Constructing Staircases, Balustrades & Landings: Building Basics Series

By: William P. Spence

128 pages, 333 color illus., 8" x 10".

A stairway is much more than a means of exiting a house--a new one can be a way of exciting your home, as you showcase dramatic spaces, grand entrances, and beautiful materials, increasing value far beyond the cost. From colorful photos of finished work to close-up illustrations of each step along the way, practical instructions and expert tips cover basic styles of stairs, balustrades, and landings. Preliminary planning guidelines provide shortcuts for any project you choose. The design section shows how to read and make drawings for basic U-shape and L-shape stairs, as well as how to decide on everything from the amount of headroom you need to choice designs from the Architectural Woodwork Institute. There's a chapter for every task: using stringers (notched and housed); making skirtboards, treads, risers, and landings; installing curved and spiral stairways; building open riser stairs and disappearing stairs--the most complete guide available.