Stair Treads For Safety - Stair Building Tips

If you've built as many stairways as I have, this is a very simple question to answer. Should I use 2 x 12 or 3 x 12 for my stair treads? Without a doubt I would use the 3 x 12 for a couple of reasons.

The thickness of the three by material gives it some additional strength and that strength could prevent someone from falling through the stairway and getting injured. Visually looking at the 3 x 12 it gives you the illusion that the stairway is safe. Once you start walking up the stairway and the stairs seem solid and well constructed, it takes the illusion and makes it a reality.

If you're walking up a poorly constructed stairway every day, not only is it a safety problem but it takes a little bit of effort as you walk up the stairway, holding on to the hand rail with a death grip, this can easily wear someone out physically and mentally, over time. Stairways should be constructed and maintained with safety as the main priority.

If you've ever walked up and older stairway that was built using 2 x 12 for the stair treads, you probably know what I'm talking about. Walking up and down the stairway, while the stair treads are moving, does not give you a strong sense that the stairway is safe. And of course sometimes the stairway isn't.

For example if you have a 3 inch knot in a 2 x 12 stair tread, over time as the wood expands and contracts, the knot can loosen up and fall out of the stair tread, often creating a weak spot in the step. With a thicker stair tread, it will take a little more expanding and contracting to create a weak spot in the stair step.

If you're building a stairway wider than 36 inches, with no center stair stringers to support the stairway, I would suggest using a 3 x 12 or 4 x 12 for your stair treads. 2 x 12 should not be used for stair treads on any staircase wider than 36 inches.

If you choose to use 2 x 12 for your stair treads, select premium grade lumber for safety. Try to avoid using center cut building materials and 2 x 12 with knots larger than an inch and a half. Large knots are one of the biggest problems in construction safety.

Greg Vanden Berge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Learn more about the parts of the stairway, whether you're a experienced carpenter or homeowner. Stair building does not necessarily have to be as complicated as most people make it out to be. There's also a book on how to build straight stairs that can save you a lot of frustration, if you've never built a stairway before. Visit the website.

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Stair Climbing As Part of Your Weight Loss Workout Program For Women Over 40

So you're looking for a way to shed a few of those troublesome pounds. You'd like to fit into your clothes better or even get rid of the clothes you have now and get a whole new wardrobe.

How about that extra giggle when you walk? Something you wouldn't mind getting rid of either? Here's an idea that could work for you. Give some thought to using stair climbing as part of your weight loss workout program for women over 40

As we age things tend to slow down. It does happen but there's no reason that you can't fight it every step of the way. Aging doesn't have to be accompanied by your body breaking down.

Getting older can and should be a wonderful time in your life if you help it along by taking care of your body.

Women's issues are different then men's as we age but there are some things that are good for both groups to implement. Regular exercise is an important element of staying young and healthy.

So what about stair climbing? What are the benefits and what should you do? Here are some ideas.

Before you get started on your stair climbing program it's a good idea to check with your doctor especially is you have not been working out. Make sure that he says that it's o.k. for you to do.

To get started on your stair climbing routine and use it in your weight loss workout program for women over 40 simply find your favorite set of stairs that you can climb with minimal amount of traffic from others.

Starting with a few minutes per day is a good start. See if you can begin by walking up and down the stairs at a normal pace for those few minutes as you begin.

You will notice an increase in your heart rate and that's what you're looking for. Let's get that heart rate up there to a level that makes you work but makes you work at a level that you can handle for now.

As you begin to feel that your initial workout routine is becoming too easy then start to increase the amount of time and the speed at which you go up and down the stairs.

As time goes on and you continue to build your strength and stamina start thinking about taking the steps two at a time on the way up. This will add difficulty to your climb and also burn your thighs even more not to mention speeding up your heart rate even more.

Stair climbing is a great cardiovascular workout and like all movement it also gets you feeling great about how strong and healthy your body is becoming. The benefits of working out are physical as well as mental and emotional.

Make it a point to move on a regular basis and make stair climbing a part of your weight loss workout program for women over 40.

Fred Nicklaus is a National Champion martial artist who has also trained other National and World Champions in his martial arts schools. After total hip replacement surgery in 2005 he found the Combat Endurance Training program and it has helped him maintain his health and fitness. He teaches local Combat Endurance Training classes to adults and children in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Visit http://www.combatendurancetraining.com/j09 to find out more about Weight Loss Workout Program For Women Over 40 and Combat Endurance Training.

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How to Build Functional Stair Parts

The stairs are one of the most important parts of any household. It serves as the heart of any house since it connects all its parts and makes it distinguished from other houses. There are different kinds of stairs like spiral, straight or curved but all of these have the same things in common. They have the same purpose and the same stair parts.

Stairs parts are usually defined into two: the steps and the railing system. These two parts are highly connected to one another and should always complement each other to ensure its safety and design. If one part is not of good quality, the over-all look of the stairs and inevitable the house will be destroyed. If the railing is too low or too high, this can endanger the people who are living in that house especially children who likes to play in the stairway. On the other hand, if the steps are unequal and are not functional, this will also be a danger to all who uses the stairs.

The stair parts, then, is very important for all who uses it. We may hire professional stair makers or craftsmen to create the most perfect stairs that we wish from. An inexperienced stair maker can jeopardize the quality of the stairs and in turn, turn our dream homes into nightmare.

