Stair question

[Ailsa C. Ek]

Do stairs to the basement need to be code stairs?  Does it matter if all you're looking for is stairs from the kitchen to the root cellar?

[tjm73]

Code doesn't disitinguish the location of stairs. It's just "Stairs need .........." If you are putting in stairs it's best to follow code if your locality uses code requirements.

[Daddymem]

Oh yeah, stairs are stairs are stairs, here in Mass not excluded.

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Code, schmode, that's what I always say.  

[John Raabe]

The logical thing to do in a house with a basement and upper floor is to build the two stairs stacked over each other so they reduce the total SF needed.

At the planhelp site there are scaled drawings for an "L" shaped stair that can be stacked.

http://tinyurl.com/9fdbj

The other option is a "U" shaped stair with a mid-level landing.

[MikeT]

And in my Victoria's Cottage with a basement, main floor, and a loft, I am working on a stacked spiral staircase.  I am doing this because I want to follow code (need to, actually) and want to take up as little square footage as possible.

mt

mt

[peter nap]

Mike, I'm interested in your spiral staircase. I've looked at the pictures Glenn has in his place but more information is always better.

[Rover]

In the Ontario Building Code, they don't allow spiral stairs as your only stairs.  I don't think its a safety issue, just enforced common sense so furniture can be moved.

[glenn kangiser]

They are not practical for moving large things on, but they fit my space and suit my purpose.

[MikeT]

For my double-stacked spiral stairs, I am using the base plans I bought from Jim Self's web site:
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

To get the stacking effect, the stair that lands on my mid/main level will  be a larger stair with more of a triangle shape.  I am only in the beginning stages of this project and have been sitting here for a bit.  I am viewing this as a winter project when it is harder to get to my site and build with much comfort.

Here is an image of how this should come out when complete:

[glenn kangiser]

I was wondering how you were going to do that.  Have you got the code issues worked out?  Seems they had a certain width at a certain distance or something.

[peter nap]

Two questions (Nevermind that they cover the entire stair support )

Is the center column made bt stacking large dowel sections  on allthread? and

what the devil supports the outer edge of the tread?

[glenn kangiser]

I don't know about Mike's but the one I did was designed by the USDA Forest  products Lab or something like that - back when they did more worthwhile projects.

It has a 1" all thread in the middle.  It should all be glued also but mine is just friction fit and the boards are strong enough to support your weight.  The handrail with balusters can provide support to the outer edges also, unifying them into one and making the whole thing strong.

[peter nap]

[highlight]boards are strong enough to support your weight. [/highlight]

What are the dimensions on your treads Glenn?

[glenn kangiser]

From memory, I would say full thickness 2x10 tapered down to about 7 inches.  I used pine I cut on my sawmill.

[glenn kangiser]

Went and measured -- make that full thickness 2x12 tapered from 11 1/2 to 8 1/2 inches.

[peter nap]

Thanks Glenn....as a side note, my wife is sitting here with me and I was talking to her about your stairs. She said, write it all down.

I pointed to my head and said "I have it all down in the human computer"

She said, write down his number so you can call him when you forget it.....

[glenn kangiser]

Maybe I can find the plan somewhere - In Ken Kern's book I think.

[glenn kangiser]

This is from Ken Kern's Book, The Owner Built Home - currently out of print but was available from Dirtcheapbuilder, or occasionally, used.  

This book is the reason I am here.  I wanted information about Ken and a search brought me to Countryplans as John had worked with Ken  for a while and actually took the cover photo used on the second edition.

I told John about our Underground Cabin, he asked if I would mind answering member questions about it, and now he can't get me to shut up.



Another stair of interest for a DIY'er -probably won't satisfy building officials -- they are in the business of selling corporate produced goods.

[Ailsa C. Ek]

The logical thing to do in a house with a basement and upper floor is to build the two stairs stacked over each other so they reduce the total SF needed.

At the planhelp site there are scaled drawings for an "L" shaped stair that can be stacked.

http://tinyurl.com/9fdbj

The other option is a "U" shaped stair with a mid-level landing.

OK, come payday, I must join planhelp.  Not having my brain explode reinventing the wheel is so very worth twenty-nine bucks (especially since the chance we might build something is getting greater   )

[desdawg]

Mikey T, that stairway looks like quite an undertaking. Kinda like a career if I were doing it. I was never intrigued by spiral staircases mainly because they seem more artsy than functional but I suppose where space is a consideration they serve a purpose. The difficulty, as has been mentioned, is getting anything other than your body up and down them.

[MikeT]

I guess part of the reason I am intrigued by the spiral stair in addition to the space saving quality is that if I can pull it off, it will be part art, part furniture.    I hope I will not be moving furniture as often as I am moving wood around in this home building phase.

mt

[C.White]

My mother's house in Florida has a double spiral stair going from the basement (garage) to the main floor, and then up to the loft.  Yes, it does save space, but my mother parks her car in the garage, and then goes outside to walk around the back and come up the conventional stairs to the porch to go in the house most of the time (unless it is raining buckets).  
They are narrow and a little hard to negotiate carrying anything, even groceries, much less furniture.  Her's are very narrow.
Also, they have proven to be a nightmare for grandchildren.  I think two of them have fallen down them and the hole in the floor left by the continuing stair has to be covered by an unattractive piece of plywood so my sister's kid won't fall through.  Getting furniture up to the loft has to be hoisted over the railing as there is no way to manage it up the stairs.  

My point is, that living with the spiral staircase for her house has had it's negative aspects, but the outside staircase to the porch has proven to be very useful and made it much easier.  
Children are also a point to consider being around them.  
They are lovely though, and the one in the plans sure is artful as said.  
Christina

[John_C]

I built a spiral stairway for the main entry stairs of my Florida house.  They were less of an inconvenience to use than most spiral stairs because they were almost 8' diameter.   Most of the spirals I see are too small to be comfortable, convenient or even safe to use on a regular basis.  If you do build spirals make them at least 6-1/2' dia. , preferably more.  

[glenn kangiser]

We went to Chambord Castle in France.  It had a double spiral stair with a wall between the spirals so friends of the king would not be able to be recognized if someone happened to see them entering or leaving with their mistresses, we were told.



http://www.francemonthly.com/n/0302/

Like that applies to a cabin stairs - but still -- the cabin spiral stairs made me think of it.