In country houses, a staircase with a bowstring at its base is considered a classic design. The appearance of such a rise or descent is distinguished by reliability and long service life, and attractiveness due to the design features of the bowstring.
The easiest way to arrange a staircase in a house is to buy a ready-made project, which may have a bolt fastening system or a stringer, a wooden or metal frame. If you want to make the device to your taste, the owner can perform the lifting himself.
One of the most important manufacturing nuances is the template for milling the stair string with your own hands. With its help, fastening the steps into the internal grooves will be reliable and invisible from the outside.
Ladder with a bowstring
The bowstring in the structure is the main load-bearing beam. A support element of this type is used in pairs, but it is permissible to fasten one side of the structure with bolts to the wall, and fix the other on a bowstring. The string has internal grooves into which steps with or without risers are inserted.
There may be several options for attaching steps, but all of them require special grooves, which can be made using milling. Compared to the stringer at the heart of the design, the bowstring looks more massive, but is considered the safest.
The closed type of steps can add bulkiness when a riser is made, but in this case the owner has a higher feeling of comfort and safety. A similar solid model will cost more because more material is involved.
Experts recommend avoiding a steep climb when arranging the bowstring. The calculation of design parameters should take into account the height of the ceiling; if they are low, a lightweight staircase is needed. For this purpose, bolts can be used to fix one side to the wall. A string for a staircase made of wood or metal requires a large amount of free square meters.
The string contains grooves for fixing the steps. Their location inside the beam makes the fastening invisible, but due to the location of the treads, creaking or deflection appears over time. It is recommended to use wear-resistant material for the steps, and treat the grooves with anti-noise glue. The staircase wears out first in the steps, which receive the most frequent loads.
You can make a bowstring with your own hands at home and without the help of craftsmen. To do this, several grooves 2 cm deep are made in the beams, each of which is a supporting element. To avoid divergence of steps, the grooves must be exactly mirror-like and even.
You can achieve such precision that your hand does not tremble by using a workpiece. A template for milling the string of a staircase with your own hands is prepared quickly, but with strict adherence to the sequence of actions.
You can make the template yourself by nailing strips to a sheet of plywood. Milling requires a distance of 5 cm from the edge, otherwise the string will become a stringer and the ladder will not be so reliable. The grooves in the beam are made with a hand router, which will make them accurately and quickly.
Making a bowstring using a template
Milling takes place in the following sequence:
After this, the grooves are milled. You can use a jigsaw or drill. The ladder is placed on trestles, with a template attached on top. Milling is done after aligning the lines.
It’s easy enough to create your own template so you don’t have to look for a ready-made one in stores. It is necessary to select the diameter of the cutter for the grooves and the size of the copy ring in the manual router. In most tools, these parameters are standard - a 16 mm cutter and a 21 mm ring. Milling will be done according to a 2.5 mm template, a small allowance will be added for marking.
In order for the ring to be accurate, it must be rolled in, pressing one side against the stencil. This milling will allow you to achieve precision execution. A template is made according to which the bowstring groove will be milled. It indicates the step and your riser size, after which they are fastened to the string with clamps. Milling is carried out to the required depth, after which the groove for attaching the steps is ready.
You can buy a template ready-made, which will allow you to transfer the dimensions and milling grooves of the stairs onto it without complete marking. It has several stops and L-shaped clamps that hold the ladder frame and allow you to accurately make holes. The finished stencil makes it possible to work with right angles at the junction of the riser and the step. To work on the stand on the other side, the template is turned over and ready for use again.
Template for milling the string of stairs
Using a ready-made universal stencil allows you to easily and accurately vary the dimensions for different staircase structures. This can be convenient for craftsmen who manufacture and install custom stairs.
The treads in such a template vary in thickness from 18 mm to 55, while the cutter can be from 15 mm in diameter, and the copy ring can be from 27 mm in diameter. In some cases, manufacturers supply cutters of the required size in the kit.
It is impossible to imagine a self-supporting wooden staircase without a bowstring. All elements of the staircase are fixed on a string: steps, risers, railings. The bowstring is the main part for wooden structures and metal frames for various models of stairs. There are steps inside the bowstring. Therefore, it must be reliable and of high quality to ensure the safe movement of a person along the stairs. The string is located on the side of the structure. Can be installed on one or both sides, depending on the staircase model and its installation method.
