Click here. If you’ve done the math (it’s grade-school stuff) and the layout right, the tread cuts will be level and the riser cuts plumb. Slide wooden shims in any remaining gaps between the carriage or center support and treads and risers if the stairs still squeak when your sagging stair repair is complete. As an introduction get free access to this article and two others of your choice, just by enteringyour email address below. The level of the concrete in my basement floor is off about an inch between where the ends of the stair stringers will be. If the ground is sloped, don't measure straight down below the backyard wood deck; measure out where the bottom step will sit. How should I fit and trim these two different stair stringers? But if you take the time to do it properly, … In case you have a calculator that is defaulted to 10, there is an easy fix – in my case I simply type in “11”, hit “inch”, followed by “CONV” & hit then the number 9 – now my default tread width it 11 inches instead of 10 until I … / Stairs & the Dreaded Stair Stringer: Codes & Tips. Measure down at this point level with the deck surface and adjust your calculations slightly for the total stair rise. Site design by, Backyard Wood Deck Stairs on Uneven Ground. So why is it that the 1" shorter riser onto the landing at the top of a Receive our FREE Monthly newsletter which contains afree set of woodworking plans each and every month. Click here. The total rise should be set in most cases, so you simply need to measure the height. Unsafe Stairs. Almost exactly six years ago, I wrote a poston a carpentry hack that resolved a problem I had with a stairway after a contractor installed an insulated floor in my basement. If you can't fix the floor to make it more level for future covering, go ahead and trim the last stair riser and the stair stringer. All other trademarks on this site are the property of their respective owners. Uneven step on stair landing - perhaps done on purpose? As an introduction get free access to this article and two others of your choice, just by enteringyour email address below. Answer If you can't fix the floor to make it more level for future covering, go ahead and trim the last stair riser and the stair stringer. Our Stair Calculator is one of the most popular on the internet. Copyright © 1999-2021 DDFM Enterprises. Showing 1-25 of 25 messages. Place the two-by-six block, or blocks, flat between the stringers at the lower end. Tighten the gap by inserting glue-coated wedges into the groove. Since the Tread Depth [B] is a constant, when using the Automatic Stair Calculator, the Total Run [G] will vary when you toggle between the two mount options. Attach the splint using treated deck screws using at least four screws on either side of the damaged area. If the outside stringers are notched, cut the treads so they overhang 1-1/2 inches on each side. Now when you cut your stair stringers allow for the slope of the concrete and scribe this slope on the bottom of the stair stringers. per sq. If your deck has a staircase or set of steps, you must check each component—treads, stringers, handrails, balusters and support posts—for signs of structural damage, including large cracks, loose connections and missing fasteners. Receive our FREE Monthly newsletter which contains afree set of woodworking plans each and every month. For your measurement of 21" total rise this means 3 risers of 7" and two runs of 10 1/2" - 11". I use correct construction terminology, so you can confidently inform your building supply dealers or contractors exactly what you need. The treads overhang the stringer on the sides. Very often, when stairs are made sometimes, especially custom stairs, they leave the stringers running long and the carpenters cut them on site so they fit perfectly in the home. If this is the case, one solution would be to install strips of wood that would fill the spaces by fastening them flush with the top of the stringers with screws through the stringers. Forgot your username or password? It just dawned on me that the slope you are talking about could be going across the stairs instead of what I presumed, sloping away from the backyard wood deck. The Stringer Mount Type refers to how the stringer will be attached to the upper landing or deck frame.. Once the stair results have been calculated, you can toggle between the Standard and Flush options to compare the differences. Some of my answers include drawings and instructions specific to a project, but may also answer your questions. All Rights Reserved. Stringers act like ladders steps and are necessary to help hold your deck stairs in place. When they fall on uneven ground they can become misaligned over time. This helps to keep the stringers aligned, which add stability to the steps you're building. If the wedge is too tall making the angle more drastic than you need, cut the tapered plastic shim to the height by scoring it with a utility knife and snapping it to the right size. To fix this, place hard plastic Wobble Wedge® shims at the 90° corner of the stringer to bring the tread up slightly. How to Level Stairs. Use generous … If your deck is 56 inches (140 cm) off the ground, … If you are going to be doing stairs as part of your job, this is a last resort, but in the case that you cannot re-cut the stringers in place and shims or scabbing on pieces will not resolve the issue, cut new stringers, cut off the teeth of the old stringers and sister the new ones onto the sides. Apply construction adhesive to the face of the 2-by-4. It will save time and frustration. Hi, I'm Dave Osborne. So your bottom step will sit either 21" or 22" out from the face of the backyard wood deck. Our Stair Calculator is one of the most popular on the internet. I have a 21" plumb from my backyard wood deck to the concrete below. Re: stair tread and wall - closing the gap [ Re: wendyjane ] #287978 Some stairs have notched stringers everywhere. Since I had carpet installers coming in the next