Blaustrade System A term referring to all the parts (Newels, balusters, and handrail) of a particular stairway. Brackets (False Stinger Brackets) Decorative pieces fastened to the outside of a stringer. Bullnose on Tread To put a radius at either end of a tread. Circular Stairway A curved stairway that is mounted on stringers rather than a central pole. Closed – Closed Stairway A stairway with walls on both sides also known as a boxed stairway. Hand railing The wooden guard on a wall usually supported by wooden or brass wall mounts. J-Cap Piece of wooden molding used to cover any edge of a plywood skirt board. Landing Rail Railing which runs level along a landing or balcony. Newel Posts Used to stabilize and terminate a railing where it turns a corner. Nosing (Landing Tread) A piece of hardwood that surrounds the landing, which the balusters are set into. Open-Closed Stairway A stairway with one open side and one wall side either left or right. Open-Open Stairway A stairway with both open sides. Over the Post System A stair system, which uses fittings to go over newel posts for a continuous railing. Pie Tread Tread with greater run on one side than the other (pie shape). Pie treads are used on circular stairways. Plow The routed portion of a rail or shoe rail used for the insertion of square balusters. The gaps left between balusters are covered with fillet. Post Bolts A 6” x ½” steel two way bolt for anchoring the newel post. Post-To-Post Staircase in which the railing is not continuous. The handrail is mounted into the face of a square top newel. Quarter Turn A rail fitting, which turns 90 degrees. Quarter Turn with Cap A rail fitting which includes a cap for a newel post, which turns 90 degrees. Quarter Volute A smaller version of a volute fitting. Rail Fittings Fittings are used in a balustrade system for a continuous appearance through turns and changes in elevation. Railing The wooden guard used on a stairway balustrade. Returned Treads (Mitered) Wooden piece mitered to the outside of an open tread to cover the end grain. Rise The vertical measurement from the top of one tread to the bottom of the next tread. Riser (Toe Kick) The Space from the top of one tread to the bottom of the next. Rosette A small, decorative piece of wood placed between the end of a railing and a wall. Run The frond to back depth of the stair step. Scotia (Cove) Wooden molding used under the stair treads and on top of the J-Cap on skirt board. Shift A rail fitting used to shift around a wall. Shoe Rail (Plate Rail) A piece of wood running along the floor or on top of a pony wall which is plowed for the insertion of balusters and fillet. Skirt Board A piece of decorative wood attached to the wall (open and/or wall side). Spindle Bolts A 2” ¼” Two way steel bolt used for anchoring spindles. Spindles (Balusters) A vertical piece of often turned wood that is installed on a tread (Step) to help support the railing; there are usually 2-3 per tread. Spiral Stairway A curved stairway that is mounted on a central pole rather than on stringers. Stair Direction Either right-or-left hand. Determined by what side is open when facing it from the bottom. Starter Cap (End Cap) A railing fitting at the start or end of a balustrade system. Stringer The supporting members, which run the length of the stairway on which treads, risers, and balustrade are mounted. Tandem Cap A straight level rail fitting with a newel cap. Generally used on newels in long stretches of balcony railing. Treads The horizontal component of a step upon which one walks. Up-easing A railing fitting which joins two handrails or fittings at different angles in a graceful, pleasing manner. Volute Fitting A handrail fitting used on a starting newel with balusters that turns from the stairway in a circular fashion. This also need a volute Tread, and can be right, left, or both. Volute Tread A tread that has one or both sides finished in a radius. Often used as a starting step and often requires a curved riser beneath. Wall Mounts A wooden or brass bracket used to support handrail on a closed-closed stairway. Winder Treads A set of three Treads that make turn in place of a landing, on an L-shaped stairway.