Fig. 18. Portion of Stair in Position.
Fig. 19. Showing Method of
Housing Treads and Risers.
The manner of housing is shown in [Fig. 19], in which the treads T T and the risers R R are shown in position, secured in place respectively by means of wedges X X and F F, which should be well covered with good glue before insertion in the groove. The housings are generally made from ½ to ⅝ inch deep, space for the wedge being cut to suit.
In some closed stairs in which there is a housed string between the newels, the string is double-tenoned into the shanks of both newels, as shown in [Fig. 20]. The string in this example is made 12¾ inches wide, which is a very good width for a string of this kind; but the thickness should never be less than 1½ inches. The upper newel is made about 5 feet 4 inches long from drop to top of cap. These strings are generally capped with a subrail of some kind, on which the baluster, if any, is cut-mitered in. Generally a groove, the width of the square of the balusters, is worked on the top of the subrail, and the balusters are worked out to fit into this groove; then pieces of this material, made the width of the groove and a little thicker than the groove is deep, are cut so as to fit in snugly between the ends of the balusters resting in the groove. This makes a solid job; and the pieces between the balusters may be made of any shape on top, either beveled, rounded, or moulded, in which case much is added to the appearance of the stairs.
Fig. 20. Showing Method of Connecting Housed String to Newels.