Wooden stairs can be beautiful and a statement all their own. Any person--contractor, real estate agent and homeowner alike--can find themselves awed by a beautiful wood stair design. Using wood stair parts, you can create something classic and dramatic for the space.

Wood stairs basics will help you on your journey to add a wooden staircase to your project. Finding the right wooden staircase manufacturers, along with these tips, is key to creating the wooden stairs you always dreamed of.

1. Begin wood stair construction by determining the rise of the wooden staircase.

2. Determine the run of the wooden staircase.

3. Figure out the runs of the wooden steps.

Action Steps
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Figure out the rise of the wooden stairs

This first step of wood stair construction must take in a lot of factors. The rise of the wooden staircase is the distance from the floor to the top of where the wooden stairs will be. Purchasing the right tools will help you get the job done right.

I recommend: Engineers Supply has a wide selection of measuring tapes designed for architects and builders. DeWalt has a laser plumb bob that can help in this application.

Determine the run of the wooden staircase

This figure depends on a lot of factors when building wood stairs. When determining the run of the stairs, consider the space where you will construct the wooden stairs as well as the building codes of your area.

I recommend: When looking at building codes, consider these examples. The city of Portland, Maine dictates that an interior wooden staircase, or any other material staircase, must have a landing or a space at the foot of the stairs that is 3 feet long. The Portland, Oregon website is another example of where you can find building code information to help you determine the run of your wooden staircase.

Create the runs of the wooden steps

To determine the runs of the step, there are a few things to consider. For a comfortable step up, one should not go above a certain height.

I recommend: In the Town of Gorham, Maine, the building code specifies a wooden step's run be 8 1/4 inches. The building code for the town or city in which the wood stair construction takes place will specify this information. If the builder or architect prefers, Colonial Stair is one of the many wood stair manufacturers that can build a staircase for any project, and include all of the wooden stair parts needed, such as wood stair railings, hardwood stairs and more.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The wood stairs basics will help any stair project. Any town or city office will be a great resource as it can provide building code regulations for the height of wood stair railings and more. Keep in mind that when building a wooden staircase, it's possible to include other materials such as wrought iron railings, wires and anything imaginable. As long as you observe the building codes, the builder can allow the imagination to roam free.

Wood stairs bring charm and beauty to houses and businesses of any style or size. New wood stair parts update and bring new life to old stairs and offer added value.

A wooden staircase in the center of a room is the place where style begins. Adding new wood stair parts to old wooden stairs brings your own sense of design to existing interiors.

Keeping wood stairs in their original style and finish retains property value. Check wooden steps in historic or period homes for safety and functionality. Wooden steps that creak, pull away from their stingers or are loose need proper attention and repair.

Maintaining, updating or installing a wooden staircase with quality parts, new finishes and needed repairs will:

1. Increase your home’s value and market appeal.
2. Keep your home true to its character and style.
3. Extend the life of your existing wooden stairs.
4. Make overall improvements to your home’s appearance.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find out what's under the carpet

If you have carpeting over hardwood stairs check their overall condition by pealing back a corner of the carpet in an out of the way place. If your stair's wood is in fairly good shape it's well worth the time and effort to refinish.

I recommend: HarwoodInstaller.com and The Natural Handyman for plenty of tips, suggestions and instructions on how to safely remove carpet from hard wood.

Research wood stair design plans for an authentic stair case for your home

Historic homes retain their value more when interior structures are as close to the original as possible. When wooden stairs need replacing or refinishing, doing the research on your particular home style will help you make the right style choices.

I recommend: The Wood Factory and Vintage Wood Works for all your historically accurate wood stair needs. These companies offer design services and parts to keep your home true to its original design.

Repair and replace worn treads, risers, rails and newel posts to make your wooden stairs safer

Safety is a key issue for original wooden staircases. Risers can crack over time, especially when covered with carpet multiple times. Railings, spindles and newel posts can become loose and wobbly, presenting a real hazard.

I recommend: Using top quality stair replacement parts from high quality wood staircase manufacturers like Sierra Stair Co., Inc and Westfire Quality Stair Parts. These companies offer online ordering and parts for most types of wood stair construction.

Save large wooden stair refinishing jobs to the professionals.

Although refinishing hard wood floors is a moderately easy do-it-yourself project, using experienced floor refinishers is the best choice when refinishing stairs. Wood stairs are the centerpiece of your home, and you want the job to look as professional as possible to increase your home's beauty.

I recommend: FinishingWoodFloors.com and The Marketplace to locate qualified hard wood refinishers in your area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider re-facing wood stair risers with ¼ inch hardwood sheeting. Many times risers have too many layers of paint or so many nail holes it's impossible to bring them back to their original appearance. Hardwood sheeting comes in oak, cherry and other hardwoods and is ready to stain or paint.

Building wood stairs is like constructing a gigantic, three-dimensional puzzle. In creating the wooden stairs, you need to build from the frame, adding various layers that fit together to strengthen each individual piece so they work together as a whole. Once the essential foundation is complete, it is possible to choose various wood stair parts to finish the structure.

The basic design of the wooden stairs allows for a lot of freedom to create flying staircases that seem to spring from one floor to the next unsupported, or solid, sweeping structures that ascend to dizzying heights, or winding stairs that curl their way up the inside of towers. If built correctly, these wooden stairs can last for hundreds of years. Consider these supplies for wood stairs to give your staircase the look you want.

1. Choose stringers for the wooden steps.

2. Pick out treads of the wooden stairs.

3. Add wooden stair railings, balusters and molding.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Think longevity when choosing the stringers for the wooden stairs

You can create your own stringers or buy them pre-made, but custom stringers typically last longer. You don't necessarily have to stay with pine for your stringers; you can choose whatever wood will fit into the wood stair design of your choice.

I recommend: Lumber for the stringers is at most building supply stores like Lowe's or Rockler. At these stores, look for a builder's square. You can use it to draw the triangles that form the rise and run of the wooden steps.

Pick the treads for the wooden stairs

Treads, like stringers, can be of any wood that will fit in well with the overall wood stair design. Wooden staircase manufacturers can offer selections that include hardwood stairs in a variety of wood choices.

I recommend: Sources of wooden stair treads are Westfire Manufacturing and Highland Hardwoods. For exotic wood that would require cutting into treads, look at Premium Specialty Hardwoods.

Add wood stair railings, balustrades and molding to finish the wooden stairs

Wood stair manufacturers have a wide selection wooden handrails, balustrades and molding in various styles. Mixing and matching styles is also possible. If you would prefer a unique wooden staircase, custom wooden staircase manufacturers can work with you, or you could build one yourself.

I recommend: Manufacturers of wooden stairs include Prestige Stairs have a wide selection of wood stair parts. For custom stairs, contact Custom Wood Stairs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Once you master the basic wood stair construction, it is possible to get creative with the wood stair design. Wooden stairs can become storage units, house closets or even freestanding sculptures. As long you observe building codes, the sky is the limit in wood stair design.