If you don’t sell stairs for a living, it might seem silly to have a standardized format for stair counting. However, you’ll find this information useful a few times in your life, so we hope it helps you out. So, how do you count stairs the right way?
First, counting stairs must include the landing in your step. So the first stair of any staircase is the landing, and the last stair is the top landing.
Below, we will go through some other tips you can use to ensure you are accurate in stair counting. We will also tell you where that information is helpful.
What Does Proper Stair Countin Matter
Anytime you raise your leg, it counts as another stair when speaking professionally. This standardized system is helpful for a few different reasons:
Reason #1: For Moving Heavy Objects
The moving and transportation of heavy objects, such as pianos, will charge you for every uncomfortable step. That means if you want to install a piano on the third floor of your mansion (vs. the first floor of your regular home), it will cost more.
The terminology for this is typically in the contract, so keep an eye open for that section.
Reason #2: For Building New Stairs
When building new stairs, you always want to ensure you have the right amount of material on hand. Good builders will almost always account for extra material needed. Still, you forgetting to mention the first and last step will cause estimates to be off.
The estimates might not be entirely off, but there might be significant enough of a difference to bug you. Always ask your builder before assuming their method of stair counting.
Reason #3: It Helps If You Plan on Upholstering Stairs
Carpeted stairs can be neat for some. The cushy step isn’t always appealing, but some like it. But when it comes to finding the right amount of carpet to put on those stairs.
This situation is similar to the builder’s problem; only carpeting stairs are more likely to be a DIY project. If you plan on doing it yourself, always overestimate the budget and amount of carpet you need heavily. You can store more carpet for later repairs.
Estimating The Number of Stairs You Need
If you want to estimate the stair count for later builds, you’ve got a few options:
- Use a stair calculator
- Take the total rise of your stairs and divide them by the individual increase of a single stair (you will need to account for any stair heights that are different)
- Contact a professional to perform estimates for you
Unless you plan on building the stairs yourself, you might want to skip to step three. Professionals who have been building stairs for their entire life will know some unique factors for your space.
Our professional builders have been building stairs for quite some time. So if you need the best estimate on your stair project, contact us today so we can finish your project.