Staircase Specification Dialog

Staircases can be defined with the greatest accuracy using the Staircase Specification dialog.

If more than one stair section attaches to an unlocked landing, information about all the linked stair sections is available in the specification dialog.

If a stair section is composed of multiple subsections, the complete section may be adjusted as a unit, or by defining each of its individual subsections. Any section or subsection can be used to open the Staircase Specification dialog for the entire stair system.

It is important that all floor heights, ceiling heights, floor and ceiling thicknesses be established correctly before using the Staircase Specification dialog.

To open the Staircase Specification dialog, select a stair section and click the Open Object

edit button or double-click a stair section using the Straight Stairs or Select Objects tool.

General Tab

The comment line tells whether or not the staircase reaches the next floor. If it does not, the Make Reach button displays. Click this button to add risers to the stairs. The stair jack extends, raising the bottom edge of the stair section until the staircase reaches the next floor.

This section lists information about the staircase. This information cannot be edited directly, but updates with changes made in the dialog.

The specifications for each stair section can be edited here. This section expands if the number stair sections and subsections increases.

Five values can be changed. To change Tread Width or Riser Angle, click the column title to activate the fields below.

A change in one value usually affects other values in the same row. You may need to reposition the staircase after the changes.

Section # - Identifies the stair sections. If Retain # Tread in Subsections is checked, subsections are also identified.

Length - Define the run, or length, of each section measured along the Walk Line. The length is equal to the number of treads multiplied by the tread width and can be defined with a specific value.

When the length of a section changes, all other stairs and landings connected to it also move. If you change the length of the section you originally selected, the end of that section nearest where you clicked moves, along with any unlocked landings and sections connected to it.

Tread Width - Click the column title, then specify the run of each individual tread. To lock this value, check Lock Tread Width.

If you do not specify the tread width of each subsection, the tread width for the whole section is the same.

If a landing is created by clicking between two stair sections and one of them has locked tread width, the staircase formed from them has locked tread width. Any landings and sections connected to this new staircase adjust to meet it and then have locked tread width as well.


Note: You cannot both Lock Tread Width and Retain # Treads in the same staircase. If a landing is created between two stair sections and one has locked tread width, the entire staircase has locked tread width.

# Treads - Define the number of treads in a stair section or subsection. If you enter a value and want to prevent it from changing, check Retain # treads in either Sections or Subsections to lock the value.

Sec. Width - Define the width of a section. Only one width can be defined for a section; all subsections in the same section have the same width.

The maximum angle is 42 degrees. To exceed the 42 degree limit, decrease Length, Tread Width and/or # Treads.

Winders - Check this box to specify the selected section as winders. This affects the section as a whole, even if it is defined by subsections. If multiple sections are separated by landings, each section can be individually specified as winders.

Click the Revert button to restore all values as they were when the dialog was first opened. Revert only works within the same editing session.

If you select and then clear one of the Retain # treads in check boxes, the settings also revert.

Best riser height of ___ inches (mm) requires ___ risers to reach ___ inches to next floor. This area describes the ideal rise and run for the selected staircase. Note the number of inches (mm) to the next floor; this value includes the ceiling height of the room plus the platform thickness of the floor above.

If a landing is locked, its height is used to calculate this information. See "Locked Landings".

Lock Tread Width - Check this box to lock the tread width value. If subsections are not shown, the tread width for each section is the average of all subsections. Check Lock Tread Width or Ignore Subsection Boundaries to ensure that the tread width shown is the true tread width throughout the entire section. See "Lock Tread Width".

Ignore Subsection Boundaries - Check this box to maintain tread width throughout a stair section composed of merged subsections, regardless of subsection boundaries. See "Ignore Subsection Boundaries".

Retain #treads in: Sections - Check this box to lock the number of treads in stair sections as a whole. This does not define the distribution of treads throughout the different subsections, and does not include landings.

Retain # treads in: Subsection - Check this box to specify the number of treads in each subsection.

If either check box is selected, any change in the length of a stair section is evenly distributed among the treads in that section or subsection. No new treads are added.

All stair sections linked by unlocked landings to a selected stair section display in the lower part of the dialog. If you select Retain # treads in: Subsection, all subsections display as well.

Num Style - Click this button to access the Number Style/Angle Style dialog. For more information, see "Number Style/Angle Style Dialog".

Style Tab

Stringer at Wall - Check this box to produce a raised stringer top baseboard trim at the sides of the stair sections against walls. This baseboard follows the slope of the stair.

Single Stringer - Check this box to form a single 5-inch (125-mm) thick stringer in the center of the staircase.

Checking Single Stringer automatically checks the Open Risers box and clears the Closed Stringer and Stringer at Wall boxes. You may want to increase the tread thickness when this is checked.

Closed Stringer - Check this box to raise each exposed stringer to cover the sides of the treads. If this is checked, no central stringer is applied to open riser stairs. This setting only affects those stringers that are not against a wall.