We can use different materials in making the stair parts. First of all is wood. Wooden stairs create a very beautiful ambiance for any home. It also poses safety and practicality to its users since it is not slippery and is comparably softer than concrete. But, the type of wood is also very important. There are a lot of wood types and not all of them are strong. We must pick a high quality wood to fit the stairs and will last almost a lifetime.

Another type of material that we can use is marble. This type of material is commonly used in huge mansions with wide grand stairways. It is not commonly used in ordinary houses since it's too expensive.

Other types of materials used in stair parts are stone, cement, and steel. Depending on what you want the over-all look of the house is.

The purpose of any stairs or its stair parts is too serve as a pathway for the house owners to go up and down the house. So it is imperative that it will be functional as well as aesthetic so that our houses will look good.

Normally when people visit us, the first thing that they will see once they go inside the house is the stairs. Thus, we need the stairs to create a perfect first impression on the house. We normally go the edge just to please our visitors. But what we normally overlook is the fact that when we have a perfect staircase in our houses, this actually helps in impressing our visitors.

So the next time that you build your home, try making the stair parts as perfect as your home.

For more inforamation about Stair Parts feel free to visit http://www.elegantstairsandwoodfloors.com

Eliza Maledevic Ayson writes for Jump2top.com - SEO Company

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Planning the Stair Railings For Your House and Deck

Even though the main purpose of stair railings is to prevent accidental falls, it can also contribute to the ambiance of your home by being stylish and beautiful. From a legal perspective, stair railings are seen as indispensable features of stairs either in a home or those that lead up to the deck. You do not, however, have to restrict their functionality to the component of safety but can unwind your imagination and think of different ways to make the stair railings an artistic feature of your house.

There is no dearth of designs when it comes to railings for deck stairs and other staircases. Based on your aesthetic preferences, you could either opt for a simple and sober design or choose one that is innovative and brings in a breath of fresh air to your home. If you have a railing design that is elaborate, you can be sure of drawing a lot of praise from your friends and other guests who visit you. If the railing that you plan to install is for the backyard deck, then do make sure that you choose a material that does not catch rust easily and can last a long time despite being exposed to the weather.

As the primary reason for installing stairs is the consideration of safety, adequate thought needs to be given to features like the handrails and balustrades. In case of slipping accidentally on the stairs, the instinctive reaction of a person is to grab the handrails to break the fall. This being the case, the handrails and balustrade should have the strength to support the weight of an adult without any mishaps. The baluster spacing should also be restricted to four inches so that there is no possibility of small children getting stuck between them.

Finally, you have to devote some thought to the material that you will use for the construction of the stair railings. A wide variety of materials like metal, vinyl, wood and composites can be used here. If you opt for metal railings you again have a wide range to choose from. Cast iron, brass, bronze, wrought iron, aluminum etc. are some of the metals that are normally used for this purpose. Aluminum enjoys a high degree of popularity and you can either go for a powder coated finish or a brightly polished look based on what you think will go with the look of your house.

Another idea is to try out a combination of materials for the stair railing. In this case, if you use wood for the posts, you can have brass/aluminum balusters and tubular metal designs for the cap rail. This will give a unique and charming look to your stair railing. If you are installing the railing for your outdoor deck, wrought iron material would be a sensible choice to make as it is durable, highly rust-resistant and relatively immune to harsh weather conditions. Painting wrought iron railings with a new coat of paint also poses no difficulty.

Adam Peters use to write on stair railings and similar subjects for http://www.deck-porch-railings.com

More articles on iron railings and decking at his web.

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Choosing the Right Stair Carpet Runners

The installation of stair carpet runners are typically for the protection of the staircase and aesthetic reasons. If you already have a beautiful wooden staircase that is either straight up or circular, there is nothing more elegant than adding a carpet runner to finish out the elaborate look. The protection that a carpet runner renders the beautiful wood located at the center of the staircase where the highest amount of wear and tear happens is by far the best way to retain the value of the woodwork of your staircase. Using a carpet runner as a design element can be very easy because there are endless variety of sizes, materials, colors, and patterns to choose from.

Finding the perfect fitting runner is actually quite simple. Runners are sold in standard sizes and can also be custom ordered to fit the exact measurement of your staircase. Styles vary from traditional to modern and everything in between. Match the colors to other design elements in your home or choose a solid color like black or gray that can match just about any décor. Some indoor outdoor rugs and carpet materials are more durable than others so it is wise to keep quality at the top of your priority list when shopping. Many of us place priority on the way something looks rather than how long the product will last and if the price reflects the quality of the product. There are many types of carpet materials that look good but may not be as durable as you think.

Most stair carpet runners come with a quality backing that can withstand many years of wear and fair very well with frequent vacuuming or steam cleaning when necessary. Wool, synthetic fibers, or a combination of both are the best choices because the materials can easily be cleaned when needed and are durable enough to handle the high traffic. Finding the right runner and fit for your staircase takes some measuring and choosing on your part. Use the internet to determine what the market contains as far as carpet runners goes before making a final purchase. Look for companies that offer a guarantee if their product does meet the quality they are promising.

Please visit the following recommended sources to learn more about stair carpet tips and how to protect your indoor outdoor rugs.

Copyright 2009 Dessie Campbell. All Rights Reserved.

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.

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