Stair and Railing Installation Terms

Balusters / Spindle - the vertical / horizontal piece between the handrail and the base, plain or decorative.

Balustrade - the complete assembly of handrails, capping, newels, spindles or base rail.

Birdcage - the circular collection of spindles that secure the volute handrail to the volute tread.

Bullnose Step - the bottom step with one or both ends rounded, squared or custom finished.

Open Stringer - a string that faces the treads and risers, which can be coloured.

Continuous Handrail - using straight handrail connected throughout newel posts to create a continuous railing run, often required for code.

Curtail Step - a decorative step, usually the first step to accommodate the volute and volute newels.

Cut or Open String - a string with the upper edge cutaway to the shape of the treads and risers so that their profile can be seen from the side.

Depth of tread - the measure from front edge to back of the tread.

Gallery - the staircase top landing with a railing system, where the bedroom doors collect.

Newel Post- a structural member to assists the handrail, baluster / spindle, capping and stringers of stairs.

Nosing - the edge of a tread protruding past the riser; this can be short, tall, round, or squared. Also required for the final step, landing and gallery edge.

Rise - this is the vertical measurement using the top of the tread to top of the next tread.

Riser - the decorative material that creates a face for the step.

Staircase - a structure encompassing the treads, risers, stringers, balustrade, landings, nosing.

Stairway / Stairwell - the walk-through space created when installing stairs.

Step - both the tread and riser together.

Tread - the horizontal top layer / surface of a step, most often solid hardwood.

Volute - a circular design in the handrail on the final tread, sometimes called a Bird Cage or Monkey's Tail.

Wall Stringer - the decorative stringer of a staircase fixed against the wall.

Winders / Pies - a triangular step more narrow at one end, used for changing direction or on curved staircases.