[NA]Wooden stairways[NA]

[Let'sgoflying!]

What is the purpose of the footplate at the bottom of the stringers?

 

[fgcason]

A base to keep the stringers the same distance apart and to have a base to secure it to the floor?

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

A base to keep the stringers the same distance apart

I figured the treads themselves would be adequate.

and to have a base to secure it to the floor?

I'd thought the weight of the staircase would be adequate, or toenails....
however I skipped stairway design class.

Thanks Frank I think you are right.

 

[RJM62]

To help prevent torsion of the stringers.

(Dad is a retired carpenter.)

-Rich

EDIT: On long runs, there sometimes are additional members attached into notches in the stringers, for the same reason. I forget offhand what they're called.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

On long runs, there sometimes are additional members attached into notches in the stringers, for the same reason. I forget offhand what they're called.

Risers?

 

[fgcason]

I'd thought the weight of the staircase would be adequate, or toenails....

When you walk on stairs that are not secure at the bottom, your weight will move it forward and aft a little each time while also bending the stringers a little. Add 30+ years of that movement and what happens?

however I skipped stairway design class.

Yea. So did I. It just makes more sense to secure the thing at the bottom to keep it from moving.

Risers?

Risers are the vertical component of the step itself. It's the piece of wood (or open riser) that's in front of your toe while going up.