find to be a comfortable stride on most stairs. You can cheat a bit up or down, but below 17” and more than 19” will result in steps that require strides either too big or too small for most people.

What is the best rise and run for stairs?

On a main stair, the maximum rise should be no more than 8 1/4 inches and the minimum run should be no less than 9 inches. To determine how many steps, or treads, you need, measure from the top of the finished floor on the lower level to the top of the finished floor on the upper level.