stair details, Windows and door schedule

Stairs

A structure designed to bridge a large vertical distance by dividing it into smaller vertical distances, called steps.

Baluster

A vertical member used between railing and tread or floor, adding safety, support and stability to the balustrade.

Balustrade

The name for the complete and assembled rail system.

Box Newel

A large square newel hollow inside, used in post to post balustrades.

Box Stair

A stair where the stringers house the treads and risers forming a box-like unit.

Bracket

A scroll shaped decorative member usually mitered to the riser and fastened over the open stringer.

Cap

That round portion of a rail fitting which widens, permitting it to set on top of a newel post.

Cove Moulding

A finishing trim used to go under the treads front side where the riser meets the bottom of the stair treads underside, to hide the little 1/8 in. and 1/16 in. gaps.

Easing

(Sometimes called Easement) That portion of a rail fitting which curves, permitting hand rail to move from level up or down.

Fillet

A thin moulding that is fitted into plowed hand rail and shoe rail between balusters.

Finished Floor to Finished Floor Height

The vertical distance between the top of the lower finished floor to the top of the upper level finished floor.

Glue Block

A wooden block, square or triangular, glued to the underside of a step.

Gooseneck

A rail fitting used where rake rail rises vertically to a balcony or landing.

Hand Rail

The railing used as hand support in balustrade systems.

Header

A floor framing member that runs across the well opening.

Horse

A length of dense dimension lumber cut to run rise requirements to form steps.

J Cap Moulding

Used like a mini nosing to cover (cap) the unfinished edge of the side skirt boards.

Landing

An intermediate floor or platform between flights of stairs.

Landing Newel

The newel post used at landings and upper levels where rake rail changes direction.

Landing Tread

A nosed and rabbeted tread-like mould used to form a level surface with the finished floor of landings and upper levels.

Left Hand Miter

A stair open for balustrade on the left side, ascending the stair.

Level Quarterturn

A rail fitting that permits level hand rail to turn 90 degrees; available with cap or without cap.

Level Rail

Handrail used on the level portion of a balustrade.

Miter Return

A nosed or rounded moulding used to trim, open end treads. This conceals the end grain.

Newel

A vertical post used to start the balustrade, also used at points of vertical and directional transition.

Open Stair Treads

A stair where the stringer has been cut out and the tread ends are exposed on one or both ends.

Over-the-Post

A balustrade system which uses rail fittings on top of newel posts forming a continuous hand rail.

Pitch

Refer to Rake of the staircase or railing system.

Pitch Block

A block of wood that is cut to form a right triangle using the rise and run dimensions of the stair.

Plow

The grooved out area in the bottom of the hand rail and the top of shoe rail that receive square end balusters.

Post-to-Post

A balustrade system where hand rail is cut between and attached to square top newel posts.

Rail Bolt

A two ended, threaded steel stud with nut, washer and wood plug. A concealed fastener used to attach hand rail to fittings and newels.

Rail Fitting

Fittings are assembled components that are profiled to match hand rail patterns.

Rake

The angle or pitch of a stair's ascent to the upper level.

Rake Rail

Hand rail used on the ascending portion of a balustrade, follows the pitch or rise of the stair.

Right Hand Miter

A stair open for the balustrade on the right side, ascending the stair.

Rise

The unit of vertical height for each step in a stair.

Riser

The vertical component of a stair that faces each step between stringers and tread.

Rosette

A decorative wall plate, larger than hand rail profile, may be round, oval or rectangular.

Run

The horizontal travel of a stair.

Shoe Moulding

A quarter round type mould, higher than wide, generally applied where bottom riser meets finished floor.

Shoe Rail

A flat molded member with a linear groove to receive square bottom balusters for assembly.

Skirt board

A finished face board used to cover the stair horse.

Starting Easing

A rail fitting that starts the balustrade system and introduces the user to the upward travel of the stair.

Starting Newel

The vertical post used to start a balustrade system. These newel post are typically 48" long.

