DIY Network

Blog Cabin: Stairs Assembly and Installation The Blog Cabin crew practices the art and science of stair assembly. Also, a local wood sculptor adds his touch to the cabin. From "Blog Cabin" episode DBLG-106

Wood sculptor Gene Webb uses dental tools to create some of his carvings. For others, he breaks out heavier equipment.

In this installment of Blob Cabin, the stairs are assembled and installed. For the staircase railing, the online voters picked round pine railing in lieu of traditional or rustic branch railing. The Blog Cabin team hits a snag, however, when Amy discovers America’s railing choice is not the style that was delivered.

While they wait for the correct railing to show up, Amy visits Gene Webb, a chainsaw artist who shows Amy some of his work, and later stops by the cabin to do a custom wood carving on one of the posts it the cabin.

Eventually the correct round railing shows up and the Blog Cabin team completes the staircase.

To start the process, following is a summary of steps followed in planning and measuring for the staircase. A recap of the staircase project follows that summary.

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	Cutting the opening in the stringer for the tread
	Inserting the tread in the stringer
	Positioning the assembled staircase
	The installed staircase

Preparing and Measuring for a Staircase

Tools and materials:

measuring tape
2x12 wood piece

1. Measure the elevation difference between the top of the stairs and the point where the stairs will land.

• Note: This measurement must include the thickness of both the downstairs flooring and the upstairs flooring. Measure the elevation difference from finished downstairs to finished floor upstairs.

2. Decide on the height of the riser. The riser is vertical element of a set of stairs. The height of the riser is the distance from the top face of one tread (part you stand on) to the top face of the next tread. Ideal riser height is typically around eight inches.

3. Divide the total elevation gain by the riser height, rounding the dividend to the nearest whole number.

4. Then divide the total elevation gain by this whole number to get the number of risers in the stairs you will build.

5. Draw a picture of the stairs to show the number of risers. (It's easy to forget about a tread if you don't draw them out.) This will show you the resulting number of treads which will be in the stairs. Typically the number of treads will equal the number of risers plus one.

6. Now decide on the tread width.

• Note: The rounded edge of a stair tread is the nosing. About 12 inches with nosing is usually ideal. Don't go less than nine inches.

7. Multiply the tread width by the number of treads. This will give you the projection of the stairs from the upstairs landing (i.e., the length of the stairs).

8. Make sure you have room for the stairs.

9. Layout a stringer with a framing square.

10. Put the riser height on one side of the square and the tread width on the other and scribe the square on a 2x12.

• Note: Stair stringers form the backbone of a set of stairs.

11. Move your way down the length of the stringer drawing out the treads and risers on the 2x12.

12. Cut out the scribed parts and make several more stringers.

13. Now you're ready to assemble and place your staircase.

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