Skirts and Risers

Skirts and Risers:

A stair Skirt is the equivalent of a base board moulding for a staircase. Ideally this component has a unifying element tying to the baseboard or casing in a home such as a routed or applied moulding to match another trim theme in the home.

Rake Wall Skirts are the skirts that run the length of the staircase along the rake angle against a wall.

Curb Skirts are the skirts that run along a curb wall on both sides. A curb cap is also needed with this type of design.

In this curb design; paint grade curb skirts are capped with solid hardwood. In this case the curb skirts that run up the inside of the staircase become rake wall skirts.

Open rake skirts are the skirts that follow the rake angle running along the open side of an open tread staircase. This type of skirt is miter joined to the riser in most cases. Occasionally skirts are adorned with additional ornate appliqués such as "tread brackets" or recessed/raised panels are added for some old world charm.

miter joint

Cove moulding

Open Partial Tread

Base Cap moulding

Baluster

Open Rake Skirt

Riser

This design's Red Oak skirts are trimmed with a paint grade Base Cap moulding that also runs along all of the painted baseboards in the home.

Anatomy of a Staircase

Staircraft