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The Idaho Painter
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Measure and Calculate Total Rise — Step 4: Find the Total Rise of the Turn

Beginner60 mins

Part of project

measure turning treads · Step 4 of 6

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The first step in calculating stairs is to determine the total rise, which is the vertical distance from finished floor to finished floor. The presenter measures from the top of the main floor's subfloor (rim) to the upstairs subfloor. He gets 118 and 5/8 inches. Since the finished floor on both levels will be 3/4 inch thick (hardwood downstairs, carpet and pad upstairs), he adds 3/4 inch to his measurement using a construction calculator (BuildCalc). The final total rise is 119 and 3/8 inches. This ensures that all individual risers will be equal in height after the finished floor is installed.

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quality. All right, so the first thing I need to know for stairs is my total rise. And ideally, that is finished floor to finished floor. In my case, I have hardwood on the main floor, which is 3/4. Upstairs, I have carpet and pad, which is 3/4. So, this is really easy. I don't have to account for that or there's no there's no difference. So, I just need my floor to floor measurement. So, I have from the top of my rim to my subfloor 118 and 5/8, but I know I'm going to have 3/4 in subfloor up above. So, I need to add that. So, 118 and 5/8 plus 3/4 119 and 3/8. That is the rise that I will divide out to get equal stairs all the way up. 119 and 3/8. I know a guy that forgets these things. 119 and 3/8. 119 and 38. 119 and 38. There's a nail. Okay, let's take a look at the plans because I need to know how many rises do I have total on the second floor plan.

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