Staircase Building: Tools of the Trade

Building a staircase doesn't require any specialized tools. If you're into woodworking, you have all the tools you'll need already in your toolbox.

Measuring Tape

This is the main tool for staircase building. You need accurate measurements for all aspects of construction, including the total rise, the total length and run of the staircase, the angle, the amount of desired headroom and even the thickness of the upper floor.

Math Skills

Any woodworker knows the value of proper calculations. But when it comes to building a staircase, your math skills (or handiness with a calculator) are crucial. Even with a calculator, you must know which numbers you need and how to figure them.

Square

A carpenter's square is absolutely necessary for building a staircase. You'll set this tool to the height of the risers and the size of the treads (typically 7 3/8 inches by 10 inches) and use it to mark the lines on the boards that you'll use to make the stringers. The stringers are the base for a staircase; they're the zigzag board onto which are mounted the risers and the treads. Without a square, there's little chance that your finished staircase will be plumb or true.