Large Stringer Base - Check this box to widen the stringer at the foot of the staircase. This is helpful when walls are created below the stairs.

Extend Stringer Top - This box is checked by default. This option extends a triangular portion of the stringer under the landing or platform at the top of the stairs.

Specify the height of the Stringer Top when Stringer at Wall or Closed Stringer is selected. This is measured along the plane of the riser face from the top of a tread to the top of the stringer. It cannot be less than 2 inches (5 cm).

Specify the height of the Stringer Bottom. This is measured from the top back corner of a tread down to the bottom edge of the stringer. It must be equal to or greater than the riser height.

Runner - Check this box to add a carpet runner to all sections connected by unlocked landings. Specify the Runner Width. The default value of 0 does not create a runner.

Runner not Tucked - Normally, carpet runners are tucked under the tread overhang. Check this box to have the runner span directly from the tread front tothe bottom of the riser below.

Use Walk Line - By default, Chief Architect calculates the tread width based on a walk line. Specify how far from the edge of the stairs the Walk Line is measured. This is normally 12 inches.

Open Underneath - Uncheck this box to add a skirt below the staircase along the two sides. It looks like a wall in 3D, but it has only a single face. Base molding does not generate along the bottom of the skirt, and doors cannot be placed in it.

The recommended way to enclose the area beneath stairs is to use walls. See "Rooms Below Staircases".

Open Risers - Check this box to eliminate the riser face under each tread and expose the stringers. If Closed Sides is also selected, no central stringer is supplied.

Show Arrow - Check this box to show the UP arrow or DN arrow in floor plan view.

Use Exterior Materials - Select the check box to have the entire staircase use the same material as the railing. Materials can be defined for the individual parts of a staircase if this is not checked.

Max Tread Contraction (for Winder) - Define the amount a tread may contract to create a winder. See "Partial Railings".

Nosing at Top Landing - This option produces tread nosing attached to platform edge at the top of stairs. Landing edges are not affected.

Riser Surface at Top Landing - Check this box to produce a riser surface against the platform edge at the top of the stairs. Checking this allows stair risers to match all the way to the top of the platform. Landing edges are not affected.

Allow Wrap - This box is checked by default and must be checked to produce wrapped stairs. For more information, see "Wrapped Stairs".

Newels/Balusters Tab

Stair Rail Height defines the height from tread surface directly over the riser to railing top.

Landing Rail Height defines the height of the landing rail top from the landing surface.

Check Draw Newels/Balusters to display newels and balusters in floor plan view. This displays the Newels and Balusters only for the selected stair section.

Baluster Type - Select Square, Round, or Library balusters. Selecting Library from the drop down list is the same as clicking the Library button to the right and allows selection of a baluster from the library.

Baluster Width - Specify the width of each baluster. For Library balusters, this is the width, or diameter, at its widest point.

No Shoe for Rail - This option applies only to landing rails. Uncheck this box to place a low rail on the landing surface that receives the baluster bottoms.

Cut Baluster Top - Each tread normally has two to three balusters, growing longer toward its back. The default is to use the same baluster and cut it off at the bottom to shorten it toward the tread front. Check this box to cut the balusters at the top instead.

Newel Type - Select Square, Round, or Library newels. Selecting Library from the drop down list is the same as clicking the Library button to the right and allows selection of a newel from the library.

Newel Width - Specify the width of each newel. For Library newels, this is the width, or diameter, at its widest point.

Newel Height - Specify the height from the landing surface to the top of the newel. This is used only when Rail passes over Newel is unchecked.

Newels at First Tread - Check this box to place a newel where the rail starts at the base of the stairs. A newel is placed only on a side of the stairs not against a wall.

Rail Passes Over Newel - Adjust the newel height to reach the bottom of the rail that passes over it. Checking this causes the Newel Height to be ignored.

Bracket - Click the Library button to apply a 1/4 inch thick bracket to the side of the stringer under each riser. Brackets are applied only where the side of the stairs is not against a wall. The stringer on that side is moved in 1/4 inch to accomodate the bracket.

Railing - Select either or both check boxes to specify placement of railings on stair sections and landings where they are not against a wall.

Railing at Wall - Check to specify the placement of wall railings.

Railing Transitions - Check to specify the placement of "gooseneck" connections between stair and landing railings.

Checking both Railing Transitions and Smooth Transitions produces a handrail like this:

Smooth Transitions - Check to specify the placement of smooth connections between stair and landing railings.

Handrail Tab

Molding - Shows the current handrail profile. This says "Default Handrail" unless you select a custom handrail profile.

Select - Click this button to open the Select Library Object dialog and choose a profile from the library.

Default - Click this button to remove a specified handrail and use the default.

Preview Pane - Shows the selected molding profile. No preview displays for the Default Handrail option, which is rectangular.