New-York tribune., 1921-08-28
By II. H. Hobart


~ CUf US I ON Duit}fS
The largest single item of woodwork
in two-story house is the stair. It is
the most expensive single item. As the
entrance is the keynote of the exterior
of the house. the stair is the keynote
of the interior. One reason for this is
that the stair usually occupies g very
prominent location in the house, where
it is seen by every conner Just about as
soon as be arrives. First impressions
are so lasting that it becomes more
than ever important that the stair be
worthy representative OF the entire
home-in design, construction and ma
terial
We will not consider here the marble
or wrought iron stairs that sometimes
are used in the more expensive resi-
dences, as we'll as in public buildings,
but will conine ourselves to the con-
sideration Of the wood stairways which
are more often used in American domes-
tic architecture Wood is quite as
capable of expressing dignity. grace and
utility as other materials, as has been
we'll demonstrated not only by some of
the beautiful wooden stairways that
have been specially made, but by the
excellent stock stair material that is
now obtainable.
Formerly it was impossible to Sc
cure stock material of good proper
tions and design. The usual defects
are over-ornamentation and dispropor-
tionate size. Recent progress in the
way of standardization Of sizes, mate
rials and patterns. together with guam
tity production, has, however, made it
possible to make stock stair material
with these ind spensable qualities. The
stair should agree in its general char
acter with the rest of the woodwork in
the house, and in turn should take
it's cue from the architectural type
of the house
Misfits Are Ugly
In a Colonial home we expect the
delicate balustrade and mahogany
handrail of the elegant, graceful stair.
The two concepts are almost insepara
! Die. In an English house an oak stair
of heavier lines but sturdy simplicity
is more in keeping. And SO on. Wooden
newels, it should be remembered, have
/ eight times the resistance to bending
that marble ones have. They should
therefore be of more slender proper
tons than they usually are.
Perhaps you have heard of the open
string" and "curb string" stairs An
open string" stair IS one in which the
ends of the treads and risers show. In
the curb string stairs the straight
edged stringer board covers the ends
of treads and risers. The first type is
more often used though the curb
string stair is in good usage also.
Equally important with the design of
the stair is its construction. No other
piece of woodwork in the house receives
harder or more constant use. II is
often subjected to heavy loads. It must
be wide enough and strong enough To
withstand hard wear good construction
is vital Each days contact with stair
that is poorly constructed. that creaks
and gives and is warped, increases dis
satisfaction.
The making of good stair is no
4 amateurs job. Expert skill is required
Stairwork is a distinct department in
the woodworking factory and in the
construction work That is why it is
often advisable to buy d complete stair
from the factory, rather than the stair
parts In the complete stair, experts
assemble and fit the parts correctly, so
that a perfectly fitted job is assured,
and neither waste nor shortage is pos
sible. The comparatively small ad-
ditional cost is usually wise invest
ment.
The wood used in stair should be