The design principle of a staircase on bowstrings is generally no different from installation on stringers. The string rests on the upper and lower beams, and on them are the rest of the elements of the staircase structure. The same principle is used for constructing wooden stairs that have stringers in their structure. But, the steps of wooden stairs on bowstrings are supported in a different way. This is the difference between a ladder on bowstrings and a ladder on stringers.
Features of a wooden staircase on bowstrings:
Staircase on stringers: the steps rest on top of stringers. And the steps of the staircase on bowstrings are located between two boards - bowstrings. Under vertical load, the tread bends down slightly. Then he straightens up. At the ends of the step, at the moment of loading, a thrust appears. To ensure that the staircase structure lasts a long time and the strings do not “diverge” to the sides, a metal rod is used. It acts as a connecting element. Its diameter ranges from 8 to 12 millimeters. At the ends it has a threaded connection and nuts.
Metal stairs can be of different types. There are stairs: spiral, on bowstrings, rails, stringers. Metal is often used for the manufacture of stairs or their individual elements. It is a durable and reliable material that can withstand heavy loads. Therefore, the metal is suitable for making ladders on bowstrings. You can make and install a simple metal staircase with your own hands. A metal channel can act as a bowstring. Steps are attached to it.
The widest passage on the stairs should be at the level of the handrails and at hip height.
At the feet, at the level of the bowstring, a smaller width is required. This is used to increase the clearance between flights of stairs and can reduce the length of steps.
A metal staircase is a durable structure that can stylishly decorate the interior of a room. You will learn how to choose a staircase design, correctly calculate the parameters and make a staircase with your own hands from the material:.
A successful arrangement of the bowstring and handrails is obtained with a gap of twelve centimeters between the flights of stairs. But in this case, the handrail is slightly offset to the axis of the stairs.
The string for a metal ladder can be of any shape:
The shape and size of the bowstring depend on the design of the staircase, its purpose and overall design. The supporting elements can be made of metal, and the steps can be made of wood or other durable material. The entire staircase can be made of metal.
Steps can be attached to the string in several ways. To do this, use welding (if the staircase structure is metal) or additional fasteners (bolts, nuts, angles, brackets, screws) if the steps are made of wood (and the supporting elements are made of metal).
In this case, it is important not only how the elements of the staircase are secured to the string, but also its effectiveness.
The bowstring is the main load-bearing element of the staircase. Steps are attached to the strings. The bowstring can be in the structure of a wooden staircase or in a staircase that has a metal frame. The string is located on one side of the stairs, the other side of the step is attached to the wall. Or the ladder has bowstrings on both sides.
The bowstring can be made of different materials:
Their shape may be different. The bowstring is made according to certain sizes and standards. It must be reliable, high quality, durable. The bowstring is made from a solid or modified board. Its thickness should be 60-80 mm and width 220-240 mm.
The string must withstand not only all the stair elements that are attached to it, but also heavy loads.
The ladder can have a bowstring on one side or on both. If the flight of stairs has only one string, the second side of the steps will be attached to the wall. Bolts are installed on the side of the wall.
At home, you can make the entire staircase structure, including the wooden string. This material is less expensive than others. Metal stairs are also not expensive, but during the manufacturing process you will need special equipment (welding machine), which not everyone has. And it will be easier to secure a wooden bowstring to the floor.
Wooden railings have excellent aesthetic qualities and a long service life. We'll tell you about the correct installation of railings on the stairs in the article:.
The bowstring can be attached to the floor in two ways:
If the staircase design includes joints, then you must have experience in carpentry.
The easiest way to make load-bearing beam nodes is to use special ties. Over time, mortise joints made with glue may become loose. At the same time, the stairs will begin to creak. To prevent this from happening, use high-quality ties.
Unlike a stringer, there are no cuts in the bowstring. All fasteners are mounted to the side plane. What types of stair fastenings are there? There are several fastenings: metal corners, grooves, bars, holes.
The assembly of the staircase structure begins with the installation of strings or stringers in the span. If the staircase consists of several flights, then it is necessary to install an additional element - a support pillar. The upper part of the bowstring is attached to the post. When installing a spiral staircase, a mandatory element is a support pillar.
Initially, you need to glue the entire structure with glue. After adjusting the beams to the floor level, secure all elements using special fasteners.
Installation of the stair string occurs in several stages:
When installing a bowstring to a wall, a number of difficulties arise. In order for it to stand level and the structure of the staircase to be reliable, it is necessary to adjust the bowstring at the top. Adjusting the bowstring is a difficult and crucial moment to which you need to devote the most effort and time.
