# When 10" isn't 10". A word about my lumber **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 21, 2006, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602 "2006-08-21T15:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/41 "2006-08-21T21:45:37Z")
And I think I would leave risers off deck stairs. Keep em nice and open. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/42 "2006-08-21T21:50:54Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] And I think I would leave risers off deck stairs. Keep em nice and open. [/QUOTE] Open risers have become illegal in new construction most places in the last ~10 yrs. I guess because infants might crawl through and fall. Open handrails are a thing of the past for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/43 "2006-08-21T21:54:11Z")
[QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] What the the fuck is a motherfucking riser? [/QUOTE] The vertical bits under the treads; [labeled ‘1’ in this diagram](http://www.bestdecksite.com/introStairsPg1.htm) They stop Freddy Krueger and his ilk from grabbing your ankles as you go down the steps. ---
**Author:** ![Barrels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@Barrels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrels)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/44 "2006-08-21T22:01:08Z")
[QUOTE=DoctorJ] _My_ lumber is a full 10", baby. [/QUOTE] Turn the ruler around dear 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/45 "2006-08-21T22:29:54Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] But rough boards are 2x4. And someone could really mean that. [/QUOTE] But people that do, know enough to ask for rough cut. 99% (number just made up) of people who look for lumber would much rather have smooth, planned lumber rather than rough cut wood that leaves you with splinters, regardless of the exterior dimensions. Standard lumber dimensions have been around for a long time. It can be confusing if you’ve never encountered it before, but most folks pick it up rather quickly and most building plans are very clear on what is needed and how to measure. It does kind of amaze me that an adult in our society could not know about this, but my sample of people could be pretty biased. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/46 "2006-08-21T22:36:55Z")
[QUOTE=Barrels] Turn the ruler around dear 😃 [/QUOTE] HOLY SHIT! My lumber 26 inches! [AP]\*Yeah baby! \*[/AP] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/47 "2006-08-21T22:42:25Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] But rough boards are 2x4. And someone could really mean that. [/QUOTE] They are at lumber mills. Home improvement centers do not carry rough stock. Anyone savvy enough to know about rough stock will not be asking for it at Lowes, et. al. [QUOTE=Barrels] Turn the ruler around dear [/QUOTE] _That’s_ a good one.! ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/48 "2006-08-21T22:56:48Z")
[QUOTE=Squink] -Which is just enough to let you put in some 1" risers. [/QUOTE] Maybe I’m missing something, but that doesn’t make any sense. He has his step sitting flush with the front edge of that part of the stringer giving him 3/4" gap in the back. A 1" riser goes in there so it all fits… but now the next step up has 10 3/4" to cover because of the extra thickness of the riser. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/49 "2006-08-21T23:43:32Z")
[QUOTE=flight] but now the next step up… [/QUOTE] Uh Oh! ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/50 "2006-08-21T23:56:25Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] I hate to google it at work, but is that a quote from somewhere? [/QUOTE] Risers on a plane! ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/51 "2006-08-21T23:58:27Z")
Lame, I know. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/52 "2006-08-22T01:14:36Z")
[QUOTE=flight] Maybe I’m missing something, but that doesn’t make any sense. He has his step sitting flush with the front edge of that part of the stringer giving him 3/4" gap in the back. A 1" riser goes in there so it all fits… but now the next step up has 10 3/4" to cover because of the extra thickness of the riser. [/QUOTE] [Channeling Rodney Dangerfield]What am I invisible? I can’t get no respect![/CRD] [psst](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7702033&postcount=34) ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/53 "2006-08-22T01:27:38Z")
So you’re sportin’ wood, just not a full 10 inches? Welcome to the club. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/54 "2006-08-22T01:41:54Z")
[QUOTE=Key Lime Guy] No, I’m willing to wager your boards weren’t 2" x 9-1/4", they were 1-1/2" x 9-1/4". [/QUOTE] I’m willing to wager his boards weren’t 1-1/2" x 9-1/4 “, they were 1-1/2” x 9-1/2". ---
**Author:** ![Barrels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@Barrels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrels)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/55 "2006-08-22T02:28:23Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] _That’s_ a good one.! [/QUOTE] Thank you, i’ll be here all night. It’s amazing the lines you have the opportunity to come up with when you bartend at a VFW hall. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/56 "2006-08-22T03:30:21Z")
[QUOTE=David Simmons] It could be worse. You could have started with a spiral staircase. [/QUOTE] Or an escalator. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/57 "2006-08-22T03:48:34Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] “It shrinks?!?” [/QUOTE] Like a frightened 2"x10"! I use two 2"x6"s (2 at 5 1/2" = 11") with a 1x riser, with a standard deck board space for drainage, leaving a +1/4" -1/2" overhang, never a 2"x12". Why? A 2"x12" will cup like a motherfucker! I’d never use 5/4 either, even with a central stringer, they’re just too springy for steps. Oh yeah, you did get pressure treated stringers, right? CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/58 "2006-08-22T05:11:41Z")
[QUOTE=JustAnotherGeek] [Channeling Rodney Dangerfield]What am I invisible? I can’t get no respect![/CRD] [psst](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7702033&postcount=34) [/QUOTE] No, I saw your post, but I understood it. Though you may have cupping issues with a board that wide on a porch step, the geometry works out. I responded to **Squink** because the math didn’t quite work out on his post. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/59 "2006-08-22T05:28:04Z")
[QUOTE=Key Lime Guy] Open risers have become illegal in new construction most places in the last ~10 yrs. I guess because infants might crawl through and fall. Open handrails are a thing of the past for the same reason. [/QUOTE] Indeed. An open riser would fail the 4" sphere test- See IRC 311.5.3.3, 312, LSC, et. al. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602/60 "2006-08-22T14:54:05Z")
Wow, even on the few steps leading from a deck to the ground? I had heard the 4" rule for handrails before but didn’t know the riser part. And I am an adult who wouldn’t have known the true measurements of a 2x4 without having done some volunteer work with a home repair group. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-10-isnt-10-a-word-about-my-lumber/369602.md?page=4)