Building a staircase can be a daunting task for a do-it-yourselfer as well as a pro. Traditional stair building methods are rigid and unforgiving. If you miscalculate or need to make adjustments, then you often have to throw out your materials and start over. Luckily there are some new products and techniques on the market that can simplify and speed up stair construction.
One innovation that has many advantages compared to conventional stair building is the adjustable bracket method. This technique differs from conventional stair construction with its ease of installation. With adjustable stair brackets, you can custom fit deck stairs into an exact area, forming any rise or run required.
Here are eight advantages of using adjustable brackets over traditional stair building methods:
1- Allows for a custom fit.
2- Ease of installation: 2 stringers, 3 saw cuts each
3- Less waste of materials.
4- No math skills required.
5- Simple adjustments correct errors.
6- Approved as joist hangers.
7- They provide ‘code compliant’ rail post support.
8. Big time savings in comparison.
This is how the adjustable bracket method works:
Step one: Set the brackets on the two 2x6 stringer members using the spacers and pivot screws.
Step two: Remove spacers and rotate brackets to adjust stair height.
Step three: Fix brackets in position, attach risers and treads. Before you begin, determine the exact number of steps you need and exactly how wide you would like your steps to span.
For example, to make deck stairs up to seven feet wide using the automatic adjustable system, you only need three saw cuts per stringer and only two
stringers are necessary. No center stringers are needed at all because riser acts as a load-bearing joist, spanning across the stair between the two stringers, giving you stronger stairs. Literally, in three steps you can build deck stairs. With the traditional method you must custom cut, align and support several stringers as needed for the stair width. This requires a high degree of skill.
There’s a lot less waste of wood too. With traditional stringers you cut away half the strength when forming the stair. Also, you don’t have the frustration with math and all the mistakes that come from mathematical error with the new building method. In most cases, a simple adjustment will eliminate the error. This will save you a lot of time.
Adjustable brackets not only adjust, but are also approved as 'joist hangers'. This allows you to attach 2" thick risers that span across the stair like floor joists, every 10" or 11" between the two stringers. This eliminates the need for several center stringers running down the stair as in conventional construction. Since there are only two stringers, you also eliminate the need to align and attach several cut stringers in order to build your stair.
Another benefit to using brackets is that they provide 'code compliant' rail post support. According to the accredited testing, the brackets are used to provide rail post support for any type of wood stair which meets the code requirement for 200lb. Lateral load at 42". Conventional stair building doesn’t have a good solution for this rail post attachment problem. If a large person presses on the railing in traditional stair framing, it can easily give way.
In addition to
deck stairs the brackets can be used for interior stairs: basement stairs, tongue and groove stairs, and even concrete formwork.
So, for your next stair building project consider using the adjustable bracket method. It will save you time, materials, and a lot of unnecessary stress.
Richard Truckner and Leslie Walker write articles for EZ Stairs®. EZ Stairs® products allow builders to build stairs with a wide range of materials such as redwood, cedar, tropical wood, treated wood, untreated wood, vinyl, steel, and composites. This stair building system allows for customized rise and treads configurations which can be adjusted to meet all building codes for any interior or exterior application- ICC approved. It is the only adjustable stair bracket system available anywhere. To help you figure out how many stairs you will need, the website provides a free stair calculator.
EZ Stairs® introduced the new patented adjustable dual-purpose exterior/interior brackets in 2003. In 2004, it won Pro Sales Magazine's Editor’s Choice award for new product innovation in the construction | | Author Info: Richard Truckner and Leslie Walker write articles for EZ Stairs®. EZ Stairs® products allow builders to build stairs with a wide range of materials such as redwood, cedar, tropical wood, treated wood, untreated wood, vinyl, steel, and composites. This stair building system allows for customized rise and treads configurations which can be adjusted to meet all building codes for any interior or exterior application- ICC approved. It is the only adjustable stair bracket system available anywhere. To help you figure out how many stairs you will need, the website provides a free stair calculator. |
|
