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Glossary

Baluster: A vertical stair part; a turned, carved or otherwise vertical section placed between the handrail and the stair tread or stair stringer. Sometimes called spindles, pickets or "thing-a-ma-bobs".

Box Newel: a square post.

Carriage (also called Stringer): The angled pieces used to support the stair system for the treads to rest upon. They are sometimes called "stringers".

Closed Tread: This is a style of tread when there is a wall on either side of the tread.

Cove: Molding that is placed between the bottom of the treads and the front of the riser.

Dogleg: The direction a handrail takes on a stair rake when it comes into a wall.

Easing: The curved junctions placed in a handrail to bring the parts at different levels into one flowing curve. A fitting that curves in a vertical plane, used to change the angle of the handrail.

Fillet: A thin strip that fills the plowed (grooved) rail space between balusters in a handrail or shoe rail.

Guardrail: A protective railing designed to prevent people or objects from falling into an open well, stairwell or other open spaces. (See picture above)

Gooseneck: A combination of an easing and a fitting in a rail system that allows the handrail to change heights from an incline back to the level. It is placed at landings or at the top of a stair.

Handrail: A molded rail following the pitch, or rake, of the staircase and forming the top or connecting piece of the balustrade that protects the outside of the stair. (See picture above)

Handrail Return: This is when the handrail turns into the wall.

Jatoba: The technical name for Brazilian Cherry. This wood is extremely hard, heavy and gets very dark with age. Jatoba does a number to our saw blades.

Landing: A resting place, or wide step, at the middle or top of a flight of stairs. Landings are often used to change the direction of a stair. Landings are usually 3' x 3' and much different than winders.

Landing Tread: This is a narrow tread used to bridge between the stairs and the flooring, whether carpet, hardwood, tile, etc.

Mitered Riser: A method of joining the riser to the skirt board. The mitered method is when the skirt board and riser are both mitered to each other.

Newel (or Newel Post): A solid, rectangular, or circular, section of vertical post at the center and at regular turns and junctions of a rail system. The newels provide the main support for the rail system. There is a starting newel at the base of the stairs and a landing newel at the turns or top of the stair.

Open Tread: This is a style of tread (step) where one or both sides of the tread do not run into a wall.

Over-the-Post System: The handrail sits on top of the newel post. In an Over-the-Post system, the handrail is continuous from top to bottom.

Pin-Top Baluster: A baluster having dowel-type top rather than a square.

Post-to-Post System: Handrail goes into the side of the post. The post is usually a box newel.

Plowed Rail: A handrail that has had the center cut out of the bottom of the rail so a square-top baluster can fit inside.

Rise: The vertical distance between the upper surfaces of two consecutive treads.

Riser: The vertical board between the back of one tread and front of the next, also called toe-kick.

Run: The horizontal distance between the vertical surfaces of consecutive risers.

Shoe Rail: A rail that goes at the bottom of the balusters and has the top cut out so square bottomed balusters can fit inside (the reverse of a Plowed Rail).

Side Skirt: A length of 1x12 wood that is attached to the wall where the tread either meets the wall or overhangs it.

Square-Top Baluster: Balusters with square top. Square top balusters require plowed rail and fillets.

Stair Rake (Rake): The angle of the stairs; for example, from the bottom of the first step to the top step. Also used to refer to parts on this portion of the stairs, e.g., Rake Rail, Rake Balusters, etc.

Starting Tread (Step): The first tread and riser at the bottom of the stair. Starting steps are usually rounded on the ends.

Stringer: See Carriage above.

Tread: The horizontal part of a staircase upon which the foot is placed. (See picture above)

Tread Cap (False-end tread): A less expensive option when using carpet on a stair tread. False-end treads come in a kit with a plywood riser and plywood tread that receives a nosing that is attached to the face and the side. False-end treads, when covered with carpet, look like solid treads and are less expensive than a solid-wood tread. False-end treads are often called a "false-tread kit" or "false-tread cap".

Wall Rail: Used where a stair runs along a wall and is attached to the wall with rail brackets.

Winder: Treads that are narrower at one end than the other. Used to turn corners or go around curves.