DNS-107 Steps Brochure V2.0

STEP FIVE: Common Problems Make cut to fit porch This brochure only covers stairs for one and two-family homes. Commercial buildings 5 The cut may vary to attach the stair, however have another set of rules to follow. the 7" rise is always maintained. Cut the wood A permit is required if you are replacing so the tread is against the porch sill. stairs. No drawings or plans are required, but it Easy would be helpful to know the height and run of the Cut stairs. A short description of the project will be listed on the permit. Steps to On stairways with more than 3 risers, one 7" handrail is required for the full length of the stairway on any open side and on the left, as one Building mounts the stairs. Handrails shall be located at 7" least 30" but not more than 34" above the nosing of the tread. Stairs Correctly Guardrails are required if the porch or 7" Porch sill platform is more an 24" above the floor or grade. (edge on view) Both shall be at least 36" high and ballasters spaced as to prevent the passage of a 6" ball. For One and Two Family 7" Both must sustain a 200 lb. load applied in any direction. Every stairway shall measure at least 3 Dwellings Only feet in width. Trim and handrails may project no 1 Finished more than 3 ⁄2" into this width. stringer. Any time the structural members are presented by (If top tread is repaired or replaced a permit is required. Any eliminated add electrical or plumbing work requires a permit. tread height to base, cut and secure to porch 7" Biggest Mistakes maintaining constant 7" rise with each step. The biggest mistake in building stairs is 1 5 ⁄2" not keeping ALL the steps the SAME height. Most often the first and last step are incorrect. Tread widths and riser heights may vary in uniformity by 3 7" a maximum of ⁄16". However, the 8" maximum rise and 9" minimum run must be maintained. A level 3 foot landing is required at the top and bottom of 7" the stairs and be as wide as the stairs. Intermediate landings are required for stairs 12 City of Milwaukee feet or higher. 7" Department of Questions? 7" For more stair building information talk to Neighborhood Services your construction inspector. If you need more CONCRETE SLAB information about permit requirements, fees, or WWW.MILWAUKEE.GOV you just want to ask a “what if” question, call the Secure the stringer to the porch. Building Inspection's Permit Desk at 286-2507.

Business hours are 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. DNS-107 STEPS BRO TNW 9/23/02 STEP ONE: STEP THREE: How high do you have to go? Marking the lumber for a cut.

1 Determine the distance you have to climb Once you know how high each step is, RUN 1 ⁄2" from the ground to the porch. Use a level. it's time to figure out how far out the step will run. A comfortable unit run or tread "cut" will be 10". R I 10" Level However, it must be at least 9". Treads should S cut contain some overhang from the risers (called E nosing). This avoids tripping while ascending the 7" 2 x 12 1 cut stairs. Desirable nosing should be 1" to 1 ⁄2" from Flooring stair tread 1 the riser. Our example is 1 ⁄4". If adding a riser, Porch measurement is the same since some amount is Deck Important: (Example 28") being added to tread and riser. Cut bottom 1 7" P end of the 5 ⁄2 " Protected or treated lumber is required o stringer to s for exterior stairs. Use a framing square to mark a compensate Concrete slab 2 x 12 board. A framing square is a ruler built at a t for the thickness Cut Line Concrete slab or 90¡ angle and marked on each edge. Marking the of the stair tread stone (not gravel) 1 1 lumber on one side, use a pencil to mark the rise (1 ⁄2, 1 ⁄8" etc.) and STEP TWO: (7") on one side of the square and the tread cut thus maintain the Divide the distance by 7. (10") on the other side of the square. 7” rise.

A comfortable step to climb is 7 inches. Framing Square STEP FOUR: Determine the number of steps by dividing the Nosing room on treads. height (example 28") by 7. (28÷7=4) Your 10" stairs will have 4 equal 7" steps called risers. 1 A 1 ⁄4" nosing is desirable on stairs. The actual The code limits the maximum stepping height 1 1 7" size of a 2 x 12 is 1 ⁄2" x 11 ⁄4". Since you left a to 8 inches and a minimum height of 4 inches. 10" tread cut, adding the 2 x 12 as a tread 1 1 1 leaves you with a 1 ⁄4" nosing. (11 ⁄4" -10"=1 ⁄4") For non-multiples of 7 (for example 10"

31"), first divide it by 7 to determine the number ¡ of steps. 31÷7=4.42 Take the whole number 45 (4), then divide it into the distance (31) again. 1 11 ⁄4" 1 31÷4=7.75 This means each of your 4 steps, or 1 ⁄4" 3 risers, will be exactly 7 ⁄4" high. Round up or nosing down the whole number, but do not exceed 8 inches per step. DOUBLE CHECK your math. 2 x 12

10" 7" 10" 7" 10" 7" 10" 7" This is called 7" a Riser. DO NOT Using the framing square, mark cut lines 7" EXCEED 8”. on the lumber, times the number of steps you 1 11 ⁄4" have. Be sure to take the measurement on the 7" outside edge of the square and intersect the lines Stringer 2 x 12 7" board at the edge of the 2 x 12 lumber. This is a Stringer.