Framing a Staircase

Stair construction can intimidate even the most seasoned carpenters and there are lots of ways to build stairs. But regardless of the method you choose, every set of stairs requires the same basic approach to get from one floor to another safely, comfortably, and legally. In this photo slideshow, Fine Homebuilding author John Spier takes you through the steps of making a simple cut-stringer stair.

Building stairs begins with figuring out the exact size and proportions of the staircase. Use this drawing to get familiar with the basic parts of a stair and the formulas used to calculate the rise and run. Once you've determined your rise and run, you're ready to start building.

For more on framing a stair case, read John's article "Strong and Simple Stairs" in the April/May 2005 issue of Fine Homebuilding (#170).