Glossary Of Staircase Terms - A To H
If you are planning on building or buying a staircase it is important that you understand the terminology that contractors and material suppliers will use.
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Detailed information on how to construct a staircase.
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Triangular blocks of wood attached with construction adhesive and screws to the underside of the stairs at the junction where the riser meets the tread and/or where the stringer meets a riser or tread. |
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Balusters |
Small vertical members that are used to support a handrail. |
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Balustrade |
The entire assembly that supports the handrail. It consists of newels, balusters and the handrail. |
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Bracketed Stringer |
A stringer that is not notched but has a special metal bracket attached to the inside in order to support the step treads. |
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Cleat Stringer |
A stringer that is not notched but has wood cleats screwed to the inside to support the step treads. |
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Closed Riser |
A style of staircase which uses material to hide the stringers between the treads. |
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Dado Stringer |
A stringer that has channels mortised on the inside faces to accept the stair treads and /or risers. |
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Dovetailed Baluster |
Balusters that are attached to stair treads using a dovetail joint. This is an older method of construction. |
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Filleted Balustrade |
A balustrade consisting of spaces filled with short pieces of wood between balusters. |
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Finial |
An ornamental projection on a newel as an example. |
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Folding Attic Stairs |
Stairs that mount hidden in a ceiling panel and conveniently pull down to allow access to the attic. |
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Gooseneck |
The upper most section of a curved staircase fitting. Usually used to describe the end piece of a railing. |
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Handrail |
The part of either a balustrade or wall rail that is grasped by the hand. |
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A 3/4 inch thick piece of plywood used on interior stairs as a method to secure the stringers to the upper floor joists. |
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The vertical distance between the bottom most material of a staircase opening and the highest stair tread. |
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Hollow Newel |
A newel post attached to the sub-floor with a threaded rod. |
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Housed Stringer |
A method of staircase construction where the stringers have tapered mortises routed into the face of the stringers. Treads and risers fit into the mortises and are secured with wedges. |
