Thread: Stairs

It's difficult to describe how to build a set of stairs with out diagrams and I'm hopless with computer pictures of any kind, heres an few tips though.

the formular for a perfect stair is 2 x the rise + the going = 600mm. this is based on the theory that it takes twice as much effort to lift your foot upwards as is does to move it forward and the average pace for and adult is 600 mm.
A flight of stairs shouldn't have any more than 14 treads without a landing

The standard size timber for stairs is 250 x 50 for both stringers and treads.

To prevent the tread from holding water make sure the sap wood is on the bottom so cupping will occur on the underside.

If you want the "hidden stringer" look you might consider steel stringers they will cost you about $25 per rise which is comparable to 250 x 50 f17 about $35 per metre. If you give your local steel fabricator accurate measurments ie total rise from slab to top of deck and explain that you want to bolt them to an existing slab etc. They should be able to make them up in a day or two.

stairs are a fairly challenging project, and potentionally dangerous, just think about how much force you put on the stairs when you run down them, then think about them giving way under that force, then think about the pain, then think about the litigation if it happens to someone else (just a couple of happy thoughts.