If you are going to make a wooden or metal staircase with your own hands, you need to pay a lot of attention to the calculations. Despite the apparent simplicity, the staircase is a very complex engineering structure, each node of which must be thought out, and together they must create a single ensemble.
The design of a metal / wooden staircase should take into account its functional and decorative component. It will be more difficult to do this, the less experience you have of this kind of work. Since we do not do calculations every day, we need to describe in detail how to calculate the stairs to the second floor of a private house. The general principles for the construction of wooden and metal stairs do not differ. As the saying goes, "the devil is in the details." It is them that we will consider in detail.
It should be noted that the arrangement of stairs in multi-apartment or office buildings is regulated by many documents. The main ones are GOST 23120-78 Mid-flight stairs, platforms and steel railings and SNiP IV-14-84 Collection 1-14 Stairs.
However, in private houses, the height of which is often limited to two floors, the owner is free to choose the configuration. Although, of course, the basic rules for building stairs must be followed.
Rule 1 - Choosing the location of the stairs in the house
To make a straight staircase in accordance with the standards in a private house is hindered by the limited space. Therefore, many owners prefer complex structures: a mid-flight staircase with a turn or a spiral one. Professionals put forward several recommendations on where and how to place the stairs in the house so that it takes up little space.
- it is better to place the stairs in the part of the house that is least used. The staircase in the living room creates certain inconveniences;
- provide free access to the stairs;
- landings are preferable to winder steps. Especially if independent construction is supposed;
- consider simpler options first, and only then more complex ones;
- keep in mind that you will need to not only walk up the stairs, but also bring in / take out furniture and appliances. It should be easy to use for all family members;
- if the space (place) under the stairs in the house is planned to be used, it is better to choose a closed structure. And, conversely, an open staircase makes the space more spacious, so it is advisable to use it in rooms;
- keep in mind that the installation of a metal staircase in a wooden house can be done after the house shrinks. That is, in 1-1.5 years. Otherwise, shrinkage of the house will lead to a violation of the integrity of the structure.
- make sure that in the ceiling (ceiling) you can make an opening for the stairs under the exit to the attic, attic. For example, in a monolithic slab, the arrangement of a staircase creates significant difficulties.
How to reduce the size of the opening for the stairs to the second floor?
Useful tips from experienced craftsmen:
- 20% is possible if a staircase with 180 degree winders is installed;
- 30% will help the installation of stairs with two marches and a platform. Space savings are achieved due to the fact that the movement changes by 180 °;
- by 60% by installing a ladder with steps "duck step";
- 80% achieved by installing a spiral staircase. In this case, the movement changes by 360°.
Rule 2 - The shape and types of stairs
In a private house, it is possible not to follow the standards and GOSTs so strictly. However, the basic principles for arranging stairs must be observed, since neglecting them may lead to a decrease in the safety of this engineering structure.
Before proceeding with the calculations, you need to know that there are two important factors that will affect the result.
First, it is a design feature.
In terms of design, all stairs can be divided into three types:
- marching. Consist of separate marches. They, in turn, are divided into single-march, two or more - multi-march. In addition, a marching staircase can be straight, with a landing or with turns (winder steps).
In private houses, a wooden and metal staircase with winders (with a turn of 90, 180, 360 degrees) is popular.
- screw (spiral). In stairs of this type, the steps are twisted around the axis. They are convenient when there is no free space for a march structure in the room. But the construction of a spiral staircase is much more laborious and requires more careful calculation.
- folding. They belong to portable structures, so we will skip them, since we will do the calculation for a stationary staircase.
Secondly, it is the shape of the frame.
The frame of the metal and wooden stairs can be made in three versions:
- ladder on stringers. The basis of the frame is one or two solid beams, on which steps are laid on top.
- ladder on string. The frame consists of two support beams that support the steps on the side.
- ladder on rails(from German "pin"). The steps are fixed directly to the wall.
Rule 3 - Calculation of the parameters of the stairs
Many users do not know what to consider in order to calculate the stairs correctly. Professionals say that taking into account the three main parameters will make the design safe, beautiful and easy to use.
Stair parameters are shown in the figure
Ladder height
Height - the distance from the floor of the first floor to the floor (not the ceiling) of the second. Often the upper end of the staircase rests on the ceiling of the first floor. For ease of movement, a clearance is made above such a staircase.
The distance from the step to the ceiling can be calculated as follows: the height of the tallest member of the family is taken and 100 mm is added. The recommended clearance value (working height of the stairs) is 2 m. This value must be constant throughout the entire march.
Note. It is possible to place a ladder in living rooms only if the rooms on the first and second floors are heated. Otherwise, it should be placed in a non-residential area.
Ladder length (march length)
For a traditional marching structure, the length of the stairs is equal to the length of the march or the sum of the lengths of the flights plus the landing between them.
