LVL Stair System

Superstair

Premium quality fit & finish

“Picture-frame” mitered corners for tread decking
Creative, high-end finishes for decking, fascia, and riser
Open look and feel, simplifying snow removal

Stronger stringers

Microlam or LVL (laminated veneer layer) lumber is much stronger and straighter than traditional lumber
The system minimizes material removed, maximizing throat depth and strength.
Most stairs only require 2 2×10 LVL stringers.
Span charts are calculated for code compliance.

Continuously supported treads

LVL 2×4 tread framing facilitates wide “waterfall” stairs with 5’6” spans
between stringers.
The system provides stable blocking for surface-mounted railing posts.
The system uses very little (and inexpensive) hardware.

How to Cut with Confidence

1. Tick-marks

Fill out the Stair Numbers Sheet (or see the LVL Stair Calculator below) to determine your angle and “tick-mark” increment.
Transfer tick-marks to stringers.

2. 2×4 Cuts

Connect the Square Guide to the Angle Guide, and set it to your angle.
Attach the Saw Plate Extension to your circular saw.
Align the Square Guide to each tick-mark on the stringer, and make your cuts for 2x4s.

Assembly Instructions Cuts with Square Guide 2500 A

3. Rise/run cuts

Attach un-cut fascia to stringer then place fascia side down.
Set your Run Stop and your Rise Stop to your rise and run.
Cut stringer and fascia together, one right, one left.

4. Top/bottom cuts, then assemble

Assembly Instructions Cuts with Square Guide 2500 B2

Stair Numbers Sheet

Measure your stair, and use this Stair Numbers Sheet PDF to help record and calculate your stair numbers.

You can use the LVL Stair Calculator below to help fill out your Stair Number Sheet.

LVL Stair Calculator

"*" indicates required fields

Total stair rise*

First, take a guess at your total rise. Later, after you find your lower landing point, remeasure your total stair rise using a straight edge and a level.

Default maximum rise*

By default, the estimated total rise is divided by 7-3/4, then rounded UP for the # of rises and rounded DOWN for the # of treads. 7-3/4 is often the max allowed rise-per-tread by code, and is the most cost-effective possible stair.

Hidden

# of RISES

# of TREADS

RISE per tread

Total stair rise divided by the # of RISES

RUN per tread*

11" is standard. Often 10" is minimum.

Total RUN

Find your lower landing point. Use a level to RE-measure your total stair rise from the lower landing point to find the true vertical distance between the upper and lower landing points. As necessary, correct the total stair rise on this calculator. A big correction to the total rise may change the # of treads, changing the lower point.

Finding your angle
To find your angle, an a calculator, divide the rise-per-tread by the run-per-tread, then run this function on a calculator: inverse tangent (Tan to the -1). Often this is the "2nd" button, then the "Tan" button.

Angle

Tick-mark increment

This is the diagonal line, or "hypotenuse" of the rise & run triangle.

Check your math!*

This is the hypotenuse of the rise & run triangle multiplied by the # of treads. To check your numbers, measure the diagonal distance from the upper landing point to where the nose of the bottom tread should be. It should be close of this number, 1% difference or less.

Parts List

# of Stringers

Minimum stringer board length in inches

This is the hypotenuse of the rise & run triangle multiplied by the # of treads PLUS 4 inches.

Minimum stringer board length in FEET

This is the hypotenuse of the rise & run triangle multiplied by the # of treads PLUS 4 inches.

Fascia for stringers
For stairs with fascia or trim, lengths required will be the same as the outside stringers.

Width of stair frame*

Outside dimension of frame, inches

Number of 2x4 structural risers

Length of the 2x4 structural riser

Inches

Number of 2x4 heel boards

Length of the 2x4 heel boards

Inches (inside dimension between two stringers)

Number of 2x4 6-inch blocks, per tread

Number of 2x4 6-inch blocks, TOTAL

Number of 9-inch diagonal blocks, TOTAL

Diagonal blocks are optional, providing strength, especially for surface-mounted railing posts and mitered corners on decking.

Number of cut deck boards for treads, TOTAL

This is traditional tread design, two equal deck boards per tread. For mitered-corner decking, plan accordingly.

Length of the (front) deck boards.

