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