When calculating the length of a spiral staircase or stairs with winders, the average flight length is calculated. In this case, the measurement is performed at a distance of 50 cm from the railing (edge of the span).
The width of the stairs in a private house
Width - the distance of the stairs from the wall or between two handrails. The recommended settings are shown in the diagram.
Ladder width:
- 1.5 m - increased level of comfort;
- 1-1.2 m - comfort zone;
- 0.8-1 m - allowed only for a flight of stairs located along the wall;
- less than 0.8 m. is only appropriate for auxiliary stairs.
The width of the flight stairs with winder steps:
Width of spiral staircase:
- 1.4 m - comfort zone;
- 1.1 m is the minimum allowable width.
This is due to the fact that the winder steps narrow towards the central element of the stairs.
Ladder angle (steepness)
The angle of inclination determines the ease of use of the stairs. A too steep staircase saves usable space, while a gentle one makes movement along it more comfortable.
The view of the stairs, depending on the steepness, is shown in Fig. Here you can clearly see at what angle the stairs should be in the living room.
The most comfortable option for movement is in the green zone of the picture.
The material was prepared for the site www.site
Note. At an angle of inclination over 45 °, you can only go down the stairs with your back forward.
As practice shows, most often combined options are used in the house. To understand at what angle to put the handrail on the stairs, you need to draw a parallel between the base of the stairs (kosour, bowstring) and lay a handrail along it. Mathematically, this is a simple calculation of the angle using the Pythagorean theorem.
Number of stairs
The number of steps is not regulated and depends on the height of the stairs and the height of the tread (riser). In two-flight stairs, it is recommended to make the same number of steps in both flights, but in practice the steps are distributed unequally between the flights.
Note. For multi-apartment residential buildings, the number of steps is regulated and is 9-11 steps.
Tread height (distance between stairs)
The most convenient for movement by users is the distance between adjacent steps of 150 mm.
Note. For those who make the stairs with their own hands, it is easy to remove the extra height by adjusting the height of the tread between the last and penultimate steps or between the first and second.
Stair step (step width)
On the step of the stairs you need to lean with a full foot. Therefore, the optimal width of a stair step should be at least 230 mm. (35 size). The minimum allowable width is 100 mm. But frequent walking on such steps is fraught with injuries.
Note. If you increase the width of the step over 650 mm (the average step length of an adult), then when walking on such a ladder, you can go astray and stumble.
You can increase the width of the step by removing the step. In this case, the step should not hang over the previous one by more than 50 mm. Note. When calculating the width of the stairs, do not forget that the distance between the balusters should be in the range of 100-150 mm. Otherwise, such a fence will be unsafe. In turn, balusters are installed in such a way that the aesthetics of the fence are maintained - one per step, two per step, or otherwise.
Stair rung length
The length of the step is determined by the design of the stairs. If two bowstrings are used as the main structural element, the length of the step corresponds to the distance between them. If kosour (one or two), then the length of the step is determined by the customer.
Rule 4 - Accurate calculation of the dimensions of the stairs
Since all parameters are interconnected, in order to calculate them, it is enough to have basic knowledge of geometry. We will show how to calculate the stairs using an example.
Example 1. Calculation of the length of the stairs and the width of the opening
In this case, the calculation is simple and suitable for those who have a lot of free space in the room.
How to calculate the length of the stairs in the house
It is defined as follows. To the height of the room of 3000 mm, the width of the ceiling of 200 mm is added. The resulting value is 3200 mm. divide by 160 mm (recommended riser height) we get the number 20. I.e. the staircase will contain 20 steps.
Based on the fact that the recommended step width is 300 mm, the length of the stairs should be 6000 mm (20 steps of 300 mm each). Or, if the step is taken out by 50 mm, then the length of the stairs will be 5000 mm (20 steps by 250 mm (300 mm - 50 mm)).
How to calculate the width of the stair opening
It is defined as follows: 1900 (recommended clearance value) is subtracted from 3000 mm (room height). We get 1100 mm. We divide this value by 160 mm (step height) and get the number of steps over which the ceiling can be located. The result of the calculation is 6.875, i.e. 7 steps.
The remaining 13 of the 20 steps should be located in a zone free from overlap. Otherwise, walking under them will be uncomfortable. The width of the step is 300 mm, then the width of the opening will be 13x300 mm = 3900 mm.
Checking 1100 (floor width) + 3900 (opening width) = 6000 (stairs length)
However, not everyone has the opportunity to leave 6 or 5 meters under the stairs. In this case, it is worth playing with the width of the step or the height of the tread. And you can make a staircase with a turn or with steps "duck step". Such designs are more complex, which means that the calculation will also be more complicated.
