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A tread is another word used by construction
professionals to refer to the actual stair step. The picture below
provides you with two black arrows that are pointing to a stair tread
that was cut out of oriented strand board.
Selecting The Right Stair Tread Thickness
The width and size of any stair tread is going to be determined by the
with and length of the stairway. You're not going to be able to use 3/4"
plywood stair treads, if you have stair stringers that are 48 inches
apart.
Even though some building materials will span longer distances, you
should still consider using larger ones for stair treads. A good example
of this would be using 2 x 12 treads for a exterior stairway that's 36
inches wide.
Even though 2 x 12 will span this distance safely, I've seen it flex,
while larger people are walking up and down the stairs or moving large
pieces of furniture. A 3 x 12 stair treads would be a much better choice
and could last longer than a 2 x 12, if it's maintained correctly.
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