Staircase Cut Out

Stringer the stringer is the structural part of a set of stairs.

Staircase cut out.

First determine the tread depth and riser height. The essence of laying out stair stringers is straightforward. Cut a notch along the bottom of each stringer for space to position it over a pressure treated 2 in. If you ve done the math it s grade school stuff and the layout right the tread cuts will be level and the riser cuts plumb.

Expert carpenter shows you how to measure out mark and cut a stair stringer. With these dimensions cut a template with the riser height and the tread depth minus one inch as 2 legs of a right triangle. Pre cut stair stringers are available in a variety of sizes to make this part of the project a bit easier. With all the cut lines drawn carefully cut along them with a circular saw.

Use the first stringer as a template to cut the subsequent stringers. He shows you how it s done with tips thrown in along the way to make this easy. In the notches at all the tread riser intersections stop cutting when the blade reaches the line. You use a framing square to draw the stair s notches on the stringer then you cut them out.

The strength of the stringer weakens if the tread and riser lines are overcut. Use common joist hangers to attach the stringer securely to the upper tier. Cut a triangle to use as a template for each step.