Carpentry and Woodworking - Basement Stairs Again

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03-02-01, 08:22 AM
The risers on my basement stairs are 7-71/2" high, but the stairs themselves are only 6 1/2" wide. I believe the risers (incline)are acceptable, but the stairs are too narrow and can me made much safer with wider stairs. Am I correct in this assumption?

Thanks,
Bill

03-18-01, 11:21 AM
Bill, Your assumption is correct. The proper or comfortable angle for stairs is 30 to 35 degrees. Therefore the sum of the rise plus the tread width should be 17" to 17-1/2". A 7-1/2" rise should have a tread width of 10" providing a stair angle of approx 36 degrees. Many times stairs that are install where limited run distance is available the carpenter will deviate from the preferred ratios. In your case 7 steps with a rise of 7.5 inches should have a tread width of 10 inches or a total run of 70" plus the landing areas usually 36 inches minimum at top and bottom. Please note the tread with is considered the riser face to face distance exculding any tread nosing.

Hope this helps out.