Inches; factor in fascia on the stringers and any overhang detail, typical to add 1 inch for each side to the frame width.

Fascia for risers
For stairs with fascia or trim on each riser, coverage required will be the same as the frame width PLUS the thickness of the fascia on both outside stringers. This system allows you to be creative with trim details.

Number of angle brackets

Angle brackets are for attaching the 2x4 heel boards at the back of the stringer - two per 2x4 heel board.

Number of 1-1/2-inch structural screws

#9x1-1/2-inch screws for angle brackets

Number of 3-inch wood screws

#10x3-inch screws for wood framing

Number of deck screws

For traditional tread design

Number of fascia screws

#10x3-inch screws for wood framing

Show tick-marks

Tick-marks help with stringer layout.

Tick Marks

Use as many tick marks as the # of rises.

"Burn" ___ inches before first tick mark

Tick mark 1

Tick mark 2

Tick mark 3

Tick mark 4

Tick mark 5

Tick mark 6

Tick mark 7

Tick mark 8

Tick mark 9

Tick mark 10

Tick mark 11

Tick mark 12

Tick mark 13

Tick mark 14

Tick mark 15

Tick mark 16

Tick mark 17

Tick mark 18

Tick mark 19

Tick mark 20

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36” Wide Staircase, Spans on Two Stringers
LVL Stringer Material	Throat Depth (in.)	Max Span (in.)	Max # of Treads (11 in.)
(1) 2×10	4 1/4	80	8
(2) 2×10	4 1/4	101	10
(1) 2×12	6 1/4	118	11
(2) 2×12	6 1/4	149	14
(1) 1-3/4×14	9	179	17
(2) 1-3/4×14	9	226	21

48” Wide Staircase, Spans on Two Stringers
LVL Stringer Material	Throat Depth (in.)	Max Span (in.)	Max # of Treads (11 in.)
(1) 2×10	4 1/4	73	7
(2) 2×10	4 1/4	92	9
(1) 2×12	6 1/4	107	10
(2) 2×12	6 1/4	135	13
(1) 1-3/4×14	9	163	15
(2) 1-3/4×14	9	205	19

66” Wide Staircase, Spans on Two Stringers
LVL Stringer Material	Throat Depth (in.)	Max Span (in.)	Max # of Treads (11 in.)
(1) 2×10	4 1/4	65	6
(2) 2×10	4 1/4	82	8
(1) 2×12	6 1/4	96	9
(2) 2×12	6 1/4	121	12
(1) 1-3/4×14	9	146	14
(2) 1-3/4×14	9	183	17

Wide Staircase, Interior Stringers at 66″ OC
LVL Stringer Material	Throat Depth (in.)	Max Span (in.)	Max # of Treads (11 in.)
(1) 2×10	4 1/4	52	5
(2) 2×10	4 1/4	65	6
(1) 2×12	6 1/4	76	7
(2) 2×12	6 1/4	96	9

Span Chart Notes

LVL Stringers

A live load of 40 psf used in the development of this table
A dead load of 12 psf used in the development of this table
Live load deflection limited to l/360 in the development of this table
Total load deflection limited to l/240 in the development of this table
The maximum deflection limited to 1”
Calculations based on a 7-3/4” riser and a 10” tread
Self weight of LVL material calculated assuming LVL weighs 41 PCF
Load of railing not considered in calculations
Deflection controls in all cases

LVL Treads

Live load equal 40 psf
Dead load equal 12 psf
Total live and 1/2 dead load for 12” wide step placed on toe board for distributed load verification (7’-4” max length, deflect controls)
A point load of 300 lb. (live) applied to mid span of toe board with dead load for point load verification (5’-8” max length, deflect controls)
2×4 LVL Nose Board will span 5’-8” + 1-1/2” of LVL material at either side would accommodate a 5’-11” wide staircase.

Wide / Waterfall Stair

Waterfall staircase with stringers located at 5’-6” o.c.
Calculations in this table are for interior stringers of the waterfall staircase
Stringers designed with 5’-6” of tributary area

Professional tool set, $299

Saw guides and stops provide professional results.
Avoid over-cutting and mis-cutting.
Method is adaptable, consistent, and teachable

Cut with confidence.

Help us improve this system and be a part of something new, building premium quality stairs!
This system is also available as a service from our Wood Shop.