An example of a drawing of a metal staircase on one stringer
Example 2. Calculation of the angle of inclination of the stairs and the parameters of the steps
These calculations are more complex and can be done in several ways. Among them, the following are known:
- computer method;
- Danish method;
- line lifting method;
- sweep method;
These methods are united by the need to have basic knowledge in the field of design. The diagram of the staircase in graphical interpretation, obtained using the methods described above, is shown in the figure.
- proportion method.
It is suitable for a beginner in the field of design and makes it easy to calculate both a marching straight line and stairs with winder steps or a spiral one. After all, there is a feature here, namely, the steps narrow towards the center.
Calculation of a metal or wooden staircase with winders at 90 and 180 degrees by the method of proportions is based on a uniform distribution of space in the turning section. The calculation is performed in this way:
- a sketch of the stairs is made in a horizontal projection;
- a line showing the average length of the march is indicated. For convenience, we will place it in the middle;
- a line showing the middle of the turn of the stairs is indicated. The place where the longest step will be located.
- we put on the middle line the value of the width of the steps. Thus, their number can be calculated. The calculation is carried out from the turning line.
- we determine the points where the last identical steps will end. There should be two such points - at the beginning and at the end of the stairs. In rare cases, stairs begin or end with winders;
- in the place where the step will have a minimum width (near one of the stringers, bowstring or screw pipe, set aside 50 mm from the turning line. In total, 50 + 50 will give us 100 mm. Which is the minimum allowable step width;
- we connect the marked points with the previously marked points that show the width of the step and extend them to the opposite side (the second stringer, bowstring or spiral staircase railing).
- set aside the rest of the steps. Approximate proportion is 1:2:3. One mm at the narrow end of the stairs, equals 2 mm at the midline and 3 mm at the wide end of the turn.
The data from the sketch is transferred to the stair blanks in accordance with the scale.
The scheme of the staircase with winder steps and a turn of 90 degrees is clearly shown in the figures.
A staircase with winder steps with a turn of 180 degrees is calculated in a similar way.
A diagram of a staircase with winder steps with a turn of 180 degrees is shown below.
This calculation method cannot be called ultra-precise, but you can get calculations sufficient for building stairs with your own hands. If you do not trust him, you can contact a specialist or use a computer program.
Calculation of the stairs on the rails
The process is similar to the calculation of a winder staircase. The only difference is the method of fastening. The option of fastening on a wall bowstring or without it is possible.
Calculation of a spiral staircase
The calculation of a spiral staircase is carried out similarly to the calculation of winder steps. But in this case, you need to accurately determine the configuration. In terms of design, they can be of four types.
Note. The spiral staircase is considered the most dangerous in terms of movement.
Drawings of spiral staircases
Duck step ladder calculation
This configuration is good because it takes up a minimum of space, however, such stairs are very troublesome to manufacture and operate. A duck step ladder is installed if the slope angle exceeds 45 degrees, and there is no desire to use a ladder. The peculiarity of this design is that only one leg rests on one step. However, despite this, the design of the frame of such a staircase is no different from the frame of the mid-flight. The difference is only in the shape of the steps.
Goose step staircase scheme
Note. According to the standard, the number of steps in a duck step ladder must be odd. Moreover, the first step is preferably done on the right. This is due to the fact that most users have the leading foot on the right. The maximum tread is also set on the right.
Computer programs for calculating stairs
The software method allows you to create a 3D project, visualize the project and get a drawing of the stairs with the exact indication of all parameters. The most popular programs are:
- "Compass" (as practice shows, most craftsmen are familiar with this program);
- SolidWorks - allows you to create the design of various engineering structures, not only stairs;
- Consultec Staircon - makes it possible not only to create a staircase project, but to calculate an estimate for its construction. A full 3D model allows you to get a complete picture of the future design.
Rule 5 - Detailed drawing or sketch
The calculation by the computer method or the method of proportions already implies the presence of a drawing of the future staircase. However, even those who make a simple marching staircase should create a sketch with dimensions printed on it.
Note. On the sketch, you need to apply not only the parameters of the stairs, but also indicate the main parameters of the room. For example, the presence and size of the window, the protruding part of the window sill, columns or other items that may change the configuration or parameters of the stairs in the course of work.
Having prepared in this way, you can start building the stairs with your own hands.
A staircase in a house that has several levels is an indispensable element of design and interior. Occupying a fairly significant volume of the house, it imposes certain restrictions and requirements in the design of interior design. How to make an ascent to the second floor or to the attic so that the dead zone under the march and the arrangement of stairwells do not “eat up” most of the area of the premises? What should be the finish of the stairwell and the design of the stairs? We will try to find answers to these and other questions related to the construction of stairs.
Let's understand the terms
With all the variety of structures for vertical movement that surround us in public and private homes, there are not so many options. Regardless of the device, they consist of the same elements:
- The staircase itself. The staircase can be straight, spiral, with an intermediate or turntable, with winder steps. The ways of fastening the steps also differ: on bowstrings, stringers, bolts, a central support column, a modular design.
