PLATE VII.
HALF-SPACE LANDING, WITH A STRAIGHT FLIGHT ABOVE AND BELOW, AND A CONTINUED RAIL, STARTING WITH A SIDE WREATH FROM A NEWEL.
Fig. 1 shows the plan, and Fig. 2 the sectional elevation. The previous plates have shown stairs with close strings—that is, the outside strings are housed out for the treads and risers, in the same way as the wall string, and the top of the string is kept above the nosings, and a capping is fixed on the top of it, and the balusters are cut on, or let into this capping, according to the class of work. But in this case is shown a cut or open string. The treads and risers are housed into the wall string as before, but the outside strings are cut so as to allow the treads and risers to pass right through, and the balusters are dovetailed into the ends of treads, details of which are shown on [Plate VIII]. The carriages and the landing joist are shown by dotted lines on plan. The carriages fit close up under the bottom edge of treads, and rough brackets are nailed to the side of them, and fit close up to the under side of treads, and glued and blocked. In this description of stairs it is usual to have four iron balusters, placed as follows, one each on steps 7, 13, 18 and 24. There should be a joist, or good solid block let into them, immediately under the newel, so that a bolt can be let up into the centre of newel, and through this block, or joist, and screwed tight from the bottom. The wall string should be well plugged and nailed to the wall. If there is no spandril under the bottom flight, the carriages should be stiffened by cutting pieces of the same stuff in between each carriage and let into the wall. Get a long bolt made to go through all the carriages, and the pieces between them and into the wall, with a screw on the outside end to screw them all up tight together. To bore them for the bolts: After the carriages have been fitted in their place, before they are fixed, lay them together and bore them; then bore the short pieces before putting them into their place.
Fig. 3 shows the width rod. Care should always be taken to try this rod at the landing, where the two flights are connected, and allow for the stairs to fit in between the walls, just slack enough to go in their place without any trouble. They want, in fact, to drop into their place. Mark on each end of the rod the face of the skirting on the landings, and let this be the face of the wall string. Mark the centre, and set off on each side the centre line of rail, also the string and brackets. The face brackets will be the outside face of balusters.
Fig. 4 is the going rod. Of course, the going must be regulated by circumstances, but this rod must have the face of all the risers marked on it, also each springing, as shown by S S S, and the landings, doorways, &c.
Fig. 5 is the height rod, which must have landings, &c., marked on it as shown. These rods should be used to put in the landing by. The pitch board will be taken off the rods, as was before explained. Remember, a little care in setting out and working to these rods is true economy.
Fig. 6 shows how the carriages may be fastened to the floor. Let A be a fillet nailed well through the floor into the joist.
Fig. 7 shows the top and bottom carriages bolted to the trimmers at the landing. The short trimmer is sufficiently long to take the top carriages. The dotted lines show how the bottom end of the top carriages is let into the short trimmer, and bolted through. The bottom carriages cut against the long trimmer, and bolted through, as shown. It sometimes happens the short trimmer has to be blocked out from the long one, so as to receive the top carriages. In that case it is packed out sufficiently and bolted together.
Fig. 8 shows the carriages bolted to the trimmer on the top landing.
PLATE 8.