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The focal point of any multi-story home is the staircase. Even if the stairs lead to a basement man-cave, everyone looks at them when going up or down. Wood stairs installation needs to be more than sturdy and functional. They need to look great!
Whether you are building new wooden stairs or refurbishing old ones, you must take your time when planning this project. Some of the considerations to a wooden staircase installation are:
This is a job that requires the best quality craftsmanship and materials for safety, longevity, and aesthetics.
Stair building is an art and can be tricky. It’s best to view multiple sources and learn everything you can before making the first cut. We recommend that you get experienced help, especially if this is your first time building a stair.
In this guide, we’ll show you all the basics you need to build a wooden staircase plus some excellent resources to save you time.
Most builders use hardwood for their finished stairs, with good reason. Hardwoods combine sturdy functionality with the beauty of wood. The variety of hardwoods and stains can accent any decor.
Hardwood stairs provide:
Before you decide on which hardwood and finish to use, you need to build the staircase. You’ll need to do some measuring and figuring to know how much lumber and other materials to buy. Let’s get started.
There are some standard calculations you need to consider, no matter how long or how high your wood staircase installation will be. Be sure to follow the International Residential Code (IRC). It establishes minimum requirements for stairs to ensure everyone’s safety.
To help you make all the right calculations, go to the free stair calculator at Blocklayer.com.
Now that you have your measurements in mind let’s start building those stairs.
This is a basic guide highlighting the conventional techniques for a wood stairs installation. Every stair is unique, so we’ve added some additional references at the bottom.
Measure the area where the stairs will go. Be sure you have enough space for a 45° slope angle, 36 inches for the width, and a minimum of 6’8” of headroom all along the stair path. If you have extra space, add a landing to break up the stairway.
The most efficient use of space is keeping the stairs against a wall, and the wall will provide extra support. Remember to avoid blocking a door or vent with the lowest steps.
This is a two-person operation. With one person at the end of the stairs and another on a ladder at the top, use a chalk line or straight edge to draw a line where the first stringer will go.
The stringers are the notched pieces of wood that support the risers and stair treads.
You will need to construct or purchase at least two stringers along with the boards for the treads and risers. You can find pre-cut stairs at a lumberyard. Always measure twice before cutting or buying any lumber. If you purchase pre-cut boards, avoid any that are warped or splitting.
Locate and mark the horizontal studs in the frame inside the wall where you will attach the stringer. Get some help and place the stringer against the line that you marked on the wall. Make sure it’s level before you attach it to the wall. To check, set a level on the cut where the thread will go.
Nail or screw the stringer to the wall studs, making sure you hit the stud. Secure the stringer with braces from the top down to the floor. Alternatively, you can use a drill and decking screws. Pre-drill the stringer first to avoid splitting.
Align the second-stringer for the correct width and height. If another wall supports it, follow the same procedures as the first stringer. If there is no wall, you will need to cut additional boards as support.
Starting at the bottom, attach the riser first and then the tread on top. Check for fit and level before moving to the next step.
Install a handrail parallel with the stringer and 34 inches to 38 inches above it.
Typically, you’ll use plywood to build the stair treads and then top them with your choice of hardwood.
Installing a hardwood stair can be costly, but a quality stair adds beauty, functionality, and value to your home. You can save money depending on the quality of materials and how much sweat equity you’re willing to provide.
The wood stair installation cost from scratch will depend on the choice of hardwood and the number of stairs. It’s safe to say that the average cost per step runs between $100 to $200 per step, including labor if you hire a contractor to do it. So, a flight of finished, hardwood stairs of 10 to 12 steps will cost somewhere around $1,000 to $2,400.
If you can replace the steps or tread with new wood instead of building all new stairs, that will decrease the cost significantly.
Installing stairs, especially for the first time, can be complicated. Here are some questions and answers to help you complete the job.
According to code, the pitch needs to be 39 to 45 degrees. If you buy pre-cut stringers, they will be 45-degrees.
Have them check as soon as you install the stringers. They need to see what you’ve done before you put too much work into it in case you need to rework something.
The stair nose or “bullnose” allows for our heels or toes to land slightly below the next stair nose. This creates a more natural step and the way we walk. ADA compliance codes specify, “The nosing shall project no more than 1-1/2 inches (38 mm).” Any longer and the stair can become a tripping hazard.
A design issue to consider is matching stair nosing. If the nosing wood differs from the tread wood, it could stick out like a painted nose on a fighter jet.
To avoid this potential design flaw, Easiklip has solid hardwood floorboards with matching stair nosing. Check here first when designing your hardwood stair project.
One technique to make your wood staircase installation look uniform is to use the same wood flooring for both the riser and stair tread.
Since you want to do this job right the first time, we’ve compiled some extra resources to help you plan your stair project.
To help you gather all the information and ideas, here are a few articles worth reviewing before you start:
The best advice is always “measure twice and cut once.” With all the references provided here, you should have no trouble with your wood staircase installation.