Fourth Method Examples Of Platform Stairs And Guild Stair Parts The History of Staircases

Stair Parts Fig 1 Platforms

It may seem lost effort to tell the workman that one of the first requisites in choosing stair parts,, and the most important one, is that the carriage of a flight of stairs be built strongly and with timbers of such a dimension that any ordinary weight that may possibly be taken over the stairs will not cause the timbers or strings to "sag" or bend under the load. Often pianos are taken upstairs, and these may have a weight of anywhere from 350 to 1,000 pounds, or more, and this stair, with the weight of four or five men added who will be required to assist in getting one of these bulky instruments upstairs, will increase the weight considerably. The framework of a stairway should be made to resist a stress of not less than two tons. Strings for flights having ten or less treads, should never be less than 14 in. wide and 1½ in. thick, and these should be re-enforced by. rough-cut strings 10 or 12 in. wide and 2 in. thick. One of these rough strings should be spiked or screwed to the inside of the open string, and another similarly fastened to the wall or housed string, and one or two of these strings should be placed at equal distances between the open and wall strings. The rough strings should fit accurately against both tread and riser in order to get the best results. Flights of greater length should have stouter strings and more bearing pieces. If the outside string is supported with a partition running to the floor, or the stairs have a cross partition, half way in their length, then the timbers need not be so heavy; but, it is always better to err on the side of strength and rigidity than to have the frame of a stir weak and frail.

When the plan of the stair and stair parts, will permit, it is always better to have a platform. A platform built on posts which reach down to a solid foundation at the lower floor, or below, if necessary, is always the best. Posts may be halved at the top to receive joists or joist­bearers; or timbers may be tenoned into the posts. I prefer halving, however, as then we get the whole strength of the bearing pieces. In all cases, provision must be made for the proper fastening of the carved newel

Stair Parts Fig 2

posts at the corners, and, if circumstances will admit of it, the shank of the newel post should run down below the timbering of the platform as shown at A, Fig. 1, and on larger scale above the newel. In this figure the string is shown, also the lines of balusters. There is a sub-rail in this example, which is placed just above the line of nosings. A device of this kind allows a broom or brush to sweep clear through to end of step, to clean off dust without being obstructed by balusters. The platform is shown at N which may be continued to suit conditions. A lower platform which may belong to the same stairs is shown at stair parts, Fig. 2., Here I show the drop of the newel A, reaching down further than 'the one in stair parts Fig. I. The platform N may be extended to any length suitable to the requirements. Newels running down in the angle formed by the angle of the apron of the platform and the outside 'string, should be well secured to both the timber of the plat­form and the string. This can best be done by insert­ing a handrail bolt in the newel and leaving the end projecting out to pass through the timber, and another one should be placed so that it will pass through the string. Sometimes the newel is placed in position before the string is put up, and the center line of carved bal­usters is made to coincide with the center line of the newel. This is an excellent method if the stairs are open under the string, for then the "drop" can hang below the apron and string. The newel can be gained out to the proper depth over the joists, and the apron can be fitted in nicely to build against the shank of the carved newel post.

An Open Newel Stair and Stair Parts

I show, at Stair Parts Fig. 3, the ground plan of an open newel stair having two landings and closed strings. The dotted lines show the carriage timbers and trimmers, also the lines of risers; while the treads are shown by complete lines. It will be noticed that the strings and trimmers of the first landing are framed into the shank of the second newel post which runs down to the floor, while the third newel drops below the apron and has a turned and carved drop. This drop hangs below both apron and string, as shown in Stair Parts Fig. 4. The lines of treads and risers are shown both by dotted lines and etched sections. The position of the carriage timbers

Stair Parts Fig. 3

is shown both in landings and run of stairs, the pro­jecting ends of timbers are supposed to be resting on the wall. A scale of the plan and elevation is attached to plan.

Stair Parts Fig. 4 shows the elevation in full with a story rod shown on the right, with the number of risers spaced off. Design of newel, spandrel, framing and paneling is shown, also "raking" balusters.

Only the central. carriage timbers are shown, but in a stair and stair parts -of this width there ought to be two other tim­ber,  not perhaps :so heavy as the central one, yet strong-enough to be of service, also to help- carry the lath or paneling which may be necessary in comple­ting the soffit. The strings being closed, the butts of the carved balusters and stair parts must rest on a sub-rail which caps the upper edge of the outer string.

Stair Parts Fig. 4

The first newel should pass through the lower floor and should be secured by bolts to a joist, as shown in the elevation, so as to insure solidity. The rail is attached to the newels in the usual manner with hand­rail bolts or other suitable device.

Stair Parts Fig. 5, 6 (from left to right)

The sketches shown at Stair Parts Figs. 5 and 6 exhibit the end of the bottom step, which is semi-circular or "bull­nosed," also an end view of the lower tread and riser with the shank of the newel passing through. The position of the newel, with regard to the step, is shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5.

The Stair Parts block B may be made from one solid piece of stuff or built up in layers and the face covered with a thin veneer, as shown in the illustration; and this finish is then the face of the riser. The nosing on the tread is worked on the end of the stuff, and the cove under the tread is worked on the end of the stuff, and the cove under the tread may be worked from the solid, or it may be sprung in place if made of some elastic wood and steamed.