Building a deck makes for a fantastic addition to any home. But it’s not going to be much use without a good set of deck ...

Amateur carpenters who have laid out the cuts in a stair stringer (the zig-zag structural support for the steps) know the queasy feeling that bubbles up at the prospect of this job. There’s the ...

Staircases have strict building codes with regards to acceptable rise and run measurements, and when a landing is required. Before laying out the steps on a 2x12, decide how the stringers will ...

To understand stairs, let’s talk about floors. Like many Americans, you might live in a home with a wood-floor system. The ...

Decades ago the building code had a very commonsense ... then you may want to apply two coats of paint to the notched cuts of your stair stringers. This paint will plug up the tiny tubes and ...

A staircase that does not conform to the specific site dimensions is dangerous and violates all building codes, which is why you need to know your math. In practice, stair stringers are cut ...

In John’s case this was 105 inches. The first part of any stair-building job is to lay out parts that are called stringers. These are the notched side pieces of 2×12 lumber that actually ...

Building a set of stairs is a tricky endeavor. Using a pair of brass stair gauges and a builder’s square to mark the stringer (the zigzag boards the steps and risers attach to) can make the job ...