- Fencing. Stair railing, first of all, is necessary to ensure the safety of movement - it protects a person from falling and gives support when climbing. Secondly, the fence is an important decorative part. In addition to the march itself, sites are fenced. Railings of stairwells are made in the same style as the railing.
The height of the fence on the platform is higher than the railing. The march fencing is made at least 900 mm, and the platform fencing is 1100 mm.
- Stairway. A stairwell is an opening in a floor through which a staircase passes. Therefore, it is not possible to close the stairwell. It is possible to cover the stairway in small attic stairs when the folding structure is connected to a hatch that closes the opening leading to the attic. Although, most often, people, when asking a question about how to close a stairway, simply do not understand the terms. Apparently, there is a need to cover the stairwell. The stairwell is the space occupied by the stairs. The need for overlap may arise to reduce the intensity of convective currents moving in the shaft from the first to the second floor. The simplest solution is to make a closed staircase. Then you can block the entrance by installing a regular door in front of the entrance to the stairs.
Flies and meatballs
Having understood the terms, it becomes clear that the design of a staircase cannot be particularly diverse. The hole in the ceiling has a rectangular shape for an ordinary staircase, and a round one for a spiral one. Some liberties in the choice of configuration can be allowed for the fan model.
The width of the stairway depends on the width of the march. For a single-march structure, the width of the hole is made equal to the width of the march plus clearances for attaching the fence. For a two-march, respectively, - twice the width of the march. The length of the hole is calculated depending on the slope of the stairs. The hole in the ceiling should be such that standing on any step, a person of average height does not rest against the ceiling with his head.
In calculations, a distance of 2000 mm is usually taken from the surface of any step to the ceiling, that is, to the ceiling of the first floor. Where this distance becomes less than 2 meters, a hole begins. As a rule, the length of the opening is less than the length of the march (projection of an obliquely installed march onto a horizontal plane) by about a meter. That is, starting from the third or fourth stage.
The stairway to the second floor must be positioned in such a way that at the exit from the stairs there is a free platform, at least a meter long. If the doors of the premises go to the landing of the second floor, then the size of the site should take into account the possibility of simultaneously opening the doors and passing a person up the stairs. So that the one who was in the room would not hit the rising door with the opening door.
Finishing the walls of the stairwell is also an irrelevant issue, as well as about design. It is unlikely that anyone is very interested in how to finish the visible part of the end of the floor. If the staircase is adjacent to the wall, then it becomes part of the walls of the staircase. In the case when the opening is made in the middle of the room, the end of the ceiling, visible when going up, can be plastered and painted like a window slope. In a wooden floor, the vertical part of the floor opening can be formed with wood.
Stairwell design
If the design of the stairwell is a meaningless concept, then the design of the staircase is very relevant. The complexity of the issue is that the staircase is a spatial structure that connects the first and second floors of the building. In most cases, on the second floor or in the attic in a private house, a private area is placed - bedrooms, and the "public" part, living room, dining room, are located on the ground floor. The interior design of these rooms can be radically different, and the stairs and the decoration of the walls of the stairwell should harmoniously fit into both interiors.
Perhaps there is no such homeowner who would not dream of expanding his possessions. The development of new territories is inherent in every person. One of the easiest and most economical ways to get hold of those extra square feet is to convert your attic into living space.
But with all the attractiveness of this occupation, the most difficult place is the device of the interlevel staircase. This article discusses the procedure for determining a place for a staircase, its type and obtaining an opening during the reconstruction of an attic space in an old house.
Undoubtedly, stairs made according to classical technologies using expensive materials give the house monumentality, importance and a special gloss. But modernity in the style of minimalism and a permanent crisis have led to the fact that nine out of ten economy class homeowners will vote for prudent use of space in their home and for saving money.
An interlevel staircase is an expensive structure. Especially if it's made to order. However, with some skill, you can do almost all the work yourself. This applies not only to the calculations and construction of wooden, but also welded metal stairs. But before you begin to implement your ideas in practice, you need to decide on the shape and location of the stairs, as well as prepare the opening.
Determining the location of the stairs in the house
Whatever it is, everyone knows that the stairs take up too much space. The flatter it is and, accordingly, more convenient for passage, the larger the size of the opening under it and the further you need to move the first step away from the last in the projection.
The most convenient staircase is one in which the width of the tread (the horizontal part of the step) is at least 30 cm, and the height of the riser (the vertical part of the step) does not exceed 17 cm. Such indicators can be obtained if the angle of inclination of the flight of stairs is within 30 - 40 degrees . Here are a few simple rules, following which you can quite easily choose the location of the interlevel stairs in the house.
- If possible, locate the stairs in a non-residential part of the house. It is extremely inconvenient to use a living room if a bulky structure is installed in it.
- If the interlevel staircase leads to the attic, then try to position it so that the exit is as close as possible to the longitudinal center line of the attic.
