Step Unit Construction Step Unit Parts The step

Step Unit Construction

Step Unit Parts • The step unit has three (3) basic parts. 1) Carriage 1) Cut carriage 2) Full carriage 2) Tread ( usually between 9 and 12 inches. ) 3) Rise ( usually between 6 and 10 inches. )

• Cut Carriage step unit with open sides • This carriage must be legged to stand

• A full carriage step unit is usually made from 3/4” CDX plywood. • This step unit does not need to be legged.

• This is the largest full carriage step unit possible without piecing the carriage together. • The benefit is that it doesn’t need to be legged. • Its weakness is that it is very large and hard to store.

• Because of it’s size this step unit must use a cut carriage made from a 1 x 12 or 2 x 12. • The only limitation is the available length of the 1 x 12 or the 2 x 12.

• This step unit has a 2 x 12 cut carriage and 2 x 12 treads. • This step unit is drafted with open rises but it could have closed rises. • Note that the bottom rise of the cut carriage is shorter because of the thickness of the tread that will be added. • The 2 x 12 treads can be either flush to the edge or off set as shown in the front view.

• • • This step unit has 3/4” CDX plywood carriages, and 3/4” CDX plywood treads and rises. There should be a 3/4” carriage every 2’ -0”. Here the step unit is only 3’-0” wide so the third carriage is centered. Note that the bottom rise is short to account for the tread thickness. Note that the top tread is narrow to account for the rise thickness.

• This open carriage step unit is legged with 2 x 4 s and braced with 2 x 4 s on the tall legs and 1 x 4 s on the short legs. Legs are placed every 4’-0” along the horizontal length. • Note that the treads are made from 2 x 12 s with a 1 1/4” overhang. • The bottom horizontal 2 x 4 is optional. It is often used when the side of the step unit is faced.