This document provides information about timber staircases, including definitions, materials, layout, construction methods, joinery details, and types. It discusses the components of staircase design like stringers, treads, risers, and handrails. It also outlines the procedures for constructing a timber staircase, including determining the rise and number of risers/treads, cutting and installing the stringers, and attaching risers and treads. Finally, it lists six different types of timber staircases like straight, L-shape, doglegged, open well, spiral, and bifurcated staircases.

1. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION-II
AR.KAMAL SINGH
LECTURE AT MECHINAGAR
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUES
DIPLOMA IN
ARCHITECTURE II/II

2. CHAPTER.3
Unit 3: Timber staircase:
3.1 Definition materials and layout
3.2 Proportioning and design principles
3.3 Construction method and joinery details
3.4 Types
3.4.1 Single flight (straight)
3.4.2 L - shape (Quarter turning)

3.  staicase
A stair is a set of steps leading from
one floor of a building to another,
typically inside the building. The room
or enclosure of the building, in which
the stair is located is known as
staircase. The opening or space
occupied by the stair is known as a
stairway.

4.  tmiber staicase
A staircase with treads and risers
constructed from timber boardsfrom
timber boards. Timber stairs are
comparatively light in weight and easy
to constructand easy to construct. The
timber used for the construction should
be free from fungal decay and insect
attack andfree from fungal decay and
insect attack, and should be well
treated before use.

5.  equipment and layout
Different types of tools are required
to construct a new staircase which
range from hammer, circular saw, drill,
chalk line, level, framing square, PPE,
handsaw, stair gauge, 2 x 6, 2 x 12,
decking, screws etc.

7. 

8.  component of staircase design
Stringer – The inclined boards in
which the treads and risers are
enclosed.
Tread – The top or horizontal surface
of a step.
Nosing – The visible front of the
treads.

9.  component of staircase design
Newel – The larger vertical member,
plain or decorative, is usually located
on either ends of the balustrade, or at
each bend.
Newel Cap – The ornamental top of
the newel post. Often carved shaped or
turned.
Landing – A resting place, or wide
step anywhere within the staircase or

10.  component of staircase design
Handrail – A protective rail designed
to prevent people or objects from
falling into an open stairwell. A
moulded rail following the pitch, or
rake of the staircase – which also
forms the top/upper edge of the
balustrading.
Baluster – The vertical member, plain
or decorative, that acts as the infill
between the handrail and Channel (or

11.  principle of staircase design
Stairs are a series of steps arranged
in an order to provide access from one
floor of a building to another floor.
They should be provided in a
convenient location of the building. In
case of a multistory building, though
elevators will be there for the normal
movement from one floor to another,
stairs are a must for emergency exit in
case of fire or other calamities.

12.  Technical Terms
The following are the technical terms
associated with a stair.
Step: The portion of the stair where
the foot lands during
ascending/descending.
Tread: The horizontal portion of a
step.
Riser: The vertical portion of a step.

13.  Technical Terms
Stringer: The inclined member which
supports the steps.
Landing: It is the horizontal platform
provided at the end of each flight.
Pitch: It is the slope of the stair.
Railing: It is the inclined member of a
stair which is to support the hand.
while descending or ascending.
Baluster: It is the vertical
intermediate support of the hand-rail.

14. Characteristics of a Good Stair
The following are the characteristics
of a good stair.
It should have easy access from all
sides of the building
It should be well ventilated
It should have wide landing at end of
each flight
Normally there should not be more
than 12 steps in a flight.

15. Characteristics of a Good Stair
The rise and go of the steps should be
so proportioned that the ascending and
descending of the flight is easy.
Hand rail must be provided at least
on one side of the stair
The inclination of the stair should be
between 30 to 45 degrees.

16. Summary of Staircase Design Principles
Type of Stair: The type of stair
depends on the type of building,
availability of space and the purpose of
stair.
Rise and Going: The standard rise
and tread is 15 x 25 cm. However the
dimensions can be changed depending
on the actual site conditions.
Number of rises: The number of rises
is equal to the total height of the room
dived by one rise.

17. Construction method and joinery details
In order to construct a perfect
staircase, consideration should be
given on existing space, type of
material and budge.
In this civil engineering tutorial, you
will get step-by-step guidelines on how
to construct a wooden staircase.

18. Construction method and joinery details
Materials
Different types of tools are required
to construct a new staircase which
range from hammer, circular saw, drill,
chalk line, level, framing square, PPE,
handsaw, stair gauge, 2 x 6, 2 x 12,
decking, screws etc.

19. Construction method and joinery details
Landing Zone
While constructing new stairs, the
first thing is to find out the starting
point & finishing point of the stairs.
Then, verify that there are adequate
space at both ends for rising up
securely or minimum 24 inches space
exists for being utilized as the landing
area. Landing space requirements are
based on local building codes and it is
recommended to abide by your local

20. Construction method and joinery details
Determine Rise
Now find out the rise or the height of
stair. Calculate the total rise to the
landing spot maintaining a level of 2 x
4. Ensure that the 2 x 4 expands all
the way to the area where the ground
level is located, thus you will get the
proper measurement from the bottom
part of the 2x4 to the ground level.
The angle among both landings should
remain across 40 degrees, at a

21. Construction method and joinery details
Find Out Number Of Risers
Now, utilize the above measurement
and divide it with minimum 7 inches.
The 7 inch number demonstrates the
fairly accurate step height. The
number obtained after division, will be
the number of required risers.

