1. Now I can decide, "Good overall info on making stairs. Measure the total rise, or overall height, that your staircase will be covering. To find the height, extend a level out across the upper edge of the entry point, and stretch a tape measure from the bottom of the board to the ground. You'll also want to determine where the stairs have to be placed, then measure out a depth for each stair such that a person can safely walk up and down the flight without falling. No. Lui Colmenares is a handyman and licensed home improvement contractor for Mr. Thank you. ", "Great help in calculating step construction. Divide the height by the approximate rise to determine the total number of steps needed, then take the difference of the height and that number to find the exact rise of each step. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Handy NYC prides itself on quality work performed with speed, skill, and punctuality. ", "It saved me loads of money by being able enough to do this job myself, a big thank you! Handyman. ", "It's really useful. How many steps would I have on a nine foot staircase? If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. If you’re unsure whether your finished stairs will turn out as exact and structurally sound as they need to be, it may be better to leave it to a professional. ", https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/how-to/a2145/4224738/, https://www.calculator.net/stair-calculator.html, https://www.familyhandyman.com/decks/how-to-build-stairs-deck/view-all/, измерить параметры, необходимые для строительства лестницы, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Measure the riser The riser, or fall, of the step refers to … Introduction. 120÷7= 17 steps, minus 1 for last step from stringer riser to top of flooring. Step 2 – Measure the overall length. Not only is it used frequently, but it also applies to other types of projects and calculations. For instance, if the total rise is 114 inches (290 cm), subtract 6 feet (1.8 m), which is 72 inches (180 cm), to account for the headroom. ", building a staircase. This will leave you with a rise of 42 inches (110 cm). 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. Provides a step by step display and a print out option showing the finished stringer with cut dimensions and a materials list. Measure the rise and depth of a single stair using a flexible tape measure. Stretch your tape measure from the bottom of the board to the ground. Using a tape measure, make measurements of the total height of the space you want to make stairs from the bottom to the top. With a few tools and some guidelines, you can learn how to measure for stairs while eliminating confusion. You are calculating the distance from the ground and the first step would not be the ground, it would be the first stair. The first step to finding out exactly how much carpet you need for your stairs involves measuring each tread. [1] X Research source You should also measure the ceiling height. This article has been viewed 614,682 times. ", "Easy-to-understand instructions, example pictures. That gives us (30/6=5), so 5 steps (including the final level) at a height of 6 inches each. Measure the tread The tread of the step is the part you step on. Measuring and cutting stair stringers is a relatively simple process once you understand how it’s done, but it can be easy to make mistakes. When you’re done, check both lines with your tape measure to confirm that they’re the right length. Multiply that measurement by the number of stairs that … Once this is done, you can mark your measurements on the board you’ll be cutting for the stringers and move on to the sawing and assembly phase. References This article has been viewed 101,139 times. 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. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Measure off a given distance in feet, and mark both ends with masking tape. Here’s how the math would work out. Do I count the ground before the first step as a stair? If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Using graphing paper, draw a sketch of the staircase while marking the rise, run, number of steps, width, and length. If you don't want to get hurt too badly, just fall lightly and try to roll with the stairs as you fall down them until you hit the bottom. Make stair measurements twice and double check your math before cutting any materials. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 614,682 times. Last Updated: August 24, 2020 Picture a stair slope in your mind to estimate about a … % of people told us that this article helped them. The stairs take a 90-degree turn at a corner, so three of the stairs are pie stairs. 