Installing Stair Risers
Now it's time to install
the stair risers, if you're going to use them. Some stairways will not
require the use of risers and if this is the case, skip this page and
continue to the next step.
Most of the time, you will not know the exact width of the stairway,
until you have installed the stringers. If this is the case, then it
wouldn't be a bad idea to cut your stair risers after you have installed
your stringers.
However, if you have already cut the risers and they're ready to
install, simply lay them into their proper position and start nailing. I
like to use 8d nails for 3/4" thick plywood or oriented strand board and
16d nails for 2x materials like 2 x 6 or 2 x 8.
Work your way up from the bottom up and nailing the bottom riser first
and then the second riser. After you have nailed the first and second
riser to the stair stringers, you can install the first stair tread.
Continue working yourself up the stairway, one step at a time, until the
stairs are completed. This is an excellent way to build the stairs,
without creating an unsafe stair building environment.
There are other methods for installing stair risers and if you have a
better one, use it.
Back To - How To Build Stairs
Next - Stair Tread Installation