- Use a simple geometric rule for an approximate estimate of the length of the opening - a leg lying against an angle of 30 degrees is equal to half the hypotenuse. That is, with a ceiling height in the room of 3 meters and a staircase slope of 30 degrees, the length of the opening will be 6 meters.
- Approaches to the stairs must be free. If something interferes with this, consider whether it is worth making winders.
- There are types of stairs that practically do not take up space in the room, for example, spiral ones, but it is problematic to lift anything along them. Consider such projects as a last resort, preferring simpler models.
- Stairs can be open and built-in. It is advisable to place open stairs where it is undesirable to clutter up the space with massive structures, and built-in ones where it is planned to use the space under the stairs (for example, for a guest bathroom or storage room for household inventory).
- Not in every place it is possible to knock out an opening in the ceiling of the upper floor. If we are talking about a monolithic overlap or overlap with reinforced concrete slabs, it is necessary to develop a separate project and endorse it from the author or an organization recognized as the author of the project of the whole house.
- If the size of the opening does not allow you to fit the stairs in the place that you have determined as the best according to the above indicators, then you can reduce the opening by increasing the angle of inclination, but in this case, change the shape of the steps into a “duck step”. Such a ladder is more difficult to manufacture, but very convenient at slope angles from 45 to 70 degrees.
Stair calculation
Most stairs do not require grandiose mathematical calculations. It is important to be able to determine, using basic knowledge of geometry, the angle of inclination of the stairs, the number of steps, the height of the riser, the width of the tread and the length of the opening.
The initial data for these calculations is the height from the finished floor of the lower level to the finished floor of the second level. This means that if wooden floors are laid over a concrete screed, then the height is measured from the concrete screed, since the wooden floors are not clean. The same rule applies to the floors of the upper level.
For example, by measuring the height of the ceiling at the installation site of the stairs, we got a result of 3 meters. The most convenient slope angle of the stairs is 30 degrees, which means that the length of the opening will be 6 meters. With a tread width of 30 cm, 20 steps can be laid on the projection of the opening. Dividing 3 meters of floor height by 20, we get a minimum riser height of 15 cm.
However, most often such a long opening cannot be found even in a large house, and what can we say about a small one! Therefore, the next step will be to optimize the spatial arrangement of the stairs in the house while adjusting the size of the steps and risers, which is achieved by choosing the shape of the stairs.
Stair type definition
In most cases, an internal interlevel staircase should provide a comfortable ascent and descent to a height of 2.5 to 3.2 meters. It is important that the opening takes up as little space as possible. And you can minimize the size of the opening by installing stairs of a suitable type, which can be classified according to the following criteria:
- By the number of marches, one-two- and three-flight stairs are distinguished;
- By the presence of an intermediate platform, stairs with one and two intermediate platforms are distinguished. Straight and rotated 90 or 180 degrees;
- By the presence of winder steps, stairs with lower, upper, combined winder steps, as well as spiral staircases are distinguished, as an extreme case of the use of winder steps;
- Stairs with straight treads and specially shaped treads that facilitate ascent and descent at slope angles of 45 degrees or more.
Also of great importance is the choice of material from which the staircase will be made. After all, assembling a ladder on a single bowstring made of wood is fraught with great technical difficulties. Such stairs are made of metal, which is much cheaper. In addition, under equal conditions, in terms of bearing capacity, wooden stairs will be much more massive than metal ones. Therefore, designers prefer metal stairs in cases where it is necessary to install an open staircase. But the choice of the material of the steps still most often remains with the type-setting - glued blockboard.
So, the choice of a two-flight staircase with one intermediate platform allows you to reduce the length of the opening by up to 30% and change the direction of movement along the stairs from 0 to 180 degrees.
The choice of a single-flight staircase with winder steps allows you to change the direction of movement along the stairs up to 180 degrees and reduce the size of the opening up to 20%.
The choice of a spiral staircase allows you to reduce the size of the opening up to 80% and change the direction of movement up to 360 degrees.
Changing the angle of the slope of the stairs with a simultaneous change in the shape of the steps and combining with winder steps allows you to reduce the size of the opening up to 60%.
Installation of the frame floor and the allocation of an opening in it
Work on the device of the stairs begins with punching an opening in the ceiling of the upper level. In this case, the material of the floor is essential. If the floors are monolithic or made of slabs, then self-dismantling is not possible. This kind of work must be carried out by a company licensed for this type of activity. All work must be carried out in accordance with the agreed and approved project.
Self-dismantling is possible only if the ceilings of the upper level are wooden and do not carry a load. At the same time, it often happens that in old houses there are practically no attic floors. What is most often associated with the hasty post-war reconstruction of the house. In this case, the overlaps are best removed completely and replaced with new ones based on frame technology.