Starting Step

A decorative first step of a stair. Generally includes tread and riser which lengthen the step beyond the width of the basic stair. Designs are bull nose fully rounded, quarter circle or half circle.

Stringer

A side member of a stair that serves both carriage and finished face. It is generally routed out to receive treads and risers for box stairs. It is mitered to the riser with treads set on top for open stairs.

Sub Rail

A thin linear mould plowed both top and bottom to receive hand rail above and the top of square end balusters below.

Tread

The flat horizontal component of a stair step upon which a person walks... a standard tread is 1-1/16 inch thick.

Wall Rail

Hand rail affixed to the wall by means of mounting brackets. It may be primary hand rail for a box stair and supplementary to a balustrade system.

Wall Rail Bracket

An offsetting metal bracket -or- hardwood bracket that gets screwed to the wall upon which wall rail is mounted.

Wedge

A tapered strip of wood driven into stringer routings to fasten treads and risers securely. They also help to prevent squeaks.

Well Hole

The opening frame into floor above a stair.

Winder

A landing divided by risers into triangular shaped steps, usually two or three steps. Caution should be taken when planning to use them as they restrict tread area as they climb and turn.

Wood Plug

A flat round wooden plug usually 1/2 inch -to 1 inch in diameter, used to plug the holes bored for concealed fasteners.

Bearers

A support for winders wedged into the walls secured by the stringers.

Carriage

That portion which supports the steps of a wooden stairs.

Close String

A staircase without open newel in a dog stair.

Cockel Stair

It is a term given to winding staircase.

Circular Stair

A staircase with steps winding in a circle or cylinder.

Curve Out

A concave curve on the face of a front string.

Cur tail Step

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

Elliptical Stairs

Those elliptical in plan where each tread assembly converging in an elliptical ring in a plan.

Face Mold

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

Flight of Stairs

It is a series of steps leading from one landing to another.

Front String

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

Flyers

Steps in a flight that are parallel with each other.

Geometrical Stairs

It is a flight of a stair supported by the wall at the end of the steps.

Half Space

The interval between two flights of steps in staircase.

Handrail

A rail running parallel with the inclination of the stairs that holds the baluster.

Hollow Newel

An opening in the middle of the staircase as distinguished from solid newel wherein the ends of steps are attached.

Housing

The notches in the string board of a stair for the reception of stairs.

Knee

It is the corvex bend at the back of the handrail.

Nosing

The front edge of the step that project beyond the riser.

Pitching Piece

A horizontal member, one end is wedged into the wall at the top of the flight of stairs that supports the upper end of the rough stringer.

Ramp

A slope surface that rises and twists simultaneously.

Spandril

The angle formed by stairway.

Staircase

It is the whole set of stairs; the structure containing a flight of stairs.

Stair Builders Truss

Crossed beams which supports 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 stair or staircase.

Stair Headroom

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

Stair Turret

A building containing a winding stair which usually fills its entirely; A stair enclosure which projects beyond the building roof.

Stairwell

The vertical shaft which contains a staircase.

Straight Flight of Stairs

One having the steps parallel and at right angle to the strings.

Steps

The assembly consisting a tread and a riser.

Step

Stair unit which consists of one tread and one riser.

Scroll or Curtail Step

The bottom step with the front end sloped to receive.

String

The parts of a flight of stairs which forms its ceiling or soffit.

String Board

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

Soffit

The underneath of an arch or moulding.

Tread Length

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

Tread Plate

A metal fabricated floor plate.

Tread Return

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

Tread Run

The horizontal distance between two consecutive risers or, on an open riser stair, the horizontal distance between nosing or the outer edges of successive treads all measured perpendicular to the front edges of the nosing or tread.

Tread Width

The dimensions of a tread plus the projection of the nosing if any.

Wall String

The board placed against the wall to receive the end of the step.

Well

The place occupied by the flight of stairs.

Well Staircase

A winding staircase enclosed by walls resembling a well.

Winders

Steps not parallel with each other.