Of course I know the basics of designing stairs indoors. But I am faced with the challenge of incorporating stairs into sidewalks that are just a little too steep for straight sidewalks and a little too shallow for any kind of normal stairs. For example, I have one stretch that has about a 24″ drop in 12 feet. This is at the bottom of a steeper section where more conventional stairs are necessary, so it doesn’t seem right to have a ramp at the bottom of these stairs.
Anyone got any rules of thumb for these situations? Minimum/maximum riser height, etc?
Replies
That's a tough one. If you split it equal, you'll have four runs of 3' and three risers of 8". Many would object to 8". I don't mind 8". That's how I'd do it.
Five runs will yield 2'5" and a more comfortable rise.
The other option is to clump a couple risers together.
Interesting design question, I'm interested in the consensus. I'd probably mock something up to see what I'm comfortable with.
6" risers/full 12" run on treads
2 rises at the beginning of the slope, go 6' of run then 2 more rises.
Edited 8/18/2008 10:54 pm by dovetail97128
If you'd like to take one stride on each tread, then the treads should be about thirty inches. Thirty into twelve feet is five treads, twenty nine inches. Divide the six rises into twenty-four inches...four inches per rise.
Remember to pitch the treads about a half an inch for drainage.
Edited 8/18/2008 11:10 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Depending where those stairs are outside, they may be considered by the code as part of your exit to a point of safety. If that is the case then the rise and run requirements apply.