Carpentry and Woodworking - Staircase building and installing questions

We've been remodeling our home for 10 years and are finally seeing a pinpoint of light at the end of the very long tunnel! Our current dilemma is stairs...what type and where to put them.

This house was not built as a house and is not new by any means. It was built in 1918 as a bank (the only money here is what we've put into it!). It's 40' long, 22' wide and brick construction. It had a flat roof, soldier row, unusable attic space and 12' interior ceilings. Last year we gutted the roof, lowered the interior ceiling to 8', put in floor joists, had a bricklayer build up the walls and put in a new pitched steel roof to create a second floor. We're almost done cutting out and adding the windows and need to figure out what to do about the stairs.

The way this building is layed out, there are only two options for the stairs. One is to gut what is currently the pantry in the kitchen, which is above the basement stairs along the back wall, and install fairly steep conventional stairs. The other is a 3' wide space between two windows, at the front of the house, where a spiral staircase would work nicely. I know there are issues with carrying furniture up a spiral staircase, but there is a wide access panel in the foyer ceiling that we are keeping for that purpose.

With the limited floor and storage space available, I'm leaning toward the spiral staircase, but I'd really like some objective, knowledgeable opinions on this. Also, we have some friends who are Amish carpenters who are willing to help us out with the construction on their days off (we're doing this on an extrememly tight budget), so we'd appreciate some good, reliable places to find plans, material lists, etc. so we'll have something more to go by when we go to Menards to buy the materials. That way everything is ready to go when they are able to come over.

I've checked Herm's free plans links (thank you for those!) and found some ideas for other things, but not stairs (yet!). I'm still checking other sites, but hoped for ideas here, too. Can't have too much input from people who know what they're talking about! Since I've gone back to mid-2003 here and didn't see anything about this type of project, I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. Let me know if there's any more information you need to be able to offer any suggestions. Thanks so much!

Why didn't whoever framed the roof and 2nd floor put stairs in then?

Stairs are one of the more difficult aspects of building construction. They are also heavily regulated by building codes. Its impossible to answer your question here. You really need get someone on site who can design and build the staircase to code for you. Even if there's no code, you want the stairs to be safe for your family, now and as you get older. Steep stairs are a big no no for your safety. An experienced carpenter will be able to offer several safe and functional options for you.

Hi SharonD,

There are two books you may find helpful:

Building Stairs by Fine Homebuilding Editors, introduction by Kevin Ireton. This book is available at Home Depot.

Constructing Staircases, Balustrades & Landings (Building Basic Series) by William Perkins Spence. Try your local Barns & Noble or online for this one.

Kona is correct regarding the safety issues, and these books address the topic fairly well. If you come up with a plan and still have concerns, you can always run your ideas past a local architect or structural engineer just for fun. :)

Best wishes.

Rick

Why didn't whoever framed the roof and 2nd floor put stairs in then?

Stairs are one of the more difficult aspects of building construction. They are also heavily regulated by building codes. Its impossible to answer your question here. You really need get someone on site who can design and build the staircase to code for you. Even if there's no code, you want the stairs to be safe for your family, now and as you get older. Steep stairs are a big no no for your safety. An experienced carpenter will be able to offer several safe and functional options for you.
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Thank you for your reply! The exterior walls had been soldier rows above the roof line. The brick layer just tuck pointed and built them up level. A carpenter helped my son set the roof trusses and finish the roof. Right now my husband and son are cutting the holes for the windows and setting them until one or more of the carpenters can come back to help with the stairs and stud walls.

I don't doubt that they are difficult. I've experienced how difficult steep or badly designed stairs can be to navigate. That's why I was looking for guidance on where to find information and/or suggestions from people more educated in this area than I am. I hadn't really thought about codes. It makes sense to start there. I'll call zoning today and find out what the codes are for stairs. Thanks for the suggestions!

There are two books you may find helpful:

Building Stairs by Fine Homebuilding Editors, introduction by Kevin Ireton. This book is available at Home Depot.

Constructing Staircases, Balustrades & Landings (Building Basic Series) by William Perkins Spence. Try your local Barns & Noble or online for this one.

Kona is correct regarding the safety issues, and these books address the topic fairly well. If you come up with a plan and still have concerns, you can always run your ideas past a local architect or structural engineer just for fun.

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Thank you for the book suggestions! I'll check the local library first. They may have others available as well. Safety can't be stressed enough. Besides our older children we have a two year old and one on the way. The stairs *must be child safe. Maybe some of the books will have good tips on how to choose a good architect or structural engineer. Can the zoning office ethically recommend someone? I don't want to ask if it's inappropriate. Thank you for your help!