Stair stringer layout tool for iPad

[hammerhead75]

Hi all, some of you here may be using an app for the iPhone I wrote a few years ago called BalusterPro. My day job in construction has been a little slow as of late so I have had time to write another app I have been thinking about for a while. It is called StairBuilderPro and I think it is a very unique stair stringer layout tool. Basically you enter in all of your variables on the graphical interface and the app plots all of the points on your stringer. All you need to do then is connect these points and cut! No need for a framing square or figuring how much to take off the bottom step. The app also takes into account the different floor covering thickness you may have and subtracts the correct amount off of the bottom of the stringer...automatically! It is all figured in when your points are plotted. It will also walk you through step by step to plot these points if you have never built a set of stairs before. Currently it is only available on the iPad but I hope to add an iPhone version too in the near future. I think you may find it to be a useful tool. You can search the iTunes store for StairBuilderPro to learn more about it.

Cheers, Greg

[Kent Brobeck]

Greg, that sounds very cool. Looking forward to learning more about it.

[tjbnwi]

Greg,

I just downloaded your app on my iPad. Works well. I also have BaulsterPro.

I'll play with it more tomorrow.

Tom

[hammerhead75]

Tom, Thanks for picking up my app and checking it out. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Greg

[philthegreek]

hammerhead, does it export a pdf document of the layout it generates?
Also, can it do multiple landing staircases?
Thanks.

Phil

[tjbnwi]

Phil,

It does not appear to generate a PDF. I do not see a multiple landing option.

It does work well.

Tom

[hammerhead75]

hammerhead, does it export a pdf document of the layout it generates?
Also, can it do multiple landing staircases?
Thanks.

Phil

Phil....good questions. Currently it does not generate a PDF but that is a feature I am planning to add. You would still need to have a compatible printer to print from iOS or a networked printer the iPad could find which would mean your computer would need to be on. For now you can just take a screenshot..email it and print it.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by multiple landing staircases. If you have a landing or two you would just calculate a set of stringers for each section. Are you meaning that you would like to know if the app will locate the height of multiple landings? No it doesn't do that. I am always open to comments, suggestions and modifications that would make this app better. The challenge for something like this is to make it powerful enough for a professional but not too complicated for a novice.

Greg

[philthegreek]

An EL or U shaped stair with slightly different rises after 1 or 2 landings to make it fit like in a remodel situation.
In BuildCalc, it generates a drawing of a simple stringer, that illustration can then be emailed as a pdf document. Once you have that, it can be incorporated into a detail page or general notes for submitted drawings. It's a very useful feature and also a good way to communicate with your stair builder.
I guess you could do 2 or 3 separate set-ups, but your app shows tie-ins to landings that is helpful. In addition, if you could export to your BalusterPro app, it would be even more attractive that the two could be integrated as a functional pair.
just some brain droppings that crossed my mind.;-)

Phil

[hammerhead75]

Thanks Phil for the feedback. I will be considering all your suggestions.

Greg