Even experienced builders can stumble when framing staircases. Review these 7 common traps before taking a saw to your lumber:
- Ignoring Board Crown: Always place the convex edge (crown) upward when laying out cut stringers.
- Forgetting Bottom Tread Deduction: Trimming the bottom foot preserves uniform rise across all steps.
- Overcutting Notches: Sawing past line intersections weakens the remaining throat.
- Using Undersized Lumber: 2×10 lumber rarely leaves the mandated 3.5-inch throat depth.
- Neglecting Nosing Projection: Proper 3/4” to 1-1/4” nosings prevent heel catching when walking down.
- Inadequate Stringer Quantity: Bouncy composite deck stairs require stringers spaced 12” on center.
- Skipping Metal Connectors: Never rely solely on nails to bear full downward stair thrust.