How Do You Cut Stair Risers & Treads?
Stair cases are made from three main elements. The stringer is the diagonal member on the outside edge of the stairs that supports the steps. They can be open or closed stringers. An open stringer supports the step pieces directly, allowing you to see the step from the side. A closed stringer has wood or other support cleats fastened to its inside face to support the steps. The riser is the portion of the step that rises vertically from the floor or previous step. The tread is the cap or actual step that is walked on. It rests horizontally above the riser. Measure from outside to outside of the stringer pieces. For Risers, measure the distance between the floor or top—horizontal—cut of the step notch and the top cut of the step above. For treads, measure from the front edge of the riser—vertical—cut of the notch to the front edge of the vertical cut in the notch above. Cut risers to the width of the space between stringers from outside to outside and the height of the riser cut
