How to Construct Basement Stairs
New homes that have a basement will require the addition of a staircase to get from the main floor to a basement and back up again. Staircases are typically constructed out of 2x12 lumber when a new house is built or when an existing staircase needs to be replaced. You can construct basement stairs by first obtaining the correct measurements to determine how many stairs will be needed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Measure the height from the ceiling to the floor to determine the number of risers. This will give you the total rise for the staircase. Take this measurement and divide it by seven to determine how many risers will be needed for the staircase.
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2
Subtract one riser from the total number of risers to obtain the number of treads that will be needed. The first step in the staircase is a riser and does not require a tread.
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3
Find the total run for the staircase. Use a tape measure to find the distance from the floor to where the bottom of the staircase will end.
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4
Determine the width for each tread by dividing the total run (in inches) by the number of treads that you need.
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5
Mark on the board where it needs to be cut for risers and treads on a piece of 2x12 lumber. Place the framing square diagonally on a piece of 2x12 a couple inches from the edge of the board. The framing square needs to be placed at the length of the riser and the width of the tread.
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Draw a line on both sides of the framing square for the riser and the tread making a V shape. Move the framing square down the length of the board and trace the line for each riser and stringer.
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Cut along the lines that you drew on the 2x12 lumber with a circular saw. Place the circular saw on the first line and cut along the full width of the board. This will be the first riser. Continue cutting out each riser and tread by cutting along each pencil mark.
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8
Nail the stringers into place and add treads to complete the staircase.
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9
Measure the length of each tread and cut them out of lengths of 2x10 boards. Nail each tread to the stringer using a nail gun or a hammer and nails.
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Tips & Warnings
The risers for a stair step are typically 7".
The tread width for the stairs on a staircase should be between 8" and 10".
If your riser number is not a whole number round it up.
The total obtained by adding the riser height to the tread length should be 17" or 18".
2x12 boards should be a couple of feet longer than actually needed to allow for adjustments.
If the total rise measurement is incorrect, the stair treads will not be level.
