Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Steps
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DanS19
05-23-05, 06:10 AM
I need steps on a hill from my back patio to the basement level. It would be about 150 inches distance with a rise of about 84 inches(10 steps @15 inches?). There is a pool on the patio, so I want to avoid wood and splinters for bare feet. What would you recommend (trex, concrete, etc.?), and what would be a ballpark price if done by a professional?
Hellrazor
05-23-05, 06:33 PM
Noo.. 15" steps are way too high. 8" high max.. check your local code.
blah... did i mention i hate doing steps? :D
blah... did i mention i hate doing steps? :D
XSleeper
05-23-05, 07:28 PM
lol, i think he meant ten 15" treads.
At any rate, 10 steps would make the stairway too steep, at 8.4" of rise each. I prefer 7" treads for custom stairways. That would be twelve steps with a 7" rise, and approximately 12" run.
There's no way to give you a suggestion without seeing the layout. I imagine that the entire stairway is over dirt (the hill) and that there is no retaining wall at all around the pool area? You could have a footing poured, a brick wall layed up, backfilled, and have cement steps poured on your hill... It could be straight or curved... or it could be built on piers and posts- I imagine it would take a minimum of 6 piers below frostline- trex would work well for the treads, if done with trex, a 4' wide stairway would need 4 stair jacks... but its impossible to give exact ideas or prices. That's what contractors and estimates are for.
At any rate, 10 steps would make the stairway too steep, at 8.4" of rise each. I prefer 7" treads for custom stairways. That would be twelve steps with a 7" rise, and approximately 12" run.
There's no way to give you a suggestion without seeing the layout. I imagine that the entire stairway is over dirt (the hill) and that there is no retaining wall at all around the pool area? You could have a footing poured, a brick wall layed up, backfilled, and have cement steps poured on your hill... It could be straight or curved... or it could be built on piers and posts- I imagine it would take a minimum of 6 piers below frostline- trex would work well for the treads, if done with trex, a 4' wide stairway would need 4 stair jacks... but its impossible to give exact ideas or prices. That's what contractors and estimates are for.
lefty
05-23-05, 08:15 PM
The MINIMUM tread width allowed by code is 10". 11" is more common (dbl 2X6's).
MAXIMUM riser height is 8". Seven or 7-1/4" is a lot more comfortable. And the tread width nor the riser height cannot vary more than 1/8" from the smallest to the largest in the run.
"How much??" Depends on everything from what you are building the steps with, what you have to attach them to at the top, how you land them at the bottom, and if there's a door involved at either the top or the bottom, you'll need a MINIMUM 3'X3' landing there, ... No way can any of us guess a number for you without seeing it. I can pull a number out of my hat -- but that'll mean nothing.
MAXIMUM riser height is 8". Seven or 7-1/4" is a lot more comfortable. And the tread width nor the riser height cannot vary more than 1/8" from the smallest to the largest in the run.
"How much??" Depends on everything from what you are building the steps with, what you have to attach them to at the top, how you land them at the bottom, and if there's a door involved at either the top or the bottom, you'll need a MINIMUM 3'X3' landing there, ... No way can any of us guess a number for you without seeing it. I can pull a number out of my hat -- but that'll mean nothing.