The stringers are the notched, sloping boards that will go on either side of the stairs to hold the steps and support the weight that’s placed on them. When fashioning them, you’ll need to account for both the height and length of the stairs.
Prior to drafting up a set of detailed plans, review the International Residential Codes (IRC) for building stairs. This document contains strict guidelines dealing with the required dimensions of stairs for different types of structures.
A 57 inch (140 cm) deck divided by a 7 inch (18 cm) rise will give you 8. 14, which means you’ll be measuring for 8 steps. If your calculations leave you with an extra half step, round down and adjust the rise for slightly shallower steps to make sure they’re in compliance with the IRC. [4] X Research source
Don’t do any rounding here. In order for your stairs to be consistent (and to avoid a cumbersome head or foot step) it’s important that the distance between each step be as precise as possible.
A total of 8 steps multiplied by 10 (the width of each step in inches) gives you an overall run of 80 inches (200 cm). For most sets of stairs, a pair of 5. 5 inch (14 cm) deck boards will be just the right size to form the treads of each step. [7] X Research source
Keep your plans more or less to scale so it will be obvious how everything is supposed to fit together.
For maximum efficiency, consider attaching adjustable stair gauges to your framing square. These can be adjusted to your exact specifications, making it easier to ensure that each angle comes out identical without the need to realign the square every time. [10] X Research source Stair stringers are most often cut from a single 2x12 stock board.
Make sure you leave at least 7 inches (18 cm) inches at the head of the board for the final riser, which you can trim to fit later. If you have the square positioned the wrong way, the rise and run dimensions will be reversed.
Be careful not to left the square shift while you’re drawing your lines. The slightest movement could throw off the measurements of the finished stairs. When you’re done, check both lines with your tape measure to confirm that they’re the right length.
You’ll be able to cut a maximum of 14 steps into a standard 16 foot (4. 9 m) 2x12 stringer board. This should be more than enough for most types of structures.
