Making Stairs Wider

Lay out the stairs by drawing on the outside of the square sliding the square along until it meets the last mark to learn how to build steps.

Making stairs wider.

Stair width the minimum width for stairways shall not be less than 36 inches clear. Cut lumber to be at or slightly longer than the tread run in width and as long as the stairs are wide or just wider if you prefer a slight overhang on the ends of your stairs. The landing is made of concrete pavers set in a sand bed. Most interior steps are built from either hardwood composite material or plywood and can be remodeled for more width.

A prime example is the standard stair width. For a typical staircase the stair tread must measure 8 1 4 inches to 9 inches deep measure 1 inch thick or more and have a maximum 1 1 2 inch deep nosing. A stair tread should be at least 9 inches deep. For stair treads less than 9 inches deep secure a new deeper tread directly on top of the existing tread.

Clamp one stair gauge on the square s tongue directly at the rise dimension. This will create a stair stringer calculator. Use the narrow part of the square for clamping the riser gauge and the wider part for the 10 1 4 in. Now when handrails are introduced they shall not project more than 4 inches on either side.

Some builders use the 7 11 rule to create comfortable and safe staircases. Attach the other gauge to the body of the square at the run dimension. This includes the recommended 3 4 to 1 1 4 inch overhang. Clamp the stair gauges to the carpenter s square.

Building codes typically require that stair treads be within 3 4 inch of 10 inches wide. The wider the treads the more total run the stringers have to span. Stairs with 14 inch runs tread widths should have rises of between 5 1 2 and 6 1 2 inches. When you notch stringers you weaken them.

The 7 11 rule means the risers or vertical boards at the back of each step are no higher than 7 inches. It s not as difficult as you. As long as the 3 foot width standard is met you can expand the stairs width as far as you wish. The tongue is the narrower leg of the framing.

The stair riser must measure 8 to 8 1 4 inches high. If your treads are 10 inches wide and do not overhang you can add a 1 1 4 inch overhang by replacing them with treads made from 1 by 12s that are actually 11 1 4 inches wide.