LVLs for single stringer staircase??
bgilliam
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Hey everyone! I’m new to the forum but I need some advice. I am thinking about designing some U/Half Turn stairs for a residential house. We wanted to use a single stringer design (similar to what you see with steel 4×6 beam). We wondering could use 2-3 LVLs screwed together as the single stringer? The treads are ~42″ wide and we would use stair brackets to attach the tread to the stringer. Is this possible? Thanks
Replies
Maybe.
If you are thinking of a staircase with a stringer on one side and the treads cantilevered off of it, there is no way you are going to get brackets that will do this. It would need to be steel.
If you are thinking of a center stringer with the treads cantilevered to both sides, I would see no reason why not with a couple of caveats. Don't even think about notching the stringer. Make sure the treads are stiff enough so as not to bend; 3x might do, but 4x would be better. You are going to need brackets that will support the cantilever when the load is all on one side. That probably means some kind of diagonal brace which probably means some custom welding.
Possible, but not probable.
Built with steel would not be a problem, but with wood is another thing altogether. You just can't make the structural connections with wood as you can with steel.
I concur with Oops. Built with wood, you may (will) encounter trouble meeting building codes. A steel framework with wood treads attached is do-able PROVIDED the treads are fully supported across their full length. You will need to present a drawing with all the details to your building inspector. You may be asked to provide further data.
Mel