22. Construction method and joinery details
Find Out Number Of Treads
Now, determine the number of treads
by deducting one from the number of
risers, since there always exist one
fewer tread as compared to risers.
Multiply the number of treads with
10.25 inches wide, or the same as two
2x6s. Properly, calculate the horizontal
anticipated distance from the top
landing to the bottom landing.
Reexamine all the measurements and

23. Construction method and joinery details
Stringer
Put a mark on the bottom landing
where the stair will actually be closed.
Calculate to find out the length of
stringer and skirt. Select the stringer
or the 2x12 and provide them on top
of a sawhorse to outline the place
where the riser and treads will be
situated. Outlay the stairs by creating
drawing on the exterior of the framing
square, sliding the square across

24. Construction method and joinery details
Stringer
Remove ¾ in from the top of the
stringer to accommodate the missing
top riser. Mark the bottom of the
stringer to eliminate the tread
thickness. By applying a circular saw,
cut the top and bottom of the stringer.
Put the stringer into exact place and
ensure the tread level.

25. Construction method and joinery details
Cut the Stringer
Cutting should be done across your
mark and stop while attaining the
corner of the notch. Apply a hand tool
to complete to get rid of damaging the
stringer. Apply the first stringer as a
pattern to cut the following stringers.

26. Construction method and joinery details
Skirt Boards
Layout the pattern on the skirt board.
Cut off the end of the bottom and keep
it about 5 inched high. Join stringers to
the skirts with deck screws to be
arranged each 8 inches, changing from
the front and back. In case of a middle
stringer, reinforce it with extra 2x4
fixed to both sides of it..

27. Construction method and joinery details
Fixing Stringers
Mark the left and right location of the
skirts as well as horizontal lines to
mark the top treads location. Nail the
skirts and screw the skirts to the top
landing surface. Affix a 2x6, keeping
similar width of the stringer, to the
back of the stringer for extra support.

28. Construction method and joinery details
Attach the Risers/Steps
Connect the bottom riser into each
stringer and verify the squareness of
the stair. Fix the second riser and
screw on the two 2x6 bottom treads
keeping a ¼ inch space among the
boards. Attach all risers and treads up
to the top of the stairs. The bottom
riser will probably require to be cut to
custom height.

30. Types
 6 DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIMBER STAIRCASES

31. Types
straight stair case
floor to floor
withor with out landing
simple
economical/cheapest
traditional
where where space limited

32. Types
quarter turn stair/L-shape
two straight flights at 90 degree turn with quarter
space landing
economic /compact
winder may be provided for economy /space
saving

33. Types
dog legged stair
two straight flight at 180 degree turn with mid
landing
rises parallel to the lower flight
consumes less space
landing half space/half turn
commanly advantages in planning with its dog
legged shape
used in most of the building
popular in residential building in nepal

34. Types
open well/open newel
two or more than two straight flights arranges
around a well or space
slar to dog legged but with larger space in between
flights
used in public building.

35. Types
spiral
economical
suitable where little space is available
made from steel and welded togher also it is
constructed from wood
spiral stai as arule are not vary safe since they
generally have winder space.

36. Types
bifurcated
economical
extra different than other
used large space
used in prestigious building

37. 

38. Types
OPEN TREAD STAIRCASE
Alternatively, an open tread, or open riser
staircase is one in which the rise, or space between
the adjacent treads is open. This staircase design
trend is growing in popularity for both residential
and commercial settings due to the transparency it
offers. Open tread timber staircases offer a modern,
sophisticated, and airy feel while also giving the
perception of a larger space.
Homeowners who want a unique look can opt for
their stairs to be made out of glass, steel, or wood.

39. 

40. Types
STRAIGHT STAIRCASE
A straight staircase is one of the simplest and most
common types of staircase. The straight line design
doesn’t need a landing for special support, as it only
needs to be attached at the top and bottom. Keep in
mind that the longer the staircase, the more linear
space it will take up. For an eye-catching look,
consider open treads, milled logs, black bar railings,
or flare butt trees as the end post.

42. Types
L-SHAPED STAIRCASE
L-shaped staircases are a variation of a straight
stair but with a twist. Literally. This type of staircase
is mostly straight, but with a turn either in the
middle or closer to one of the ends. It can be much
more visually appealing and takes up less space
than a straight staircase. They’re perfect for the
corner of a room. Many even find that L-shaped
staircases are generally easier to navigate because
of the wider landing that breaks off the flight up
stairs.

43. Types

44. Types
U-SHAPED STAIRCASE
U-shaped staircases typically consist of two flights
of stairs that go in opposite directions with a landing
bridging the two together. Rather than one long,
straight staircase, a U-shaped staircase helps break
up the flight, making the stairs appear more
manageable.
When space is tight, this type of staircase is a
viable choice as it takes up less linear space and
can easily fit into a corner design. The main
drawback to this design, however, is that the turn

45. 

46. Types
SPIRAL STAIRCASE
Spiral staircases have one central post to which all
the radiating treads are attached, as they spiral
upward through a space in the floor above. Because
of their compact nature, spiral staircases are
greater for tight spaces. However, this staircase
design is more of a novelty than functional, as only
one person can typically walk up and down the
stairs at a time. It’s also much harder to move large
furniture.

48. Types
SPIRAL STAIRCASE
Spiral staircases have one central post to which all
the radiating treads are attached, as they spiral
upward through a space in the floor above. Because
of their compact nature, spiral staircases are
greater for tight spaces. However, this staircase
design is more of a novelty than functional, as only
one person can typically walk up and down the
stairs at a time. It’s also much harder to move large
furniture.