Graphical Construction Glossary >> stairs. >> general >> Stair Total Rise

Stair Total Rise

The amount that a stair, staircase or a person walking up a stair travels in a vertical direction. .

The height of a staircase or a stairway is a simple concept. When the stair is finished it is the difference in level between the top floor and the bottom floor. This height can be anything, it does not have to be in certain increments or anything like that.

An old person may fall down a stair and get seriously injured. She later sues the owner because the top step was one inch higher than all the rest. She will win the court case, definitely. Build something that is not safe and expect to be sued.

The height has to be divided into a number of equal spaces which is trivial. The problems occur when the person measuring the height makes false assumptions. Very rarely will a simple on site measurement be correct.

1. Particularly in outdoor stairs, the ground or surfaces may not be perfectly level so it it important to allow for any variations in height from directly below the top landing to the position of the bottom landing.
2. The stairs may be measured off the drawings and sizes change in the construction process.
3. The sketches here use the words "finished height", and for a reason. By far the most common mistake is to measure on site, floor to floor and not allow correctly for the surface finishes. For example between two concrete landings the bottom may remain unfinished and the top may later have terrazzo or tiles added. Top landing timbers may finish up with various combination of ply, solid timber and with or without carpet. The surface finishes must be known and allowed for when the stair height is calculated.

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"What can be added to the happiness of a man who is in health, out of debt, and has a clear conscience?
Adam Smith 1723-1790

"When we build, let us think that we build for ever."John Ruskin 1819-1900