Our family room has a french door to the back yard, but the Mrs is not pleased with the three foot drop. I’m not ready to commit to a deck or patio and need to put something up so the family can make use of the door to the back. I have a few questions and would appreciate some help.
How should I attach the header? We have a foundation on grade at this section of the house. Can I use a wedge anchor, say 5/8 x 6? I’m thinking the header would be 2 x 10?
Is it practical to make the header the and stairs the same length as the door width even though only one side of the door opens?
Is there a standard width of stair tread?
Thanks,
Jim
Replies
xjfive
I assume your door opens in. If so you can build a set of stairs that go up to the door way. If your door opens out than you have to have a landing there, code is usually something in the neighborhood of 3' X 3'. Also you will have to have some sort of footings for the steps to land on, dont want them to just sit on the ground, they will start to sink.
You can anchor a ledger(dont know if thats the proper term) that you can attach you steps to. I dont know the proper fastener that you need. some of this stuff you will need to check with your building inspector. If you are going to do this by code just take your variables down to the local city or county building dept. and ask them what they require.
Others will come and give you some better advice, this will just get you bumped up to the top and some info to digest.
Doug
Edited 5/27/2004 10:11 pm ET by Doug@es
You have wood framing below the door, correct? If so, all you need to do is connect the stairs to the wall below the door. Hang a 2x12 ledger from the wall using lag bolts. Hang two 2x12 stair stringers from the ledger using Simpson LSU or LSSU slope hangers (strongtie.com). Cut 3' pieces of 2x12 for treads and install those between the stringers using Simpson TA staircase angles. You need to may plumb and level cuts at the top of the stringers, and level cuts at the bottom. That's all. Piece of cake. A handrail is required by code.
I'm halfway sure that code requires a minimum 3' x 3' landing outside any door, whether it swings in or out. Have to look that up...
Dave,
No I don't have wood framing, it is a concrete foundation. I kind of figured on at least a hand rail, but not on a landing. I will contact the township.
Thanks,
Jim
support the stairs on four posts , not attached to the house..when ya deide the permanent fix, just move them.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
landing is not code in NC. Last yr. I had built 4 sets of temp. stairs from french doors to grade for a CO insp. no landing needed there. A deck eventually replaced the temp. stairs.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.