Following
are the terms used for components of staircase:
Step
– The step is
composed of the tread and riser.
Tread
– The part of the
stairway that is stepped on. It is constructed to the same specifications
(thickness) as any other flooring. The tread "depth" is measured from
the outer edge of the step to the vertical "riser" between steps. The
"width" is measured from one side to the other.
Riser
– The vertical
portion between each tread on the stair. This may be missing for an
"open" stair effect.
Nosing – An edge part of the tread that
protrudes over the riser beneath. If it is present, this means that, measured
horizontally, the total "run" length of the stairs is not simply the
sum of the tread lengths, as the treads actually overlap each other slightly.
Starting
step or Bullnose –
Where stairs are open on one or both sides, the first step above the lower
floor may be wider than the other steps and rounded. The balusters typically
form a semicircle around the circumference of the rounded portion and the handrail
has a horizontal spiral called a "volute" that supports the top of
the balusters. Besides the cosmetic appeal, starting steps allow the balusters
to form a wider, more stable base for the end of the handrail.
Handrails that
simply end at a post at the foot of the stairs can be less sturdy, even with a
thick post. A double bullnose can be used when both sides of the stairs are
open.
Stringer,
Stringer board or sometimes just String
The structural
member that supports the treads and risers. There are typically two stringers,
one on either side of the stairs; though the treads may be supported many other
ways. The stringers are sometimes notched so that the risers and treads fit
into them.
Stringers on
open-sided stairs are often open themselves so that the treads are visible from
the side. Such stringers are called "cut" stringers. Stringers on a
closed side of the stairs are closed, with the support for the treads routed
into the stringer.
Winders
Winders are
steps that are narrower on one side than the other. They are used to change the
direction of the stairs without landings. A series of winders form a circular
or spiral stairway. When three steps are used to turn a 90° corner, the middle
step is called a kite winder as a kite-shaped quadrilateral.
Trim
Trim (e.g.
quarter-round or baseboard trim) is normally applied where walls meet floors
and often underneath treads to hide the reveal where the tread and riser meet.
Shoe moulding may be used between where the lower floor and the first riser
meet. Trimming a starting step is a special challenge as the last riser above
the lower floor is rounded.
Flexible,
plastic trim is available for this purpose, however wooden mouldings are still
used and are either cut from a single piece of rounded wood, or bent with
laminations Scotia is concave moulding that is underneath the nosing between
the riser and the tread above it.
Banister,
Railing or Handrail
The angled
member for handholding, as distinguished from the vertical balusters which hold
it up for stairs that are open on one side; there is often a railing on both
sides, sometimes only on one side or not at all, on wide staircases there is
sometimes also one in the middle, or even more. The term "banister"
is sometimes used to mean just the handrail, or sometimes the handrail and the
balusters or sometimes just the balusters.
Volute
A handrail end
element for the bullnose step that curves inward like a spiral. A volute is
said to be right or left-handed depending on which side of the stairs the
handrail is as one faces up the stairs.
Turnout
Instead of a
complete spiral volute, a turnout is a quarter-turn rounded end to the
handrail.
Gooseneck
The vertical
handrail that joins a sloped handrail to a higher handrail on the balcony or
landing is a gooseneck.
Rosette
Where the
handrail ends in the wall and a half-newel is not used, it may be trimmed by a
rosette.
Easings
Wall handrails
are mounted directly onto the wall with wall brackets. At the bottom of the
stairs such railings flare to a horizontal railing and this horizontal portion
is called a "starting easing". At the top of the stairs, the
horizontal portion of the railing is called a "over easing".
Core
rail
Wood handrails
often have a metal core to provide extra strength and stiffness, especially
when the rail has to curve against the grain of the wood. The archaic term for
the metal core is "core rail".
Baluster
A term for the
vertical posts that hold up the handrail. Sometimes simply called guards or
spindles. Treads often require two balusters. The second baluster is closer to
the riser and is taller than the first. The extra height in the second baluster
is typically in the middle between decorative elements on the baluster. That
way the bottom decorative elements are aligned with the tread and the top
elements are aligned with the railing angle.
Newel
A large baluster
or post used to anchor the handrail. Since it is a structural element, it
extends below the floor and subfloor to the bottom of the floor joists and is
bolted right to the floor joist. A half-newel may be used where a railing ends
in the wall. Visually, it looks like half the newel is embedded in the wall.
For open landings, a newel may extend below the landing for a decorative newel
drop.
Finial
A decorative cap
to the top of a newel post, particularly at the end of the balustrade.
Baserail
or Shoerail
For systems
where the baluster does not start at the treads, they go to a baserail. This
allows for identical balusters, avoiding the second baluster problem.
Fillet
A decorative
filler piece on the floor between balusters on a balcony railing.
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