day and it was late at night, I decided to shim the stairs to make all the risers equal height (see Figu… Predrill pilot holes through the molding and hammer them with 1-inch finish nails along the seams where the treads abut the risers. http://stairs4u.com/stairdonts/stair_don.htm This video will provide you with one way to fix forward sloping stair treads with shims. Uneven step on stair landing - perhaps done on purpose? DDFM ENTERPRISES, DAVE'S SHOP TALK and the Dave Osborne logo are trademarks and service marks owned by DDFM Enterprises. Site design by. That is my assumption. With over 50 years experience as a journeyman carpenter, foreman and contractor in heavy construction I enjoyed working with apprentices and sharing the tricks of the trade that others shared with me. We have projects you can build for (and with) your kids, furniture for your wife, and sheds and gazebos. The stairway is 18 steps long, outside up to the attic/loft of my garage. Decks, Patios, Porches, Walkways, Driveways, Stairs, Steps and Docks - stair stringers uneven - I built a 18x16 deck. I really want to avoid squeaky stairs, so do I need to get the stringers level or will such small difference (between stringers) combined with relatively thick treads not have much effect? Membership gives you full access to our hundreds of how-to articles, woodworking plans, converters, calculators and tables. I put in one tread without securing it about two days ago and there's no squeeking that I can hear. Each tread is like a ladder's rung. My problem is that the concrete is not even, it slopes away from the house. LevelMaster stair stringers are built to last and come in 17 different sizes, making your decision to pick the perfect pair that little bit more difficult. Stairs consist of notched, diagonal stringers that attach between a landing at the top and the floor at the bottom, and treads atop cut-out sections of the stringers. All other trademarks on this site are the property of their respective owners. Copyright © 1999-2021 DDFM Enterprises. • The top tread on the stairs that cannot be accessed from underneath cannot be glue-blocked. Hi, I'm Dave Osborne. DDFM ENTERPRISES, DAVE'S SHOP TALK and the Dave Osborne logo are trademarks and service marks owned by DDFM Enterprises. You are most likely suffering from the sub contractor shuffle, if your stair is like you say get a private home inspector in to make an evaluation. Forgot your username or password? Try to get the 7" rise at the bottom step in the middle of the step, but don't go over 8" on the high end. This self-supporting nature becomes clear when you look at outdoor stairs that serve a deck, where the stringers … The footing (or footings) needs to be sized to support the load on the stairs, which the International Residential code quantifies as 40 lb. Some of my answers include drawings and instructions specific to a project, but may also answer your questions. The insulated floor raised the floor level and made the bottom step of my stairs short – a violation of the code. Tip Measure the length of the underside of the staircase, and the risers and treads, to determine the length of the center support. Maybe throw the stairs out of level a 1/4" with the floor, to help the transition a bit. If you are using closed stringers, cut treads to fit between them. Here we illustrate how to lay out and measure stair rise and run distances when the surface over which the stair will be built is un-even or gets in the way of a straight-line measurement. The trick is to pull the stringers back together and keep them that way. The building inspector did not make the contractor fix the stairs, which left me stuck. Stairs are the one thing that it is almost impossible to fudge, because the rise and run is also the slope, and if you don’t change the slope, you don’t change the rise and run. If it can't be rectified easily, give a bit, so it is not as noticeable. Just watch that the bottom riser, at its highest point, is not over 7 7/8", the maximum rise. This means the stringer height will be different. if one side of the stairs is higher than the other, this requires a measurement on either side where the stair stringers will sit. [1] X Research source This distance should be from the top of the finished floor below and the finished floor at the top. Membership gives you full access to our hundreds of how-to articles, woodworking plans, converters, calculators and tables. (See also Backyard Wood Deck Stairs on Uneven Ground.). You use a framing square to draw the stair’s notches on the stringer, then you cut them out. Drill pilot holes and drive screws or nails to attach the treads to the stringers. Your overall rise has changed because of added flooring, so the slope also has to change to be correct. The stringers also slope (front is higher than the back). Your total rise is the height from one story to the next that the stairs will connect. Installing stair stringers can be quite a tedious task for any DIY handyman. Keep it level on the top—the main floor. If you run into a problem or need advice your Membership includes unlimited email questions to me through our Ask Dave quick response button. • Use a dimensional sized 2-by-2 piece of lumber for blocking material. ft. (psf) live load and 10 psf dead load. if one side of the stairs is higher than the other, this requires a measurement on either side where the stair stringers will sit. Use three fasteners per joint for a 2x12 or 2x10 tread, two fasteners for narrower boards. This deck is an example of that. I'd like to use two stair stringers (2x10) and then bracket two steps between them. If that is the case there are a couple solutions to make your stairs … • Adhere the blocking to the risers and the stringers using a construction adhesive. If stairs in a home seem dangerously steep, you'll have to cut and install new stringers, and possibly the treads, too, in order to create a more gradual slope to the staircase. Aside from making sure you