Any owner of a two-story country house is faced with the problem of how and what is the best way to build a staircase. A do-it-yourself wooden staircase erected in a country house often becomes the central element in the interior of the house and special attention must be paid to its construction.
Having decided on construction, the question arises, how to calculate the stairs for the house?
Stair design is reduced to the calculation of the following parameters:
Stairs consist of marches, railings and platforms, the size and number of which is determined by the features of the house and the design solution. By paying due attention to the calculation, you can get a good, durable and comfortable staircase, which will become a decoration of the house.
The flight of stairs consists of two elements - treads (step width) and risers (step height), the dimensions of which determine the total height and slope of the stairs. Actively operated stairs should be comfortable and practical for everyday use. The width and height of the steps should correspond to the width of the average person.
In the construction of stairs, over time, a rule has been developed that states that the sum of twice the height of the step and the width of the step should be 60-65 cm. In practice, the step height varies from 120 to 200 mm, and the width is 250-300 mm. To save space, the width of the tread is 20-30 mm larger than planned, so the step hangs slightly above the riser. Such steps are more convenient in operation and increase the usable area without increasing the dimensions of the stairs.
The height of the stairs and the number of steps depends on the height of the building. To determine the height and number of steps, it is necessary to divide the height of the span by the estimated number of steps. The division must occur without a trace, so that all steps have the same height. The step height must be within the allowable limits of 120 - 200mm.
There are two formulas for selecting step sizes.When designing a staircase, you need to get as close as possible to these values.
- "Formula of Convenience". The difference between the width and height of the step should be 12 cm. With this ratio, the ladder is considered the most convenient.
- "Safety Formula" The sum of the height and width of the step should be 46 cm. With this ratio, the ladder is considered the safest.
Stairs are divided into gentle and steep. With a slope of up to 380, the staircase is considered gentle. From 380 to 450 - steep. Sloping designs are best suited for the elderly and people with disabilities. It is not recommended to build stairs with a slope of more than 450, as they are not convenient and not safe to use. Often, such stairs are made attached, for access to the attic, etc. The angle of inclination of the stairs, first of all, depends on the space that has been allocated for its design.
The width of the march directly depends on the allocated space for the stairs. The minimum allowable width of the stairs in a private house is considered to be in the range of 700-900 mm. This width is enough for convenient self-use and transportation of small items. Comfortable stairs are considered with a width of 1000 mm or more. Such dimensions allow two people to move around and carry large items (sofas, cabinets, tables, etc.). From the width of the march, about 100 mm should be thrown out on each side onto the railing.
The optimal height of the railing for the stairs is 900-1000 mm. The most comfortable handrail grip width is 100 mm. Fences are available in a variety of designs and materials. It must be securely fastened and ensure safe climbing stairs.
Do not forget about the children. For them, you can make additional handrails at a height of 600-750 mm.
Before starting the design, you need to allocate a place for the stairs. For example, for a straight structure with a ceiling height of 3 m, it is necessary to provide a platform of at least 1x2.5 m. The staircase must meet all safety and ergonomic requirements and have optimal step sizes. Stairs with more than three steps must be equipped with railings, the height of which starts from 900 mm. For comfortable and safe movement, the steps of the stairs must have the same dimensions. The ladder structure is made from durable and reliable materials and can withstand a load of 250 kg.
An indispensable attribute of every country house is the entrance staircase. Traditionally, it has a small size of 2-3 steps. Its dimensions, first of all, depend on the height of the basement of the building. The entrance staircase to the house creates the first impression and can tell a lot about the wealth of the owner. The ladder can be bought ready-made, ordered from builders or made by yourself. The third option is the most economical, but requires desire and basic building skills.
The material for the entrance stairs can be wood, metal, concrete or brick. The design of the stairs should not stand out too much from the background of the house. When designing a structure, all the same basic principles are used.
The entrance stairs are often exposed to the environment, this requires the use of high-quality and protected material. The wood is treated with an antiseptic and special compounds that prevent rotting and wood damage by pests. Metal structures are coated with anti-corrosion agents. Steps should not be slippery.
Concrete and brick stairs require an additional foundation. They can be a crushed stone pillow or a concrete slab. Metal and wooden stairs are lighter and do not require a solid foundation.
A modern house is almost impossible to imagine without a second floor. The arrangement of stairs inside the house is a prerequisite for a comfortable life. The most simple and easy to process material for stairs is wood. Wood has sufficient strength and attractive appearance. The tree has been popular for hundreds of years.
Stairs are of two main types - mid-flight and spiral. Spiral staircases are less common and are only installed in homes with limited space. They are less functional and do not allow you to carry large items. It is quite difficult to make such a design on your own. On sale there are metal typesetting frames for spiral staircases, which greatly facilitate its construction.
Marching stairs are considered traditional and are found in almost every building. The design implies one or more marches, which are separated by platforms. The easiest to manufacture is a straight marching staircase. The number of steps of one march should not exceed 10, otherwise the staircase is divided into several flights with platforms.
Wood is best for building stairs with your own hands. For stairs, solid woods are chosen - larch, oak, beech, ash. Before starting construction, it is necessary to carefully calculate all dimensions, the number of steps, the angle of inclination and make a sketch. Modern computer programs are able to calculate all dimensions and parameters after entering the initial data. Such assistance will be indispensable for independent construction.
Marches of stairs can be made on stringers or bowstrings. The kosour supports the step from below, and the bowstring - from the side. The choice of type of attachment depends on the wishes of the owner. For the construction of stairs, you need to choose dry wood without knots. The tree is treated with special compounds that protect it from external influences.
Since the staircase inside the house serves not only as an engineering system, but also as a design element, it is important to decorate it beautifully. For this, wooden balusters of various shapes, carved poles and forging elements are used.