Photo 1. A fragment of the floor, restored using frame technology
Photo 1 shows a fragment of a remote attic floor, which was replaced by a frame one based on 50x120 mm bars, resting on one side on the rafters through special support shoes (photo 2), and on the other side, on an I-beam steel beam that acts as a run (on photo 3 the beam is shown from its underside). Reliance on shoes allows you to significantly increase the maximum allowable load on the floor, as the risk of breaking old rafter boards is significantly reduced, and dividing the floor by a beam in half allows you to dismantle the floor in parts.
Photo 2. The support shoe is installed on the rafter
Photo 3. Support beam as a run
Photo 1 shows that in the cells of the frame there is an opening for the stairs. Here it should be borne in mind that the pitch of the rafters is 60 cm. And this size has not changed since then. And the width of the stairs may vary. In this case, the width of the stairs along the steps is 65 cm, and the opening is 72 cm.
Photo 4. Mortgage board to expand the opening by an arbitrary amount
The solution to this problem is shown in photo 4. As you can see in the photo, the frame beam does not rest on the shoe, but on the mortgage board, which is installed between two adjacent shoes. Using this method, you can change the width of the opening by any amount up to the next beam.
After the frame is assembled, it must be sheathed from below with OSB sheets. For this purpose, a sheet with a thickness of 10 mm is quite suitable. When sheathing, it is not necessary that the edges of the sheets fall on the beams or cross members of the frame. After all, the final lining will be made of drywall.
Photo 5. The overlap is sheathed from below OSB
A fragment of a floor sheathed with OSB from the bottom is shown in photo 5. After that, you can proceed to the heat and sound insulation of the floor. As a heater, it is best to use mineral or basalt wool due to their incombustibility. But before you start filling the cells of the frame with insulation, you need to lay out each of them with a vapor barrier. Photo 6 shows the cells of the floor frame, in which the film is laid and fixed with a stapler.
Photo 6. Laying vapor barrier on the bottom and walls of the cells
When all the cells are insulated, you can start laying the insulation. Its thickness should not be less than the thickness of the beams. In this case, 120 mm. Mineral wool can be laid more densely with the expectation that it will then settle a little.
By the way, the same insulation scheme was used in the construction of a house back in 1940. Only instead of basalt wool, white glass wool was laid in the ceiling, carefully packed in bags of thick black paper. But over time, the glass wool stuck together and became completely flat, completely losing its insulating properties.
Photo 7. Cells after filling with mineral wool
Photo 7 shows the appearance of the cells after filling them with mineral wool. On top of the mineral wool, you need to cover with another layer of film and fix it with brackets. This stage of work is shown in photo 8.
Photo 8. From above, the mineral wool is covered with a film
And the last stage of work on heat and sound insulation is the sheathing of the OSB floor from the side of the attic. When performing this work, in contrast to the sheathing of the ceiling, it is important to hit the edges of the frame with the edges of adjacent OSB sheets. Otherwise, at the joints, they will bend under the weight of a person. Photo 9 shows the appearance of the floor from the side of the attic after laying the OSB.
Photo 9
The thickness of the sheets depends on the pitch of the frame. So, with an average cell size of 40x40 cm, a sheet 15 mm thick is enough. If the cell size exceeds this value, then the sheet thickness must also be proportionally increased. The part of the opening that will be above the back of the stairs can be reduced, but it is important not to forget to take into account the growth of a person above average. This size is 190 cm. The opening should be reduced in order to reduce heat loss during heat exchange between levels.
The sidewalls of the opening, formed by the extreme beams of the floor, must be even. This is necessary because drywall will serve as the basis for finishing, which is simply screwed to them with self-tapping screws.
opening cladding
Facing the opening begins with the installation of a false plasterboard ceiling at the lower level. Otherwise, it will be impossible to calculate the size of the side slopes of the opening. Plasterboard ceiling installation is best done on metal profiles, and not screwed drywall directly to the floor OSB. The fact is that when walking on the ceiling from above, in this case, the load will be transferred directly to the sheets, which will eventually rub on the heads of the self-tapping screws. When drywall sheets are hung on profiles, dynamic loads do not occur over the entire floor plane, but only at the points where the hangers are attached to the ceiling. Such loads are quickly extinguished in ceiling structures without causing deformations. In addition, under such ceilings it is easy to hide all electrical wiring and other communications.
Photo 10. The ceiling plane next to the opening is sheathed with drywall
Photo 10 shows the working moment when the entire plane of the ceiling next to the opening is already hemmed with drywall along the profiles. The remaining part, which includes the attached ventilation pipe and the reduction of the opening along the back side of the stairs, is sewn up last. In this case, you can take a larger sheet of drywall, screw it into place, and then cut out the outline according to the footnotes made using the vertical level. These manipulations are shown in photos 11-14.
