A heavy wooden board used in stair construction to support the steps. The inner face of the board is cut with a series of stepped grooves or notches that house the ends of the treads and risers, holding them securely in place. It differs from a standard cut stringer because the outer edge remains straight and continuous while the steps are housed inside the board.
Heard on the job
We need to rout the housings in the notchboard before we can assemble the flight.
Also heard as
- housed stringer
- closed stringer
Do not mix it up with
- Stringer: A stringer is often cut in a saw-tooth pattern to support treads from below, while a notchboard houses the ends of the treads within routed grooves.
Related terms
String
The inclined side board that supports the treads and risers of a staircase.
Stringer
A heavy, inclined structural timber that supports stair treads or ladder rungs.
Riser
The vertical board that forms the face of a step in a staircase.
Pitching piece
A horizontal timber that supports a stair landing and the top ends of the stringers.