Building codes strictly govern all aspects of stair construction, including a stair's rise and run, the height and shape of guardrails and handrails, and the headroom above the steps.
Learn MoreStair specialist Jed Dixon describes how to lay out, cut, and install treads,... More
Simple-to-make railing stands allow accurate assembly right in position. More
Loose-fitting dowels and five-minute epoxy allow fine adjustments in the assembly. More
While new stair codes have made winders more complicated to build, full-scale... More
Dave Holbrook shows how he updated a staircase's original square newel posts with... More
Retrofitting a narrow townhouse with a new staircase while meeting code proved to... More
Using glass panels to separate a basement stairwell from the living room and... More
A building inspector explains what the code says about returns at the ends of... More
Master stair builder Jed Dixon explains the art and science of laying out balusters. More
When building a house with a loft accessed by a code-compliant stair, does a second, unorthodox, stair that leads to the same loft space have to comply with code as well? More