Here you can find some basic components that make up a staircase.
- HANDRAIL – Follows the staircase up, and is where people place their hands and is grooved out for spindles to sit into
- SPINDLE – Also known as balusters, these go between the handrail and base rail to stop you from falling through and supporting the handrail, usually from solid wood or metal.
- NEWEL CAP – Sits on top of the newel post for decorative effect and comfort.
- NEWEL POST – It is a vertical member which is placed at the ends of flights to connect the ends of strings and handrail. Usually square solid wood 90x90mm, can be either left at full height or cut short for a newel turning to fit into.
- BASE RAIL – Sits on top of the string of landing and is grooved out for spindles to sit into
- STRINGER – It refers to the structural member that gives support and foundation for the treads and risers. Normally there are two kinds of stringers, each one on side of the stairs; even though the treads may receive the necessary support through different other techniques. The stringers are in some cases, notched so that the treads and risers can be fitted into them. Normally 28mm or 32mm solid wood.
- RISER – It is the vertical portion of a step providing support to the tread. faces. It can be 9 or 12 mm Plywood or solid wood.
- TREAD – It is an upper horizontal portion of a step upon which the foot is placed while ascending or descending. Started from 22mm in thickness and thicker for open riser stairs and up to more than 100mm for some custom made staircases.
- GOING – It is the horizontal distance between two successive riser faces.
- RISE – is a vertical distance between two successive tread faces.
- NOSING – is the projecting part of the tread beyond the face of the riser. It is usually rounded off for architectural considerations.
- PITCH LINE – It is the angle of horizontal with the nosing line of a stair.
- RUN – or Total Run is the horizontal length of the staircase measured from the first (bottom) riser to the back of the last (top) riser.
- HEIGHT – Or Total Height, Total Rise is the exact vertical distance from the top of one finish floor to the top of another finish floor.
- LANDING – It is a horizontal platform between the two flights of a stair. A landing provides an opportunity for taking rest during the use of the stair and facilitates the change of direction.
- HEADROOM – Head Room is the minimum clear vertical distance between the tread and overhead structure, i.e., ceiling