Stringers — Glossary entry

Stringers are the lateral, load-bearing components of a staircase that carry the treads and frame the flight. They transfer the loads from the staircase into the supports – ceilings, landings or walls. By position, a distinction is made between the wall stringer (against the room wall) and the free or light stringer (on the open side). By joint type several construction variants arise: in mortised stringer staircases the treads are set into grooves in the stringer, in saddled constructions they sit on the stringer, while half-mortised, notched and slide-in stringer staircases define further variants. Curved stringers for curved flights are usually produced by bent or block lamination. Typical materials include solid hardwood, glulam, laminated wood, steel or combinations of these.

Related terms

Related terms: Stringer Staircase (Umbrella Term), Wall Stringer, Open Stringer, Stringer End Assembly, Blind Stringer, Wreath Piece.