MAKING EASE OUT OF LAYING OUT A STAIR STRINGER. SO EASY A REDFIREPEARLGT CAN DO IT
Well here is something else I just found. Its called a stair gauge. Costs $5 at Lowes or Home Depot.
You will also need your trusty framing square in 1/16th divisions.
Find a nice sharp clean cut edge and set one of your first two dimensions on one side, and lock down with the thumb screw on the first stair gauge. Then swing the framing square while keeping the stair gauge against the edge until the other dimension is read on the other side. While holding the dimension, attach the other stair gauge in place so it is snug up against he edge as well. Verify your numbers.
In my case the rise (stair height) for the new stringer is 8 11/16th's inches.
The tread run (not to be confused with total run which is stair tread run dimension x number of treads) is 7 3/4 inches
Now its simply a matter of placing the framing square on your 2x12 lumber, tracing the outside edge and moving the square down to the next point of intersection.
This way your layout makes more sense and doesn't look like a math fair project like the originals I did looked like below. LOL!
The hardest part now is establishing the height of the first step where it attaches to the floor joist at the top. This can be rough cut and then fine cut for a flush fit (not all floor joists will be square vertically). A few different ways to attach the stringer to the top as well. Here is a hyperlink to a stringer calculator to make things a lot easier. In newer homes or homes with basements that have 8ft or higher ceilings, being off on your run won't be critical. In older single story homes with 7ft basement ceilings the run measurement will be critical. This is why I am redoing mine so that I will have more head room gong down the steps which will also give me more room to get things up and down the steps.
This takes a lot of stress and time out of the process. It provides repeatable measurements as well. I highly suggest truing the ends of the lumber as well before beginning the process and insuring both board measure the same exact length.
Hope this helps. It works the same for doing deck steps as well. Save yourself some money and try it on your own. If you are building the deck you already have the framing square and a circular or miter saw as well as a 4ft level. All you then need is the stair gauges which is $5.
Also here is a link to a stair stringer calculator which makes the process even easier. https://www.mycarpentry.com/stair-calculator.html
Enjoy!
Reply With Quote