Stairwell stringer, or lack thereof

[Robert Jones]

I had the opportunity to inspect a wonderful conversion today(used to be an apartment and was converted to a condo). One of the numerous items that were noted was, the risers leading to the second floor had gaps of up to 2" on either side of the treads. The carpet wasn't stapled to anything, I am guessing nothing was there to staple to;) Lack of stringer(s) issue? Anyone have any other idea?

Thanks,

Rob

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[hausdok]

Remember,

The name of the photo must not have any spaces or special symbols. Rename your photos, go back to your post, click the edit icon, and then delete the old codes and try again.

OT - OF!!!

M.

[randynavarro]

Typically, they'll hold the stringers off the wall a good 1" so they can drop the drywall down and behind the treads easier. Or, they leave the room for installing a wood (or plywood) skirt.

I'm not sure there's a defect there.

[Robert Jones]

I think my main issue is that toes and in this case parts of the foot could easily be caught in between the tread and wall, creating a safety issue. I realize that there is normally a small gap there but this seemed extreme.

[Richard Moore]

Originally posted by randynavarro

Or, they leave the room for installing a wood (or plywood) skirt.

Yeah. I'm not sure of the proper name, but it looks like someone got cheap and left off the moldings. Gonna have some nice scuff marks on the drywall after a few vacuumings.

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[gtblum]

Rob,

Given the number of accepted styles for stairs out there, I'm not sure I see an issue either. This looks like a set of utility stairs used during construction like Randy says. I've taken many of these out to build the finished staircase at the completion of the project. Maybe the budget only allowed for carpet.

[gtblum]

Richard,

That looks like a nice, neat, finished housed stringer.????

[Robert Jones]

Thanks guys for the replies. Randy, that whatchamacallit would definately work;)

Rob

[hausdok]

I'd kind of like to see and take pictures of the guy or gal who walks so splay-footed that they'll get their toes over the ends of those treads into that narrow gap.

That would be a strange sight.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[AHI in AR]

Around here, the 1X finishing out the ends of the treads/risers is called a mop board. Admittedly, you'd have to be a special ed student to mop carpet, but I assume that the term predates the relatively modern practice of completely carpeted stairs. And, yes, it is standard practice to leave a gap at the ends of the treads to allow for slipping the mop board in without notching it for the treads and risers.

The stringer is the structural member UNDER the treads which holds them up. You won't normally see it from any finished living space, and you sure won't see it from the top side.

While sloppy, I agree that it's not a real hazard. It would seem to be a really odd walking pattern that could land your toes there.

[Robert Jones]

Nobody has ever seen kids walking right up against the wall when they are nervously learning the stairs? These weren't your typical 1/2-1" gaps. Thanks for your input.

[hausdok]

Hi,

Pardon my saying so, but I think this is a non-issue.

I'd never thought about it really, so I just walked out into the hallway and checked the stairs leading to the second floor. Guess what; they're done the same way and I'd never noticed it. I don't even want to guess at how many stairways I've done where the situation is probably identical. For the past couple of years dozens of my wife's friends have had a long procession of toddlers and small children, as well as elderly folks, in and out of this house walking up and down those stairs. Not a single one of them has ever tripped or fallen due to that gap. Probably because when you put your foot over the gap, it's not noticeable through one's shoe. Besides, if a kid is small enough to stick a foot or arm through that gap the kid is probably too small to push his or her hand past the carpet and is way too small to be on stairs unattended anyway.

There are plenty of other more important things to be concerned about with stairs but, from a practical standpoint, I don't see this as one of them.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Tom Raymond]

Mike,

While I agree that the stairs as is are not a safety concern, the fact that the builder left out such a simple detail would have me looking at what else he cut corners on.

Tom

Pretty cheap to leave out a couple of 1x10's[:-thumbd]

[Robert Jones]

Thanks for your input. There were many more issues with this "conversion", this was just one that, for me anyway, exceeded the norm with the amount of gapping. I will drift back to lurking now. Thanks again.

Rob

[gtblum]

Don't get confused if you get under a set of stairs built by a stair builder, and you find a routed or plowed skirt board or housed stringer, (Same thing) with nothing but wedges and glue holding it together. When constructed properly, it's as solid as rock. There is no reason to add an open stringer under it unless, the tread length exceeds 36". Then an open stringer, should be added at the center for support. Here's a crappy phone pic of one I built last fall, with no carpet in the way.

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[randynavarro]

Originally posted by bootsan

Thanks for your input. There were many more issues with this "conversion", this was just one that, for me anyway, exceeded the norm with the amount of gapping. I will drift back to lurking now. Thanks again.

Rob

No more lurking! You've been initiated (send $$ to O'Handley)

Your post was good for discussion and I bet lots of folks learned something.

No stupid questions - only stupid mistakes.

Well, ok, maybe there's some stupid questions sometimes.

[hausdok]

Originally posted by randynavarro

No more lurking! You've been initiated (send $$ to O'Handley)

Huh?

Oh hell, why not? Come to think of it, why doesn't everyone send me money and I'll make you partners in this great deal I just entered into with a Nigerian barrister to inherit his deposed king father's fortune. We'll all be kajillionaires by next week!

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[gtblum]

I'm in! As soon as I get that check from Bill Gates.