The adjustment of the bowstring in the upper part is as follows:
It is necessary to make grooves for tongues on the racks. The march is attached with screws to the bowstring, and then to the wall and also to support posts. Having such a fastening, the staircase structure will be reliable and safe for use.
The string is securely attached to two planes - to the floor of the first floor and the ceiling, or adjacent to half of the second floor. Stairs on bowstrings have a static design. Beams parallel to each other are mounted on two supports.
You can make a string for the stairs with your own hands.
To make a bowstring you will need the following:
First you need to prepare the board in order to use it as a bowstring. It is necessary to remove burrs from it, level its surface, and treat it with an antiseptic. If the board is larger than the required size, saw off the excess.
You need to prepare a string to install the steps. An ordinary long board of wood can act as a bowstring. To do this, you need to make the correct calculation, make marks and cut out nests.
You can cut open slots or closed slots. Or you can install fastening connections according to the markings.
In the latter case, metal corners are used, which act as fastening elements. They are fixed along the entire length of the reference line, which is drawn in advance.
The manufacture of stairs is carried out according to calculations. This is why they are made. You need to calculate the dimensions of all elements of the flight of stairs yourself.
Calculations are made according to certain rules, and the following must be taken into account:
The depth of the step must be optimal to ensure that the staircase is safe for use.
If you cannot provide a step depth of 28 cm due to the size of the bowstring, it is better for you to make a wider step. Then the staircase structure will not have any disadvantages.
Making a ladder with bent strings is very difficult if you do it yourself. Many models of spiral staircases have curved shapes in their structure - a bent bowstring and handrails. The railings of such stairs can be curved in all three planes.
A bent bowstring is made to specific sizes. They even use ready-made printed templates for this. They are 1:1 size. Precise markings are made on the string. It is needed for the correct installation of steps, risers and railings.
Installation of a bent bowstring occurs in several stages:
It is very difficult to make a ladder with bent strings on your own. To do this you need to have experience in carpentry. If you don’t have it, you should seek help from specialists.
You can make and install a ladder on bowstrings yourself. To do this, you must follow all installation rules, take into account the dimensions of the stair elements, and have all the necessary materials and tools. Prepare a sketch of the future staircase design and a drawing in advance. Then make a string: attach the steps and railings to it, paint or varnish the entire structure and start using the stairs.
Any staircase rests on a supporting beam, which can be made like a stringer or bowstring.
Bowstrings allow you to maximally adapt the staircase to the characteristics of a particular interior, thus making it elegant and modern.
When supported on strings, the steps are placed between adjacent boards, attached to them at their ends.
It turns out that if you attach the steps to the strings, then their ends, unlike installation on stringers, will be hidden, and the profile view of the stairs will be inclined and even. If you use only one string, then the second end of the step can be mounted into the wall. Stair steps can be with risers (closed) or without them (open), then either the horizontal part of the step or only the horizontal part is attached to the string.
The fencing of the staircase, which makes it reliable and convenient, is formed using balusters (vertical support posts), attached at the top to the railing, and at the bottom attached to the beam, with such frequency that the gap between adjacent posts does not exceed 15 cm. This ensures a safety margin. To protect it from cracking due to deformation under the influence of the environment, a wooden staircase should be made from the same types of wood with fencing and fastenings. Flights of stairs, landings, and railings are connected together by balusters, so they must be especially reliable.
For stairs supported by bowstrings, you can place balusters relative to the steps in any place, since they are mainly attached to the beams, and not to the steps. The easiest way is to attach the posts to the outside of the bowstring. Then it is enough to screw them on the side with screws, having previously drilled recesses for them, and covered them with wooden dowels on top for masking. You can put a beam on top of the edge using a baluster (a board slightly wider than the bowstring), which has a groove at the bottom the size of the width of the bowstring, onto which it fits on top. The racks are placed on the baluster from above, screwed from below with self-tapping screws. Then the structure is coated with wood glue and placed on the bowstring, fastened with clamps. Balusters can be mounted on a beam using dowels, round fastening tenons, drilling holes half their length in the posts and string so that there is no play. All dowels are tightly inserted into the holes of the posts, fixed with glue, then the railings are fastened to the bowstring with the lower halves of the dowels.
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Attaching the stands to the bowstring is possible using pins. Take tools:
Materials:
Perform in stages:
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The steps themselves are attached to the strings by cutting them into a beam or mounting them on supporting elements. These are corners or bars that are screwed to the beam with screws along the line of the tread, the horizontal parts of the steps. The treads are similarly attached to the supports with screws. You can make a staircase with steps cut into a string, in which grooves of the same (2 cm) depth are made with some indentation from the top edge, then treads with risers are inserted into them. Sometimes, using the simplest method, the steps are secured by screwing them into the end from the outside of the board.
