Staircase Terminology
Tread:The horizontal part of the step, the part on which you walk.
Riser:The vertical piece of wood in the steps.
String:The side pieces of the stairs.(Stringer)
Newel Post:The newel posts are positioned at the bottom and top of a stair flight and everywhere
the stairs changes direction. A half newel is used to finish the handrail to the wall.
Balusters (Spindles):The balusters (spindles) are the vertical posts that hold up the handrail
along the flight and on the landing.
Balustrade:The entire assembly that supports the handrail. It consists of newels, balusters and
the handrail.
Handrail: The part of either a balustrade or wall rail that is grasped by the hand.
Wall Rail:The handrail attached to the wall.
Base Rail: The Base rail (String capping or sole plate) is used to hold the balusters in place.
(Bottom Rail)
Landing:A horizontal platform located between the upper and lower floors.
Stairwell:The opening in floor for stairs.
Rise:The vertical distance from one tread to the next.
Nosing:An edge part of the tread that protrudes over the riser beneath. If it is present,
this means that, measured horizontally, the total "run" length of the stairs is not simply
the sum of the tread lengths, as the treads actually overlap each other slightly.
Total Rise:The vertical distance through which stairs must cross from finished floor to
finished floor. (Floor to Floor)
Total Run:The horizontal measurement of the staircase from the face of the top riser to the
face of the bottom riser.
Winders:Winders are steps that are narrower on one side than the other. They are used to
change the direction of the stairs without landings.
Headroom:Headroom is the height above the nosing of a tread to the ceiling above it.