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. For a specific minimum width, contact your local government about the building code for stairs. Run it up the front face of the stair and across the flat top of the stair until you reach the bottom of the next stair. If the rise is 42 inches (110 cm) (after subtracting 6–7 feet (1.8–2.1 m) for headroom) and you want larger stairs, for example, divide 42 by 6. In other words, 7 inches up for the 'rise'' and 11 inches in on the "tread.". Measure the height, or "rise," of the space you want to make stairs. For example, if you are installing a stair on a deck, your floor to floor measurement would be the length between ground level and the finished deck flooring. If you’re building a set of stairs, you’ll need to measure the rise and the number of steps. Starting with the top step, measure the depth of the tread. Add 100 and 49 to get 149. Lui is trained and educated as an industrial engineer and specializes in carpentry, painting, and general handyman work such as mounting TVs, doorknob and deadbolt installation, furniture assembly, tile repair, and grouting. Next, divide the rise by the number of stairs to find the rise of each individual stair. It is wider than the rest of the stairs and is rounded on one or both sides. The tread of a stair is the horizontal part of the stair on which you step. For instance, if the run is 10 inches, square 10 by multiplying it by itself to get 100. Measure the stair to determine the width -- in grand staircases, it could be quite wide. Last Updated: November 7, 2019 Doing home renovations yourself is fun and budget-friendly, but building stairs can seem intimidating. A layout on stringer would have 16 risers, so don't forget on your bottom step to subtract the tread thickness (if using 2x12, you would subtract 1 1/2" from first riser, making it 5 1/2" instead of 7"). This is the distance … How Do Measure Pull Down Attic Stairs? The minimum length of a stair tread is 1' so that one can rest their foot comfortably. 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. Building stairs looks tricky, but it doesn't have to be. % of people told us that this article helped them. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Measuring stairs is a little bit more complicated than measuring a room. And, as luck would have it, our flooring experts have created a simple guide to help you measure your stairs! I have a thirteen foot floor, how many steps is that? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. A bullnose stair is often found at the bottom of a staircase. Being able to calculate stair angles is an important tool in construction. A short video on the tricky subject of how to accurately measure stairs - this also includes a guide for calculating how much carpet you will need. To learn how to draw out the plans for your stairs on paper, keep reading! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 101,139 times. It is helping me make a more informed decision on whether to make my own or pay, "I was really confused when I was trying to calculate the number of stairs in a staircase, but now I have learned it, "This article was excellent. By using our site, you agree to our. Assign each graphing paper square a specific measurement so you can refer to the sketch while planning and building your steps. Walk and count. Mr. Handy NYC based in New York City, New York. Subtract 6-7 feet from the total rise to account for headroom, then divide that number by 6 or 7 inches to get the total number of stairs you’ll need to build. Total Rise [A] - The total rise of a set of stairs is the vertical distance between the bottom of the first … If you want to fall just fall, keeping your hands out of the way. Stand with both feet lined up just behind the masking tape. Lui Colmenares. 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. To learn how to draw out the plans for your stairs on paper, keep reading! Each section - the landing, the hallway, the straight stairs, and the curved stairs (called winders) - all need to be measured individually and written down. Make sure to record every measurement you make to prevent mistakes while planning and building the stairs. Keep your plans more or less to scale so it will be obvious how everything is supposed to fit together. Jason Lake walks you through how to measure and build stairs. This article has been viewed 614,682 times. For maximum efficiency, consider attaching adjustable stair gauges to your framing square. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcrf_llYL-M&feature=youtu.be&t=4, http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/how-to/a2145/4224738/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/decks/how-to-build-stairs-deck/view-all/, http://www.finehomebuilding.com/2014/11/05/laying-out-basic-stair-stringers, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcrf_llYL-M&feature=youtu.be&t=50, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Pull the measuring tape to the very tip of the rise and check the measurement. The tread and riser combined have the same measurements as a box stair (18"). Measure the depth of the step from the edge of the step or the edge of the bull-nose to the riser at … I had a limited space for stairs, which required some serious planing. Headroom heights usually aren't regulated by building codes, but your local building code may have recommendations for stair headroom, so be sure to check. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Measure-Stair-Stringers-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Measure-Stair-Stringers-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Measure-Stair-Stringers-Step-1.jpg\/aid9657256-v4-728px-Measure-Stair-Stringers-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"