H5 - Stairs - LT #4

Question 1

What is a common method to attach the stairs at the bottom?

Answer 1

A kicker notched into or between the stringers.

Question 2

How do you space the stringer off the wall when building carpeted stairs?

Answer 2

Fasten a strip of plywood a bit thicker than the wall finish to the bottom edge of the stringer

Question 3

What ensures good support at the bottom of a stair?

Answer 3

Blocking or extra joists

Question 4

Why is it important to know the thickness of the finished floor material?

Answer 4

Floor material dimensions are required to know the total rise, which is the dimension from the finished floor to the finished floor. The thickness of the finished floor material is required for the correct layout at the bottom of the stringer.

Question 5

What is a horizontal story pole?

Answer 5

A layout tool with stringers, treads & balustrade dimensions marked.

Question 6

How are balusters attached to stair treads?

Answer 6

Shoulder joints with dowels or stair bolts.

Question 7

What is a filet?

Answer 7

A finished piece that fits into the dado on the underside of the handrails or the top of bottom rails, or buttress cap, securing the baluster & hiding the fastener

Question 8

What is the primary responsibility of the carpenter when altering the stairwell opening?

Answer 8

1) Support the structure
2) Protect the existing structure

Question 9

A landing is similar to what and meets a similar code standard to what?

Answer 9

A small floor, meeting the floor framing specs for a floor.

Question 10

What is a common practice in installing a landing?

Answer 10

Landing joists to be fastened to ledgers that are attached to load-bearing walls.

Question 11

Why is it a good practice to leave 5/8” between the stringer & studs?

Answer 11

This allows drywall installers to slip the wall board in between the string & the studs and eliminates the need to fit drywall to the contours of the stairs.

Question 12

What floor finish is popular for entranceways?

Answer 12

TIle floor finishes. Ceramic, natural stone, slate, 1/4” to 1” thickness

Question 13

How can you match the thickness of other floorings when using ceramic tile?

Answer 13

Provide an additional layer of plywood as underlay

Question 14

What is the typical thickness of carpet & carpet underlay in residential construction?

Answer 14

1/2” to 3/4”

Question 15

In commercial construction, where carpet is glued down to concrete, thickness is typically about:

Answer 15

1/2”

Question 16

What is the best technique for fastening a handrail?

Answer 16

Make an almost invisible connection, using a star bolt with a screw thread on one end and a bolt thread on the other.

Question 17

What is an alternative method for fastening a handrail?

Answer 17

Drill through and use a small lag screw from the back side of the newel, careful plugging of the hole in a low visibility area

Question 18

The handrail and shoe rail are set parallel to the

Answer 18

Nosing line

Question 19

If no shoe rail or buttress cape is there, how are balusters installed?

Answer 19

Fitted into the surface of the wooden tread. The Joint is usually shoulder-jointed. The shoulder of the joint hides any gap in the fit.

Question 20

When is the handrail installed?

Answer 20

After all the balusters are in place.