Custom stairs and railings

How it works

For stair builders and hardwood flooring contractors. The 3D model stands beside the steps for the whole process: the stairs rise from the ground floor to the floor above through the opening in its floor system and change with every answer. The form splits the height into equal risers no taller than 7 3/4 inches, takes the tread depth from the rise (2R + T = 25 inches, never under 10), lays out the winders so they are 10 inches deep 12 inches from the narrow end, and warns when they are not. A button over the model stands the tallest person in the house on the step under the edge of the opening and measures the headroom against the 6 ft 8 in the residential code asks for. Most customers already have stairs, so the form starts with a retrofit: new hardwood treads and risers over the stairs that stand. New stairs on closed or open stringers, a steel mono-stringer or cantilevered treads come with a note about the permit. Five shapes, red oak, white oak, maple or walnut in four stains, iron or wood balusters, glass or cables, wall handrail and LED lights under the treads. The estimate is before sales tax, priced by the step and by the foot of railing; every amount is a parameter, and one toggle hides the prices.

What this example shows

• Model in 3D beside the steps: straight, L and U stairs on winders or on a landing, in feet and inches
• Risers and tread depth worked out from the floor height, no riser over 7 3/4 in and no tread under 10 in
• Winders checked against the code: 10 in deep 12 in from the narrow end
• Headroom for the tallest person in the house, on the model and in the form, against 6 ft 8 in
• Starts with a retrofit over the stairs the house has; new stairs add the permit note
• Iron or wood balusters between newel posts, glass or cables; the railing is measured in feet along the stairs and round the opening
• Five constructions, four species, four stains; a PDF on Letter paper and a lead ready for the site measure