Photo 11
Photo 12. Cutting along the contour marked by the level from the inside
Photo 13. Drywall exactly follows the contour of the opening
Photo 14. Bottom view of the opening and plasterboard ceiling
After the contour of the opening is highlighted on the ceiling, the side slopes can be screwed on. It is enough to fix them with self-tapping screws directly to the beams. The process is illustrated in photo 15.
Photo 15. Installation of the side slopes of the opening
The edges must be reinforced with perforated aluminum corners. They are fixed with brackets using a stapler (photo 16). Then they are smeared with putty (photo 17) and then two more layers of putty are applied to the entire plane of drywall with intermediate and final sanding (photo 18).
Photo 16. Installing perforated corners on the edges
Photo 17. Putty edges and seams
Photo 18
The opening prepared in this way is ready for most types of fine finishing, from painting to decorating with thin plasters, wallpaper or PVC panels.
- The use of facade putty will significantly expand the list of types of decorative finishing of the opening. After all, it is made on the basis of white cement and is much more reliable;
- It is not necessary to line the slopes of the opening with drywall at all, if it is planned to be sheathed with clapboard;
- After grinding, it is necessary to prime each layer of putty;
- It is better to remove the wiring on the floor from OSB in non-combustible boxes.
The example of the opening used in the article as an illustration, and the technology of the work being carried out are demonstrated on the example of the repair of an old German house built in 1940. The house was badly damaged during the war and post-war years. It was partially repaired by the household method, but no one has ever made a major overhaul in it. Therefore, we can consider the above example as the most indicative and most difficult when arranging an opening for an inter-level staircase in a private house.
In the next article, devoted to the independent manufacture and installation of an internal staircase, we will talk about how to carry out welding work using the example of a metal staircase with one bowstring, open steps and stringers.
Maxim Fedorov, rmnt.ru
Part 1: How to prepare an opening for an interlevel staircase
Part 2:
In the case of a non-one-story house, one of the most important elements of the structure becomes a staircase. Its design and correct execution of all stages of work directly affects the usability and comfort of using the upper tier of the building. In addition, it is important to correctly equip the opening for the stairs to the second floor, otherwise the ceiling of the first floor may begin to deform, or even collapse. In order for the stairway not to cause a lot of problems to the residents of the house in the future, you need to take into account a lot of factors, which will be discussed in our article.
First, let's figure out what structures are acceptable in terms of climbing to the upper tier. Actually, the opening itself is a hole in the ceiling between the first and second floors. The last steps of the stairs go into it, and in order to ensure maximum comfort (as well as absolute safety) for users, it is necessary to choose the optimal parameters: both the opening itself and the stairs leading into it. These include the width and length of the hole, the steepness of the steps leading to it, the height between the ceilings, the stair railing, and much more.
Depending on the type of staircase, taking into account the aesthetic preferences of the owner of the house, the entrance to the second floor can be made in different variations. The most common types are as follows.
- Round opening. It has a neat, elegant and concise appearance. The most relevant for spiral staircases, because it takes up little space and gives completeness to the whole structure. The accuracy of calculations is very important in the equipment of such an opening: the upper steps of the stairs must clearly fall under its circumference.
round opening
- Oval (as an option - semicircular) opening. More often, again, it is used in the equipment of spiral staircases. Especially good in the case of a part-turn spiral. However, this configuration also looks great in the case of mid-flight climbs, including those equipped with intermediate platforms.
- Rectangular staircase. In fact, it is standard, this is how the designs are designed in most private houses. Designing and finishing a rectangle is the easiest, it fits into almost any room design. But here, again, an accurate calculation is required: the length of the opening depends on the configuration and size of the flight of stairs. So, if the flight is straight, the length of the opening should be greater than if the staircase configuration is 3-flight, divided by intermediate platforms.
Rectangular staircase
The last category includes all non-standard options: trapezoids and polyhedra. There is no conditional need to create such openings, it's just a flight of imagination of designers inspired by the design of the staircase being designed and the current trend in interior design. We only note that the creation and finishing of an opening of a complex shape requires effort, additional investment of funds and subsequent special care.
Designer complex shapes
Settlement part
It is necessary to design a staircase to the second floor at the stage of creating a general sketch of the house. If the building has already been erected, and you just want to move the entrance upstairs to another place, carefully study the layout of both the first tier and the second floor. Immediately set aside the maximum permitted boundaries for making a hole in the floor of the upper tier and the space on the lower tier, which steps can take without compromising the operation of the house as a whole.
If the second floor is an attic, or if the staircase opens into the living room, the area will have to be saved. The exit in these cases is given a width of not more than 70 centimeters. If the opening from the stairs leads to the hall, where doors from two or more rooms open, the width of the opening should be increased to at least 80 centimeters - this will make movement more convenient.
Main dimensions of stairs
The version of the stairs also has an effect. The straight version in one flight requires the maximum length and width of the opening. The corner version is less picky, the dimensions of the opening can be reduced through the use of intermediate platforms and the so-called winder steps. The smallest dimensions are stairs in 3 or 4 flights; in terms of space saving, spiral staircase options are no less advantageous.
