Stair stringer protruding at ground level

av709 · 19 Oct 2025

Hi all, I have this stair stringer sticking out at the bottom of the stairs and I'm fed up of stubbing my toe on it. Can I cut this where the red line is drawn before I get new carpets & underlay fitted? I've got access to underneath to add additional support if needed.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Wayners · 19 Oct 2025

I would cut that off.

It's an odd design as the newel post should be lower

big-all · 19 Oct 2025

if you draw a strait line from the bottom off the string, it finishes about the red line so you need the extra bit to support the string edge beyond the red line thats why its there
assuming the newel post doesn't extend to the floor to take the weight you will need to support the string with added timber covering perhaps 2 joists will be needed assuming its a wooden floor

av709 · 19 Oct 2025

Thanks both for your replies.
Yes it is an odd arrangement and definitely not the most functional. The floor is concrete so do you think I could get away with cutting a short piece of 2x2, the bottom resting on the floor and the top cut at a 45 degree angle and screwed into the string maybe?

I'm wondering if the stud frame underneath the string a bit higher up where the bottom 3 stairs are boxed in is also providing some support?

Wayners · 19 Oct 2025

I wonder if it had a turn at the bottom?
Maybe removed or never installed?

Harry Bloomfield · 19 Oct 2025

I would suggest it could be cut off, but only providing you can provide an alternative means of support for the bottom, of that stringer. Would a carefully cut, triangular piece of heavy ply, fixed into place, at the back, via the rectangular hole achieve that?

big-all · 19 Oct 2025

if its a concrete floor it will be pretty bomb proof and as long as you have say 50mm off the string solidly on the floor my main concern would be creaking rather than failure as only the end off the string will compress and move at all rather than interaction between floor and string giving to creaking
my thoughts a squarish bit off timber say 150x150mm [12-20mm mdf/ply /timber not sterling/ osb or chipboard ]under the bottom tread on the inside face off the string tight as possible to the floor loads off glue and many screws will give the maximum support with minimum intrusion and less to go wrong
or even pulled back to the second and lengthened accordingly but at least 18mm thick then possibly 2x thickness of thinner material

big-all · 19 Oct 2025

and dont plan simply to go under and tight to the tread wedge as it tapers

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Stair stringer protruding at ground level

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