Installing Wooden Stairs
Other People Are Reading
-
Stringers
-
The first step for installing wooden stairs involves mounting the stringers. Stringers are the frame pieces of the stairs themselves. They are shaped like a serrated saw blade with 90-degree angle cuts that form the space for the treads and risers. Stringers can be as long as needed and are usually cut from 1-1/2-inch boards.
Attaching the Stringers
-
If mounting stairs against one wall, set the flat end of one side of the stringer against the intersection of the wall where the stairs will begin, and the other side flush against the wall where the stairs are going to be running along. Nail this stringer to the wall with long nails, hitting the main studs. The other stringer is mounted against the wall where the stairs are going to begin with a metal 90-degree brace. The two stringers are braced with 2x4 across their width and vertically to the floor. Once installed, you can now attach the treads and risers to the stringers.
-
Treads and Risers
-
Installing treads and risers is fairly easy. First cut your treads to fit across the width of the stringers with about a one inch run over. Then mount the first tread on the first step at the bottom of the stringer. Push it flush up against the the stringer. Use 1-inch nails and drive them right through the board and into the stringer. Now measure from the height of the tread to the top edge of the first stringer step. Cut your board to this width. Use a 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch pine or maple board for the tread. Nail it to the stringer using 1 inch nails. Then repeat the process for each step as you work your way up.
-
