Scotia Stairs - Hardwood Stair Parts * Staircase Terms & The Janka Scale
Staircase & Rail Systems Terminology Listed A-to-Z & The Janka Scale
This
glossary of staircase related terminology explains the most common & basic terms used in staircase construction.
Baluster/Spindle - the vertical member, plain or decorative,
that acts as the infill between the handrail and baserail.
Balustrading - the collective
name for the complete assembly
of handrails, baserails, newels, spindles and caps.
Bullnose Step - usually at the bottom of the stairs with one or
both ends of the step having a quarter circle design.
Closed String - a string with the face housed/trenched to
accommodate treads and risers so their profile cannot be seen.
Continuous Handrail - using straight lengths of handrail
connected to handrail fittings and ramps, the handrail flows over
the tops of newel turnings creating a continuous run of handrail.
Cut or Open String - a string
with the upper edge cut away
to the shape of the treads and risers so that their profile can be
seen from the side.
Going - the going of a flight of stairs is the horizontal distance
between the face of the first and last risers. The individual
going of a step is measured from face of riser to face of riser
Newel - accommodates the strings, handrails and treads/risers.
Nosing - the edge of the tread projecting beyond the face of
the riser and the face of a cut string.
Pitch - the angle between the pitch line and the horizontal.
Pitch Line - the notional line connecting the nosings of all
treads in a flight of stairs.
Rake - the pitch of the stairs.
Rise - the rise of a flight is
the vertical distance between the
floors or landings connected by the flight. The individual rise is
the vertical measurement from top of tread to top of tread.
Riser - the board that forms the face of the step.
Staircase - the entire structure relating to a stair, comprising
steps, treads, risers, strings, balustrading, landings etc.
Stairway/Stairwell - the space/void provided for the stairs.
Step - the tread and riser combined.
String Margin - the distance between the top of the string
and the pitch line measured at 90° to the pitch line.
Tread - the top or horizontal surface of a step.
Wall String - the string of a staircase fixed flush with a wall.
Winders
- are radiating steps narrower at one end that are
used to change the direction of a stairs through 90° or 180°.
Wood Hardness Based On The Janka Scale
The relative hardness of a wood refers to the force required to insert a .444 inch steel ball to half of its diameter into a piece of wood. Brazilian cherry is more than twice as hard as black walnut which means Brazilian cherry is more than twice as resistant to dings and scratches, it also means that it is twice as hard to cut. Though Brazilian Cherry and Santos Mahogany are hard the oily nature and straight grain make them relatively easy to machine. Carbide tipped blades and large horsepower modern tools allow carpenters to easily work with exotic woods.
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