Stair Design and Construction Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary list based on the lecture transcript regarding stair design and construction terminology.

Baluster

A small post supporting the handrail or coping.

Balustrade

A series or row of balusters joined by a handrail or coping, forming the parapet of a balcony.

Bearers

Supports for winders, wedged into the walls and secured by the stringers.

Carriage

The portion that supports the steps of a wooden stair.

Close String

A staircase without an open newel in a dog-legged stair.

Cockel Stair

A term given to a winding staircase.

Circular Stair

A staircase with steps winding around a circle or cylinder.

Curve Out

A concave curve on the face of a front string.

Curtail Step

The first step by which a stair is ascended, terminating in the form of a scroll following the plan of the handrail.

Elliptical Stairs

Stairs elliptical in plan, with each tread assembly converging in an elliptical ring.

Face Mold

A section produced on an inclined plane vertically over the curved plan of a handrail.

Flight of Stairs

A series of steps leading from one landing to another.

Front String

The string on the side of the stairs where the handrail is placed.

Fillet

A band fastened to the face of a front string below the curve, extending the width of a tread.

Flyers

Steps in a flight that are parallel with each other.

Geometrical Stairs

A flight of stairs supported by the wall at the ends of the steps.

Half Space

The interval between two flights of steps in a staircase.

Handrail

A rail running parallel to the inclination of the stairs and supported by the balusters.

Hollow Newel

An opening in the middle of the staircase, as distinguished from a solid newel,

Stair Turret

A building or enclosure containing a winding stair, usually filling its interior, or a stair enclosure projecting above the building roof. where the ends of the steps are attached.

Housing

The notches in the string board of a stair for receiving the steps.

Knee

The convex bend at the back of the handrail.

Landing

The horizontal floor serving as a resting place in a flight of stairs.

Newel

The central column around which the steps of a circular staircase wind.

Nosing

The front edge of a step that projects beyond the riser.

Pitching Piece

A horizontal member with one end wedged into the wall at the top of the flight, supporting the upper end of the rough stringer.

Pitch

The angle of inclination of the stairs from the horizontal.

Ramp

A sloping surface that rises and twists simultaneously.

Rise

The height of a flight of stairs from landing to landing, or the vertical distance between successive treads.

Riser

The vertical face of a stair step.

Run

The horizontal distance from the first to the last riser of a stair flight.

Spandril

The angle formed by a stairway.

Stairs

The steps used to ascend or descend from one storey to another.

Staircase

The entire structure containing one or more flights of stairs.

Stair Builder's Truss

Crossed beams that support the landing of a stair.

Stair Clip

A metal clip used to hold a stair carpet in place.

Stair Head

The initial stair at the top of a flight of stairs or staircase.

Stair Headroom

The clear vertical height measured from the nosing of a stair tread to any overhead obstruction.

Stairwell

The vertical shaft that contains a staircase.

Straight Flight of Stairs

A stair having steps that are parallel and at right angles to the strings.

Steps

The assembly consisting of a tread and a riser.

Step

A stair unit consisting of one tread and one riser.

Scroll or Curtail Step

The bottom step with the front end shaped to receive the handrail.

String

The part of a flight of stairs that forms its ceiling or soffit.

String Board

The board next to the well hole that receives the ends of the steps.

Soffit

The underside of an arch, stair, or molding.

Tread

The horizontal part of a step, including the nosing.

Tread Length

The dimension of a tread measured perpendicular to the normal line of travel on a stair.

Tread Plate

A fabricated metal floor plate.

Tread Return

In an open stair, the continuation of the rounded edge of the tread beyond the stair stringer.

Tread Run

The horizontal distance between two consecutive risers or, in an open-riser stair, the horizontal distance between the nosings or outer edges of successive treads, measured perpendicular to the front edges.

Tread Width

The dimension of a tread plus the projection of the nosing, if any.

Wall String

The board placed against the wall to receive the ends of the steps.

Well

The space occupied by the flight of stairs.

Well Hole

The opening in the floor at the top of a flight of stairs.

Well Staircase

A winding staircase enclosed by walls, resembling a well.

Winders

Steps that are not parallel with each other.

Wreath

The entire helically curved handrail.