| Glossary of Stair Terms |
| Courtesy of: Central Coast Stairs |
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| The step of a wood stair consists of two parts, the one termed the tread, and the other the riser. |
| The tread is the horizontal part of the step upon which the foot is placed. |
| The riser is the vertical part of the step, and connects the front of one tread with the back of the next below it. |
| Nosing is the outer edge of the tread which projects beyond the outer face of the riser. It is usually rounded, chamfered, or moulded, and when so treated is termed a moulded nosing. |
| Rise–The vertical distance between the upper surfaces of two consecutive treads. |
| Fliers– Steps of uniform or parallel width used in the straight portions of stairs. |
| Winders–Steps that are narrower at one end than the other. They employed in turning corners or going around curves. |
| Flight–A succession of steps uninterrupted by a landing. |
| Landing–A horizontal platform introduced in the course of the ascent as a convenient resting-place, and affording a means of effecting a change of direction of the stair. It thus forms the termination of one flight as well as the start of the next. If a complete half turn has to be made on the landing between the termination of one flight and the start of the next, it is then termed a half-space landing, and if only a quarter turn, it is called a quarter-space landing. The term “landing” is also applied to the portion of the floor (or of the deck in ships) immediately adjoining the top or bottom of a stair. |
| Stair-handrails are rounded or moulded bars for holding on to by the person ascending or descending the stair. They are placed over the ends of the steps, at a height from them convenient for the hand to grasp, being made to conform throughout their length to the inclination of the stair. |
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Balusters are the light pillars for supporting the handrail and for filling up the space between the latter and the stair steps, to prevent persons from falling through. |
| Balustrade–The framework formed by combinations of rail and balusters. |
| Newels–The post of columns used in some kinds of stairs at the turnings to connect the handrails and strings of adjacent flights. The term newel is also applied to the post or final baluster, at the bottom of the stair, which terminates a balustrade. In a spiral staircase built round a central post or pillar the post is referred to as a “newel.” |
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