*
I need to build a set of exterior stairs out of PT wood with 2 – 90 degree turns in them. The 90 degree turns will be right next to each other. Kind of U shaped. Yes, I read the recent thread on u-shaped stairs. To conserve space, I think that some winders might work well. There are 14 risers in all, each step having an 11″ x 4′ tread and a 7.25″ rise. In the past, I have just built a box, and then built another triangular box and set it on top.
Anyone have any tricks, or other info to make the winder construction process go smoother or look better?
Thanks
Replies
*
Matt,
View Image
© 1999-2000
"By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong."
Charles Wadsworth
*I've built maybe half a dozen winders, and I envy you your current task. Winders are fun. I always found that it helped to draw the winders out full scale in plan and from all of the elevations, that is, from each side of what would otherwise be your landing. Be sure to check your local code, too.Enjoy.Andy
*Joe:Cut Stringers. Need 14 -71/4" risers to get from a patio to a porch. There is no height restriction, but I'm trying to keep the stairs from eating up the whole patio. Actually, the 4' dimension includes the rails which will have posts mounted on the outside of the stringers. For exterior applications, I like wide steps.Andy:Our code says something like the narrowest part of the winder treads can be a min of 4", and that (this is the part I can't exactly remember) the tread must be 8" wide 12" out from the axis of the turn. I'll look it up before I start cutting up boards. So, the point of the pie shaped treads are actually chopped off.
*Matt,
View Image © 1999-2000"By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong." Charles Wadsworth
*OK,A summary of what our building code says is: The width of the tread at a point not more than 12" form the side where the treads are narrow is not less than 9" ... and the minimum width of any tread is not less than 4"Here is a sketch of what I am building:
*Matt,
View Image © 1999-2000"By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong." Charles Wadsworth
*Joe:There will be a riser from the 4x4 landing outside the door, into the screened porch, making a total of 14. The scale is 1/4" = 1'. Maybe the stair width should be shortened some. But 6" would bring me to only 2 1/2" above code, or 3' 2 1/2" which is kinda skinny to me.Not sure what you mean by ""chop" breaker". I'm not too thrilled with the winder solution either. It's just that we have a lot of risers to fit in the area. I gotta think you deal with that kind of thing all the time, living in an area where real estate sells by the sq. ft!Any alternate soultions are welcome.Ryan:Let's see one of your over sketches!
*Matt - I see a couple options there. Do you have room to put two winders in each corner, instead of one? This might eliminate that one leg of the "U" and save a lot of space on the deck.One other thing I'd look at is placing all 4 (or 5 or 6) winders together, without a striaght run between them. Again, this seems like it would reduce the space dedicated to the stairs. Have you considered these options? In reply to your initial question, I always build a series of triangular platforms to create winders too.
*Matt,
View Image © 1999-2000"By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong." Charles Wadsworth
*Just dropping in with 2 cents -Maybe not an option for you, but... if you have to have winders... make them all winders... as in circular stairs. In the corner will leave you more deck space, even with a large diameter stair. ???
*Give me a day to concider your suggestions. Another thing going on in the drawing I posted that not readily apparent is that the "raised wood bench/walkway area" around the spa is flush with the 3rd step, and therefore the steps serve to provide access to the spa too. Also, Joe, you are correct, having a step right out of the door is not optimum. I wish I could make that go away, which both your drawing do.
*Matt,I've had really good success in areas as small as 5'x5' using a single treated post, with the corners chamfered so that a 6x6 becomes octagonal in section, and wrapping a spiral staircase around the post. Each succesive tread is lagged onto the next chamfer as you work around it. The other sides of the treads are mounted into 3 walls or a system of posts and beams, depending on the application.Don't know if it will help you, but maybe...MD
*Here's a really innovative solution that G.LaLonde E-mailed me. Really cool. Would definitely take some thinking to lay the stringers out on this one!One thing good about it is that it provides access to the spa area. I gotta wonder though, if the tread between risers 3 & 4 would be a trip area? Another thing, I'm not so sure that it satisfies our code requirement of the 9" wide tread 12" out from the narrow side of the steps - which could be remedied by making the 4' tread width narrower by removing, say 3", from the center.
*Matt,
View Image © 1999-2000"By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong." Charles Wadsworth
*Hey all:Just to update you, the decision was made to go with the original design that I posted above. Thanks you your input. The feeling is that the origional design gives best access to the spa, and that the winders will give it a little style. Just to "close the loop", I'll post a pic once the stairs are built. It's gonna be a little while as there is earthwork, footers, masonry and quite a bit concrete flatwork to be done before it's time for the stairs.Thanks