Safe, code-compliant stairs are more than just a design detail—they’re essential for preventing injuries and passing inspections. From ADA accessibility standards to material choices and installation ...

When stairs have open sides, building codes often require both a graspable handrail for support and a taller guardrail for fall protection — and their height rules aren’t the same. The IRC and IBC set ...

I prefer to create stairs that have a 7.5-inch riser and a 10-inch tread. Using a 2-by-12 as the tread provides the code-compliant 1-inch overhang for foot safety. A normal 2-by-12 is 11/2 inches ...

This article was co-authored by Shivanthi Carpino, Senior Designer, Page; Alison Ledwith, Senior Design Architect, Page; and Jake McKinney, Project Architect, Page. In the United States, building ...