The Four Steps to a Beautiful Stair
While all stairs allow us to ascend or descend to different levels in a safe manner, all stairs are not created equal. To better understand the various options available, let’s first explore the four fundamental steps in stair selection.
Step 1
The basic components of stair construction include:
Treads: (or step)
The horizontal flat surface your foot steps upon as you climb.
Risers: (or kick board)
The vertical surface connecting the back of the lower tread with the underside of the tread above. This surface keeps the front of your foot from traveling too far as you ascend a stair.
Stringers: (or carriage)
The diagonal support boards, typically (2) found on the outer ends of a stair to provide overall support by attachment to the treads and risers. It is typically the stringers which are permanently attached to the structure of the house at the time of installation.
Step 2
Stairs are available in a variety of architectural designs to best suite the overall “look” of your home, as well as the space available around the stair. In general, these architectural stair designs include one or several of the following design components:
Box Stair:
Treads and risers terminate at ends into a routed stringer board. Often used where the stair stringer sits flat against a wall.
Open End Stair:
Treads include a mitered return (side) nosing on one or both sides. Risers may be mitered to the stringer or to a decorative side riser bracket. Stringers support the treads from below. Often used where the side of the stair is open to a room with a balustrade.
Winding Stair:
Treads a triangular in shape, typically two or three arranged to accommodate a 90 or 180 degree turn within a single staircase. Often used in place of a flat platform/landing where space is limited.
Open Riser Stair:
Treads are typically thicker than other stairs as these treads have no risers to support them. Often used in a contemporary setting or where light and view through the stair is desired.
Bulnose/Quarter-round Starting Step:
The first and/or second tread on one or both sides of the stair is rounded to create a softer, welcoming effect at the bottom of the stair. Often used to accommodate a volute or other decorative rail fitting, or trophy newel post at the bottom of the stair.
Free-standing Stair:
One or both sides of a stair are constructed with a reinforced, larger stringer, to allow the stair to be installed without a support wall. Often used to accommodate more space an open “feel” below the staircase.
Step 3
Eastern Stair can craft your staircase from a nearly unlimited variety from a domestic and exotic wood species. Treads, risers and stringers need not be made from the same species of wood, as contrasting finished shades and textures can add to the appeal of a staircase. Often a combination of painted and stained surfaces can provide dramatic emphasis on a wood’s natural characteristics.
Domestic species include:
Red Oak, White Oak, Soft Maple, Hard Maple, Ash, Birch, Beech, American Cherry, Hickory, Walnut, Cypress, Heart Pine, Fir, Yellow Pine, Poplar, and more.
Exotic Species include:
Brazilian Cherry, African Mahogany, Genuine Mahogany, Santos Mahogany, Lyptus, Bamboo, Rosewood, Tigerwood, Padouk, Teak, and more.
Click here for visual images of wood species.
Step 4
Now, we are ready to select the overall layout (shape). The final step incorporates the integration of the first three steps, adding the space available in your floor plan and the style desired for your home.
With this information we can now determine the layout and shape of the staircase.
Click on the following links to learn more about these stair design options:
For a Glossary of "Additional" Stair Terms, Click Here
