Cut Stringers

What happens in this clip

Using a circular saw, carefully cut along all the marked lines on the stringer. To ensure clean cuts and avoid needing a handsaw for finishing, 'overcut' slightly at the intersections of the rise and run lines, allowing the waste pieces to fall out easily. For efficiency, make all cuts in one direction first (e.g., all rise cuts), then rotate the board or saw and make all cuts in the other direction (all run cuts). This cut stringer will then serve as a master template for the remaining stringers. Attach small scrap wood pieces as 'fences' along the edges of the cut stringer to act as guides.

Goal: Cut the stringer boards to create the step profiles

What's used

Tools

• Circular Saw (Skil Saw) Skil Saw
• Handsaw (for detailed cuts)
• Hammer
• Nails (for fences)
• Safety Glasses
• Scrap Wood (for fences)

About the full video

This project provides a step-by-step guide on how to build a flight of straight stairs, including measuring the total rise, calculating individual step dimensions, laying out and cutting stringers, installing structural supports, and finally installing the risers and treads.

Step 4 of 6: Cut the First Stringer

Once the layout is complete on the first stringer board, it's time to make the cuts. Use a circular saw to cut along the marked lines. For the notches (the rise and run), you'll typically make two cuts to remove the waste material. Ensure the cuts are straight and square. The bottom-most cut for the first step (the riser cut) and the cut for the last step (the tread cut) need to be precise. After cutting, you should have a series of notches that will support the treads.

Open this step in the guide

Every video in How to Lay Out and Cut Deck Stair Stringers

1. Step 1: Determine Stair Riser Height and Tread Depth

   • 0:06–1:32 Calculate Stair Dimensions
   • 0:19–0:57 Calculate Stair Dimensions and Stringer Type
   • 0:51–1:37 Calculate Individual Step Rise and Total Run

2. Step 2: Select Stringer Material

   • 0:00–0:03 Cut Stringers
   • 6:08–6:51 Stair Stringer Fabrication
   • 2:20–3:14 Mark and Cut Stringers

3. Step 3: Mark the First Stringer Layout

   • 3:10–3:59 Mark the Stringer Board
   • 6:59–9:34 Mark the Stair Stringer for Cutting
   • 6:12–7:01 Marking the Stringers

4. Step 4: Cut the First Stringer

   • 6:15–7:14 Cut Out the Stringer
   • 4:16–5:49 Cut Stringers (this video)
   • 15:12–19:27 Cutting the Stair Stringer

5. Step 5: Transfer Layout and Cut Additional Stringers

   • 8:43–8:58 Cutting Remaining Stringers using Template
   • 7:14–7:47 Replicate Stringers (Pattern Use)
   • 2:49–3:44 Layout and Cut Stringers

6. Step 6: Trim the Bottom of the Stringers

   • 7:25–10:59 Mark Top and Bottom Stringer Cuts
   • 7:30–8:22 Check and Adjust First Stringer
   • 8:10–9:35 Mark Top and Bottom Stringer Cuts