A staircase will be reliable and stable if its strings are connected to the balusters. Then the beam consists of sections that are attached to the grooves of the balusters using protrusions. In this case, the loads from the upper parts of the strings are redistributed to the fencing posts, and when used, the entire staircase, including strings, steps and balusters, turns into a single, interconnected system.
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To make a mortise mount to a bowstring, the following tools are used:
Materials:
Perform actions:
The grooves for the steps must be made with high precision so that the stairs do not wobble or creak. In the strings of stairs with embedded steps, under them, for strength, place (every 4-5 steps) tightening metal rods or bolts at the ends of the treads, if there are no risers, i.e. viewable stairs.
If you are planning to make a wooden staircase yourself, but have never encountered such work before, do it with bowstrings, as this is the simplest design option. But it must be properly designed and assembled correctly. And then we will tell you in detail how a wooden staircase on bowstrings is made.
We will divide the work on making the stairs into four steps:
Stairs on a bowstring are a marching structure. True, they also exist on a bent string, but they are also very difficult to make.
It is impossible to make such a design at home, especially for a beginner, so we will not consider them.
First of all, let's figure out what a bowstring is and how the construction of a ladder on a bowstring differs from other similar structures.
So, the string of a wooden staircase is, in fact, a beam to which the steps are attached. The peculiarity of the bowstring is that it is absolutely flat, i.e. has no cutouts for treads and risers. As a result, the steps are fixed between the beams, and not placed on them, as is the case with the use of stringers.
Stairs made of wood on bowstrings are simpler to manufacture due to the fact that you do not need to make cutouts for the steps. True, you still can’t do without markings, which are applied equally to all types of beams.
In order for the stairs to be safe, they must be performed according to certain rules that are common to all stairs:
Note! The height and depth of the step are interrelated, since the distance between the steps in a straight line should be equal to a human step, which on average is 600-640 mm. Therefore, as the height increases, it is necessary to decrease the depth, and, accordingly, vice versa.
To calculate the structure taking into account these requirements, first of all, you need to measure its height. If you are making an internal staircase, for example, to the second floor, its height will be equal to the distance from floor to floor. Let's say in our case this parameter is 2.5 m.
Let's take the average optimal height - 17 cm. Knowing this value, let's calculate how many steps our staircase will have - 250/17 = 14.7. Since we need an integer, we will adjust the height to 250/15=166~165 mm.
To calculate the length of the projection of the structure onto the floor, we multiply the resulting depth by the number of steps 290x15 = 4350 mm. Knowing the height and length of the structure, it will not be difficult to calculate the length of the march.
Note! This is done according to the Pythagorean theorem, since the length of the march is the hypotenuse, and the length of the projection and height are the legs.
After the calculation, it is necessary to decide on the nuances of the design. Usually wooden stairs are made on one string or two strings.
The design on one beam looks more “airy” and unusual, but it is much more difficult to make it strong and reliable, so we do not recommend that beginners undertake the manufacture of such a staircase.
There are several ways to secure steps between them:
Note! The most reliable is a wooden staircase on strings with insets, but its manufacture requires a router. If you don’t have such a tool, it’s easier to secure the steps with blocks.
Draw all the nuances of the future design on paper and indicate its dimensions. Of course, working on the project will take some time, but having even the simplest drawing in front of your eyes will make your task somewhat easier.
To make a flight of stairs we will need the following materials:
The manufacture of stairs using wooden bowstrings is carried out in the following sequence:
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We begin work by making markings. We draw lines for the location of the steps at an angle equal to the angle of inclination of the beam, so that after its installation the steps are positioned strictly horizontally. |
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Next, using a router, we make recesses with a depth of at least 2 cm. If you don't have a router, you can make cuts and then remove the excess wood with a chisel. |
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Cut the bottom edge of the beams at the same angle as the steps will be located, which will allow the structure to rest securely on the floor. Cut the top edge so that in the working position the cutting line is vertical. This will allow the march to rest on the ceiling. |
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Install the first beam with your own hands, securing it to the ceiling and floor using corners and anchors. If the floor is wooden, use self-tapping screws instead of anchors. |
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Install the second load-bearing part of the march in the same way as the first. During its installation, make sure that the reciprocal grooves for the steps are located in the same horizontal plane. |
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Mark the board along the length of the step and cut it. Use this step as a template for cutting the remaining boards. |
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To ensure that the steps fit freely into the grooves, sand their ends. |
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Apply wood glue to the grooves. Try to ensure that it completely covers the surfaces of the groove. |
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After treating the grooves with glue, insert the steps. |
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Drill through holes opposite each other in the beams under the steps. The hole pitch should be a meter and a half. |
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Tighten the beams with pins, as shown in the photo, so that they do not move apart during operation. |
This completes the assembly and fastening of the wooden ladder on bowstrings. The result is a rigid, durable and reliable march, which now only needs fencing and finishing.
