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When laying out a stair stringer, the initial focus is on determining the riser height, which involves marking the calculated height on a story pole. This is essential because the riser height significantly influences the overall design and usability of the staircase. Using a story pole allows for precision and consistency in transferring measurements to the stringer when creating the risers and treads. It ensures that each rise is uniform, which is vital for safety and comfort when using the stairs.

Calculating total run, measuring the width of each tread, and designing the balustrade are tasks that follow after establishing the riser heights. These components rely on the initial measurements established using the story pole. Hence, starting with the riser layout is a logical and necessary first step in stair stringer construction.