Stair risers

jlmran · 01-23-2011, 06:36 PM

Is there a term to describe when stringers are cut such that the rise/run angle is less than 90 degrees? This results in the tread cut being level but the riser cut is not plumb. I've seen it but don't what it is called.

Keith Mathewson · 01-23-2011, 08:02 PM

Sloped riser. Cannot exceed 30°

Dwoodsmith · 01-23-2011, 08:05 PM

I call it wierd, different at best. Have you got any pictures of an example? I don't understant what the purpose would be. I've cut a lot of stringers, nobody has ever asked for that.

Keith Mathewson · 01-23-2011, 08:12 PM

The sloped riser is intended to take the place of a nosing so your heel doesn't hit the riser. Not used much in residential work. I've only seen it used in steel and concrete stairs.

jlmran · 01-23-2011, 08:26 PM

Thanks. Should have been more accurate. All I've seen are in steel stairs.

ubenhad4 · 01-23-2011, 11:02 PM

Its really common in commercial buildings. Save on run of stairs,but still can have larger treads without tripping hazard. There are three different stairs in this build all with a 1 1/4 to zero at the bottom slope.

Keith Mathewson · 01-23-2011, 11:39 PM

Sloped risers don't change the run of the stair except for what would be the nosing of the first tread. Run is measured from riser point to riser point. Think of a stair without risers.

ubenhad4 · 01-23-2011, 11:43 PM

I didnt say they change the run

they change the tread size. Without a slope or nose to get a 12 in tread youd need a 12 in run. With the slope you can have a 12 in tread with a 10 1/2 in run.

ubenhad4 · 01-23-2011, 11:51 PM

Heres the picture I tried to load in the first post

Keith Mathewson · 01-24-2011, 01:30 AM

You are quite right, with a sloped riser at 30° and a 7 1/2" riser you can have a max tread of 14 5/16" with a 10" run.

MikeKy55 · 01-24-2011, 08:52 AM

I did something a little more primitive on my basement steps. I moved every tread out 1.5 inches (also used 3 1/2 inch deck screws)and put a piece of 2X behind it. It doesn't make the rise any better, but when you traverse the stairs, you have more tread width. I was at a friends over the holidays and nearly fell down the basement stairs several times. They were carpeted with a waterfall style and your heal would drag so much on the riser you would wind up on you tip toes on each tread. I would have changed my rise and treads, but the way my stairs come down they end facing a wall. There wasn't enough room there to maintain a decent space at the bottom.