I saw this while looking through Sarah Susanka’s first “Not So Big House” book (if you have it, look carefully at the photo on page 154), and thought it was cool.
Thinking, “how did they do that,” got me to open up a new Sketchup file, and lo, . . .
Think it was done this way?
This is a crude section view to show the elements. Rabbeted-end blocks span shortwise every 8 inches or so, between the top ply substrate and bottom, and the whole shebang of ply and spacers is screwed together as a sandwich onto the steel pan.
Now I gotta talk to my carpet guy.
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Here is a photo of the result. Not close enough for detail, though. The photo in the book was taken closer.
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Mr. Davis,Good afternoon sir. First, let me apologize; I'm just a bench warmer here at Breaktime. I am learning a great deal here and I thoroughly enjoy your Sketchup designs. But if I may, I work in the Emergency Medical Services as a Paramedic. It is very common for "us" to carry our patients down flights of stairs. I depend on the risers of stairs for footing, leverage, balance, sense of orientation. I've been in several houses that didn't have risers on their stairs. Granted it's only happened a handful to times, but when it does, I can't help but wonder "...who was the a#*hole that thought this was a good idea..."Please understand, I don't mean to disparage your design ideas, in any way. Just wanted to offer a different perspective; What looks great from an architectural perspective might not have a practical application.Warm Regards, - T.
Can you elaborate on how you use the risers for balance etc? Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
I don't know how paramedics do it but i suspect it would be similar to someone carrying a large object up or down the stairs without being able to see where you are putting your foot. I know when I move large objects, I push the tip of my footwear against the riser so that my brain knows that when I put my foot down, it will be firmly planted on the thread.
Mr. Allen:Good evening. I would love to answer your question, however, Chucky answered with much more clarity."...carrying a large object up or down the stairs without being able to see where you are putting your foot. I know when I move large objects, I push the tip of my footwear against the riser so that my brain knows that when I put my foot down, it will be firmly planted on the thread..." Using a folding "chair" the Patient is carried down the stairs. There is one person in front, who descends the stairs backwards, while the second person in back is descending the stairs normally. All the while balancing the patient, O2 bottle, ECG monitor, gear bags, etc. And some of those patients are heavy! Perhaps I should also apologize. I was in a patient's house the other day and there was on ONE (1) stringer, that ran the center of the stairs. This was by design! Needless to say, neither my partner nor I were happy.This is exactly what I do. Its important to know where your feet are.Mr. Davis:It is my sincere hope that no one will ever have to carry you out. But if the need ever arose, It would be an honor.Warm Regards, - T.
Edited 7/5/2008 9:03 pm ET by TGuide
It's been a long time since I've carried heavy objects up or down stairs. I do remember,somewhat, the need to find the tread by using the riser. I've never thought about the design of stairs from that perspective. The only stairs I've ever left open were deck stairs and most of them I've closed. I'll be closing all of them in my designs thanks to your input. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Don't worry, T. By the time you are carrying me out, I'll either be on the main floor, or I won't care if you trip and fall down the stairs, with my tired old bones on your back.
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
I won't care if you trip and fall down the stairs
I suspect T might care about that scenario."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Very nice clean look. Getting rid of the carpet at the bullnose where it usually looks kind of ragged makes all the difference. Might be simpler to use 2x material as a substrate and eliminate the metal pan.
With all respect to the paramedic poster, I'm not sure the frequency of people getting stretchered from houses justifies modifying commonly used stair designs. I'd like to see some data, rather than anecdotal evidence, it is a real problem.
That looks like one way to do it. I would be tempted to use finished wood on the bottom rather than carpet. Are open riser stairs legal?
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
No inspections in Gene's neck of the woods. Lucky Gene. :) I love the look of open riser stairs.View Image
>>>Now I gotta talk to my carpet guy.
I agree. Seems that if you're going to go to all that trouble, why carpet? I would have used the opportunity to do something nice with wood, but I guess it's a matter of preference.
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”