Steps and Stairs
Steps have three or less risers and stairs have four or more.
The rise is the vertical height, or space, between each step, also known as the riser height.
The run is the tread depth (or horizontal depth).
A tread is the part of the step that you step on. The part of the tread that protrudes over the riser is called the nose and typically is an inch or less.
The general rule is 7-11 (a 7 inch rise and 11 inch run) or no more than 7 3/4 inches for the riser and a minimum of 10 inches for the tread.
Use the tool called a speed square to help you in building steps or stairs.
Take the space height (inches), from floor to where the top destination will be and divide by 7. Round the decimal down and use that number to determine the number of treads you will need.
The Rise plus the Run should equal approximately 17 1/2 inches. Stairs or steps tend to have steps at or near 7 inches and treads at or near 10 inches deep.