Spiral staircase options
To determine the length and width of the staircase to the second floor, a series of calculations will be required. First of all, the staircase itself is designed: the degree of its slope, the number of steps in the march or in the turn of the screw, the configuration of the structure. A standard set of indicators is subject to calculation:
- The width of the stairs.
- The height of one of the flights (or the complete structure, if the staircase consists of a single flight).
- The total length of the entire staircase.
- The height of the so-called riser and the depth of the tread - that is, the width of a single step.
Ladder device - internal installation
Taking into account all the above parameters, we calculate the maximum allowable height parameter to the upper floor. That is, we calculate which step will hit the ceiling between the first and second floors and how much it suits us. To simplify the calculations, the builders have developed a simple algorithm that is available to anyone who is able to count at the elementary school level. Step by step it looks like this:
- Measurement of the distance from the floor of the lower floor to the upper floor.
- Adding to it the thickness of the floor slab.
- From the result obtained, the planned height of the steps of the stairs is subtracted one at a time.
- When the final result is less than two meters, a stop is made.
Bottom line: the “taken away” steps are located in height between the ceilings, the remaining ones will enter the space of the stairwell.
Arrangement of stairs
Having decided on the required width, reasonable length and preferred shape of the stairwell, you can begin to create it. Just first add 5 centimeters in each direction to the calculated dimensions: they will go away during finishing work. Now as for the actual arrangement. It is performed according to the following algorithm.
- Dismantling of part of the floor covering in the intended part of the room. In many cases, it is also necessary to remove the trim in the lower room, but on the ceiling.
- Beams require special attention. Very often, their partial removal is required. Subsequently, the beams will need to be combined with the rest of the elements of the beam structure. Please note: the beams that were across the hole being made must have the same characteristics as the main load-bearing beams. The structure is fixed with squares installed along the length of the sides of the stairwell.
- A drawing corresponding to the proposed work is applied to the ceiling of the lower floor. When it is transferred to the floor slab, an admission for finishing activities is made.
- Reinforcing beams are fixed on all sides of the opening.
- The support beams are supported by jacks or other posts 50 centimeters (or further) from the reinforcing ones.
- Through holes are made in the corners of the drawing.
- The contours of the stairwell are sawn.
- The sawn elements are removed. Of these, transverse beams (double) are formed, which will strengthen the received opening, extend its service life and secure its use.
- The edge of the transverse beam is fixed with the sawn part, after which the longitudinal beams are connected to the brackets. The latter are attached between the cross section and the sawn-off beam fragment, and the cross section is connected to the ends of the sawn ones.
Examples of stairwells
This technique is repeated for all beams present at the stairwell. If it comes close to the wall, the end of the cross beam must be embedded directly into the wall. The remark also applies to the intermediate platform: if there are any in the structure, it is recommended that they be given additional support by driving it into the wall. If this is not possible, the site should be equipped with an additional support element.
Finishing touch
It remains only to link the staircase with the general style of the floor, walls and other elements of the room. Its decorative design most often comes down to surface putty. The adjacent areas of the ceiling and walls are processed similarly; its original finish is more often removed from the floor, which is returned to its place at the end of work with the opening.
As for the internal surfaces of the opening, they are either painted, or, if they do not want to deal with leveling the planes, they are decorated with patch panels.
And finally, the landing on the second floor. The place is unsafe, especially if the site is located directly in the middle of the dwelling. So the installation of railings seems to be an extremely necessary step. And they will complete the construction, and decorate the interior, and prevent traumatic situations.
Examples of finishing stairs
22.01.2018
A stairwell is an opening in a floor slab that contains a stairway. It can be almost any shape - from round to rectangular and oval. The shape of the hole is determined based on design preferences, as well as the features of the staircase structure and the room. So, a round shape is suitable for a spiral staircase, and a rectangular one for more standard models.
The space where the staircase leads is also important in the calculation. If it leads to a living room on the second floor, then the size of the hole can be reduced. If she leads out into the hall or living room, then it is left large.
What opening to leave under the stairs?
How is the opening size calculated? Usually, at the design stage of a new house, the location of the stairs is calculated and space is left in the ceiling for it. In cases where a superstructure is made, a piece of the ceiling has to be cut out. The size is calculated when the height and angle of inclination of the stairs are known, as well as the approximate number of steps from floor to ceiling. At the same time, more space is left for single-flight structures, and less for structures with platforms or winder steps.
In general, the calculation steps are done as follows:
- For structures with two or more marches, leave the width of the hole in the width of the first turntable or winder steps. The length will be equal to the length of the last march.
- For conventional structures, the width of the march is the width of the opening. For length, subtract the width of the run from the length to get the minimum allowable value.
