_By_ MORRIS WILLIAMS
_ILLUSTRATED_
CHICAGO
AMERICAN TECHNICAL SOCIETY
1917
COPYRIGHT, 1910, 1916, BY
AMERICAN TECHNICAL SOCIETY
COPYRIGHTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
INTRODUCTION
On entering a building, almost the first thing that meets the eye is
the staircase and unconsciously it is made to serve as an indicator
of the quality of the architecture. If the design is poor or the
construction faulty, this flaw immediately gives the visitor a bad
impression of the whole building. Furthermore, stair-building is a
rather difficult subject and the principles involved are very little
understood, which is evidenced by the fact that the layouts as
furnished by architects in their plans are often improperly done.
Probably more mistakes occur in connection with the stairway of a
building than with any other construction feature. It is with the idea,
therefore, of giving a complete though simple presentation of the
construction methods as applied to standard design of staircases, that
this book has been prepared.
The article discusses straight and winding stairs, stairs with well
hole, layouts for curved turns, the proper proportions of rise and
width of tread, the design of hand railings and many other problems,
the solution of which will be found very useful.
Coupled with this article is a most instructive section on the Steel
Square, containing many applications of this useful instrument to roof
and other types of construction.
[Illustration: GREYROCKS, ROCKPORT, MASS.
Frank Chouteau Brown, Architect, Boston, Mass.]
CONTENTS