Exploring Stairs

Terms to Know

Baluster

A vertical staircase part between the top rail and the bottom rail or tread; often made from turned wood or fabricated out of metal; also known as spindles or pickets (especially on the exterior)

handrail

The top part of the balustrade and often made from metal or wood; the underside often has holes to receive the balusters

Newel

The large vertical, structural component extending vertically from the thread (or near the thread) ending at the handrail; often placed at regular intervals, turns or transitions of the railing; also called a newel post

Nosing

The rounded tread front or outside edge (material); often make from a hard, hard-to-scratch material and often rounded

Riser

The vertical plane or face of a step usually around 7" in height

Riser-Tread Formula

A math formula used to determine rise distance, for example, riser (7") + tread (10.6") = 17 to 18"

Tread

The horizontal, left-to-right board (or surface) that one steps

Tread Depth

The measurement from the nosing edge to the vertical riser (or from the nosing edge to the backside of the tread)

Other Terms

banister - another name for balustrade, sometimes referred to as the balustrade of the staircase; the handrail and it's supporting system (i.e. balusters and newels)