Amateur carpenters who have laid out the cuts in a stair stringer (the zig-zag structural support for the steps) know the queasy feeling that bubbles up at the prospect of this job. There’s the simple ...

Jenna and Nick are tackling a challenging home renovation project, focusing on their staircase. Their current stairs are in poor condition, with layers of plywood covering holes and structural issues.

Well-designed steps create a great first impression, and when properly built, they will last for years. Popular Mechanics Senior Designer Michael Stillwell and his father Tony Stillwell recently ...