How do you build steps up to a deck as far as getting the measurements and all?
Question:how do you figure out how long the stringers need to be
Answers:
Dad always said that all you got to remember when cutting stringers is 7+11...7+11... And after you build a set you will understand...
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/porchst...
Here is a complex step by step (Pun intended)...
Lumber supply stores sell pre-cut stringers. No need to measure. (as long as you deck is a standard height)
How high off the ground? depending on how high off the ground you can measure by a string. tie a string to the top and the other to a pvc pipe stuck in the ground you need to figure out how many stairs you need to make. if you need to bubild five and you should have the steps about 6-8 inches apart from one another.
Measure the height of the deck from the top of decking to the top of the ground where the bottom of the steps will rest in inches. This is the rise. Divide this number by 8 and round up to the nearest whole number. This is the number of steps.
10" is the minimum tread width, a bit more is better. I usually use 11 1/4" (roughly the width of a 2 x 12). Multiply the number of treads by the width you select, which will give you the total length of the "run".
Now for the length of the stringers. This is the fun part, you will need a calculator. The formula is something like this, without the benefit of symbols:
sqrt (rise squared + run squared)
To illustrate, let's say your rise is 58":
58 / 8 = 7.25, round up to 8
8 X 11.25 (the width of your tread) = 90", your run
58 squared (3364) + 90 squared (8100) = 11464
square root of 11464 = 107.07" or 8' 11". This is the length of one side of your stringer. You will need to add for the cut at the top or bottom. A 10' piece will work in this case.
First you need to get the total rise. Measure from the top of the deck to the ground. Take that measurement and divide by a number that leaves you with a rise between 7 and 8 inches per step. The number you divide your rise by is the number of steps you need. Keep in mind that the deck counts as a step. Now for the run of each step you want to pick a number that works with the decking you are using. If your decking measures 5 1/2" your run per step should be 10" leaving an inch overhang. Stairs are very complicated I hope this helps you out.
Gordon gave the best answer. You want a rise as close to seven as possible and never more than eight. cut the travel at 10" To find the lenght of the stringers you need to know the height From the top of the top step to where it will land, to know how many steps you need Steps or rises times 10" is you travel. Multiply height times itself and travel times itself add the two totals together and find the sq root of that number. That is the lenght of your stringer [after cuts] Buy one longer than that. Also cut the thickness of your treads off the bottom of the first step.
You must know the 3 "R's" of master carpentry "Rise, Run and Rake,"
Rise: + the V distance
Run= the Horizontal distance
Rake is the answer.
I cheat, I use my construction calculator. But really the math isn't that hard. It depends on how you plan to build them. If the riser is closed or open, and material to use. Other people have given the answer, so I will just add some. Measure total rise. Say it is 48" I divide by 7.5" to find the number of risers. So you have 6.4. You can't have a partial riser, so you round up or down, if you round down you have 6 risers at 8", round up you have 7 risers at about 6-7/8" I'd go with 6 risers at 8". And then you have to decide on the width of each tread. You can base that on the material used. If a 2x12 with an open riser, the level cut is 10.25" with a 1" nose. The stringer is actually 5 risers and 5 treads. The framing of the deck is the sixth riser. To find the length of the stringer, use the Pythagorean theorem. A^2 + B^2 = C^2. So in this example (5*8)^2 + (5*10.25) = length of stringer^2
1600 + 2626.5625=stringer^2
stringer is about 65"
get 6' 2x12's for stringers, for this example. Of course, if you change the total rise, or method of construction, the numbers change. Also if you have a closed riser, your top level changes. If you need a cross section, email me.
More Related Questions & Answers...