Carpentry? Staircases

A grand staircase would typically be built by a finish carpenter, but having the husband do the work would work just fine.

I could tell you what all the parts are, but a simple Google search would be better because it was probably have some drawings and diagrams as well.

Such as: http://www.hometips.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/staircase-construction-diagram.gif

Try this

Cranky1 said:

Not very helpful when you don't actually know the names of the parts of a staircase.

Click to expand...

Follow the link, it goes into naming of parts, among many other useful things, links to notable historical staircases, explanations of parts, construction techniques, building regulations, professional bodies (who will be awash with the experts you want to contact). Seriously. I wasn't taking the piss.

Cranky1 said:

I hope that I can connect with a carpenter to talk about how a grand staircase is built.

Click to expand...

It's not a far stretch at all. Any type of carpenter is going to know how to build a staircase, and what the different parts are called. And most carpenters (no matter their specialization) are well-versed in all carpentry. Whether they end up as a 'general contractor', or a 'finish carpenter', or a 'cabinet-maker' is irrelevant. I know general contractors that do all sorts of cabinetry and finish work in their homes, and also as side jobs.

You could also ask a real estate agent or architect the names of the stairway.

Frequently there are different names for the same architectural features. Where I live, the parts of the stairs are the risers (vertical part where your toe may bump), treads (part where your foot goes), landing (wider area either as part of a switchback or at the base before a final step down), Hand rail (the part you grab), baluster (spindle). The wood trim that lines the wall near the stairs at the floor level may be called finish trim if plain and low to the ground or chair rail if a bit fancier and taller (about waist height) or could also be referred to as moulding or crown moulding.

A quick trip to your local home improvement store would likely turn up a lot of other names for various different details in the finish trim packages for stairs. There also may be some woodworking magazines that could prove useful for details needed for you story.

I hope this was helpful.

Cranky1 said:

Hi!

The manuscript that I am working on currently includes a grand staircase that was built by the MC's husband who was a carpenter. I believe a staircase would be built by a carpenter, would that be right?

Also, what are the parts of the staircase called? Steps, railings, etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Click to expand...

If you are talking about a grand staircase that is one of the large curving stairways, that is a pretty specialist item that most finish carpenters would have a great deal of difficulty building. Straight stairs like you find in most people's homes aren't that big a deal, but the curving banisters, that requires someone who really knows what they are doing.

If the husband was a fairly accomplished carpenter, it could be believable that he had built the staircase. To build something like what you are describing would, however, require a certain degree of skill.