Grab your framing square it is time to layout the stringers. You never knew that a framing square could be used to layout steps of a stair case? Follow along and find out how.
On the long leg of the framing square find and mark with a piece of masking tape the tread width. Use the measurement on the outside of the framing square. Wrap a piece of masking tape around the leg at the tread width. In our example we would wrap a piece of tape around the long leg at 10 1/2 inches.
On the short leg of the framing square mark the rise of the steps. Again, remember to use the outside rule on the framing square. In our example we would wrap a piece of masking tape around the framing square at 7 3/8 inches.
Here is how the framing square is going to help you layout the stringer cuts. The long edge is the tread and the short edge is the riser. By lining up the masking tape marks on the edge of the stringer so that the framing square’s 90 degree angle is on the stringer you have the correct slope and the correct run and rise for each step.
Framing square riser = short leg of the framing square
Framing square tread = long leg of the framing square
Put one of the stringer boards on your saw horses. Mark one of the long sides of the stringer board as to top of the stringer. Starting at the top of the stringer lay the framing square riser’s tape mark at the corner of the stringer board. Next, align the tread tape mark with the edge of the stringer board. With your pencil, draw a line down the outside of the framing square’s riser and tread.
This is the first step at the top of the stair case.
Now, slide the framing square down the stringer stopping when the riser leg’s tape is at the tread line. Align the tread tape mark with the edge of the stringer board. Draw the line on the outside of the framing square’s riser and tread legs.
Keep repeating this until all of the steps have been drawn.
The bottom step trim off the thickness of the tread. In our example this would be removing 1 1/2 inches. This is because the bottom most step is the floor where the stair case rests on.