have at least 5" from the bottom edge of the 2x12 to the inside corner of the throat or notch, you just have to do the cuts nicely. Maybe throw the stairs out of level a 1/4" with the floor, to help the transition a bit. Divide the height of the stairs by the desired rise. Cut a 48 inch piece of 2-by-4 lumber to use as a splint. To avoid windows and other things, up top is a 4'x8' landing leaving the stairs about 4 feet from the building. Each stringer is like the leg of a ladder. Now I get emails from Members all over the world and we include many of my answers in our Free Monthly Newsletters. How do I measure the distance of the stair stringers, as they will be different? Measure out how much total rise your stairs need. DerbyDad03: 8/9/12 6:53 PM: My grandfather had a saying about building steps: "The feet remember." I've seen the upper floor out 3/4" in 3' before. Allow about 24 hours for the glue to dry, then use a utility knife to trim the wedges … There is no solid stringer covering the outsides of the steps. Just cut new stringers. Try to get the 7" rise at the bottom step in the middle of the step, but don't go over 8" on the high end. You do what you have to do. Fixing an uneven Stair Landing by: Editor - Rich Bergman First let me assume that when you look at the stairs from a front view, that is the stairs are coming down towards you, the patio landing slopes from left to right or right to left. The essence of laying out stair stringers is straightforward. Instead of ordering special order stringers long enough, he used 2 sets and he did a number on how they join and are supported in the middle of the run. But I don’t think it’s necessary to try to rebuild your floor just to fix the stairs. Now I get emails from Members all over the world and we include many of my answers in our Free Monthly Newsletters. If you are talking about the slope going across the stairs, ie. I had contractors cut the stringers for two sets of … 8. The stringers have notches, one for each stair, and the spacing of these notches dictates the stair positioning. I use correct construction terminology, so you can confidently inform your building supply dealers or contractors exactly what you need. Stair Construction on Sloped Surfaces - how to lay out & build Stairs landing at uneven top or bottom surfaces such as a sloped road or surface where no landing can be installed. Clamp the 2-by-4 to the stair stringer with C clamps, centered on the damaged area. Just watch that the bottom riser, at its highest point, is not over 7 7/8", the maximum rise. With over 50 years experience as a journeyman carpenter, foreman and contractor in heavy construction I enjoyed working with apprentices and sharing the tricks of the trade that others shared with me. Regardless of the stair run and number of treads, the stairway needs a footing at the bottom to support the stringers—they can’t just rest on the ground. If you run into a problem or need advice your Membership includes unlimited email questions to me through our Ask Dave quick response button. All Rights Reserved. We have projects you can build for (and with) your kids, furniture for your wife, and sheds and gazebos. The best way to solve this problem is to use a level across each tread that you cut. If you are talking about the slope going across the stairs, ie. The measurement of the total rise is from the backyard wood deck level to the point where the last stair tread will sit. If the stair treads are slightly uneven or your boards have gaps from uneven sawing, measure and cut strips of quarter-round molding, also called shoe molding, to cover the seams of the new treads and risers. To close gaps caused by stringer spread, start by cleaning debris from the stringer housings (the dado or groove where they fit). Remove nails, wood splinters, paint chips, or glue from the lower and upper sides; finish with a blast of compressed air. 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Pm: my grandfather had a saying about building steps: `` the feet remember. in... Think it ’ s necessary to try to rebuild your floor just to fix this, place hard plastic Wedge®... Between the stringers have notches, one for each stair, and sheds and gazebos to change to be.. Height from one story to the concrete below level a 1/4 '' with the floor, to help hold deck. Logo are trademarks and service marks owned by ddfm ENTERPRISES, Dave SHOP! Seen the upper floor out 3/4 '' in 3 ' before plans converters! How-To articles, woodworking plans each and every month s notches on the internet make the fix. Long, outside up to the concrete below include drawings and instructions specific to a project but! By ddfm ENTERPRISES, Dave 'S SHOP TALK and the stringers have notches, one for stair... ’ t think it ’ s notches on the stairs, ie is no solid stringer covering the outsides the!, converters, calculators and tables about two days ago and there 'S no squeeking I. Stringers are notched, cut treads to fit between them this helps to keep the aligned! Drill pilot holes through the molding and hammer them with 1-inch finish nails along the seams where treads... The damaged area you use a level across each tread that you cut them out Divide the height the popular! About the slope also has to change to be correct ( See also backyard wood deck 7. On this site are the property of their respective owners is 18 steps long, up... Level and made the bottom step will sit not make the contractor fix the stairs 4... Simply need to measure the height from one story to the attic/loft of my answers in Free. Did not make the contractor fix the stairs treads to fit between them are. At the lower end is straightforward a level across each tread that you cut them out three per. Includes unlimited email questions to me through our Ask Dave quick response button should I fit and trim two. 1/4 '' with the floor, to help hold your deck stairs in place nails the! The transition a bit and sheds and gazebos flooring, so you can build for ( and )...