If you will attach the steps with bars, use a beam with a cross section of 40x40 mm. Each block must be secured with at least three screws. Then simply lay the boards on the bars and secure with self-tapping screws.
Advice! It is advisable to screw the screws in from below so that the installation is hidden. In this case, you will not have to putty their caps.
As a rule, fencing for stairs is made of wood. The easiest way is to buy ready-made shaped posts and handrails. The structure can be assembled using dowels and wood glue.
The price of a finished fence will average about 2000-2500 rubles, if, of course, the posts and handrail are made of the cheapest types of wood, such as pine and spruce.
But in order for the wooden staircase on bowstrings to be made with your own hands from start to finish, you can install a simple but quite nice fencing made of boards, which is done as follows:
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Prepare a post from 70x70 mm timber and install it at the base of the march. If you have a router, make grooves for the boards. Attach the same post to the top of the flight. |
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Secure two boards to the supports by inserting them into the grooves or tightening them with bolts. The top board will serve as a handrail, and the bottom will serve as infill. |
The instructions for finishing the finished product are quite simple:
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Prepare the product for painting:
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Treat the surface of the structure with parquet varnish using a paint brush. After the first layer has dried, be sure to apply a second coat of varnish. To achieve the “glass” effect, apply a third layer of coating (read more). |
Advice! If there are cracks or other imperfections on the surface of the product, be sure to fill them with acrylic putty and then sand them. Select the putty to match the color of the wood. If it is not possible to match the material, it can be tinted.
That's all we wanted to tell you about how wooden ladders with bowstrings are made at home.
Now you know how wooden ladders on bowstrings are designed and made independently. The main thing is to do the work carefully and slowly, and then the product will delight you for many years. Finally, we recommend watching the video in this article to visually familiarize yourself with the process.
To understand what stairs are, just look at the end of the product. The string is a support beam on which the steps of the future staircase are mounted. The strength and quality of the entire march depends on how accurately this part is designed. It is very popular as a staircase base because has a long service life. Let's look at the main characteristics of the product in more detail.
Wooden ladder on bowstrings
The difference between a bowstring and a stringer
Most wooden stairs are attached to, or. – a curved beam that supports the steps only from below. To fix the treads in the stringer, cuts are made under them. This design has a high load-bearing capacity and saves space.
The staircase is not a more massive product. To install the treads, two beams and special bars are used. To increase the strength of the structure, cords are installed under the steps
The advantages of the ladder include:
Depending on the operational characteristics of the future flight, the appropriate type for the staircase is selected.
It can be the main part of a self-supporting wooden staircase, or an element of a metal welded frame. In any case, the blanks are divided into several varieties. Depending on the shape of the bowstring there are:
In the manufacture of the main fastener element, various materials are used. In today's market, bent glued blanks for spiral staircases are increasingly found. They are made from high-strength wooden plates glued together to increase load-bearing capacity. Other most popular materials for making bowstrings are:
Wooden models are made from dense wood: pine, cedar, oak, larch, mahogany, Oregon and Brazilian pine. When making steps, coniferous wood is not used due to their low wear resistance.
They also differ in the fastening system of the steps:
Single flight wooden staircase
The best material for making stairs is wood. This is the most environmentally friendly, cheapest and easiest to use material. Even a novice carpenter can build a wooden staircase on bowstrings. Before you start making the structure, you need to choose the most suitable option for your room. There are several models of ladders on a bowstring:
A single-flight staircase is considered the simplest design. It is built both on and on a bowstring. To make a single-flight model, it is necessary to carefully select lumber. The length and width of the beams should be such that splicing is not required when making the bowstring. It weakens the strength of the structure and the ladder may collapse under its own weight.
After choosing a staircase model, builders calculate the required number of steps, their size and frequency. This can be done using an online construction calculator. At the preparation stage, the useful width of the march is also determined. It is calculated “in the gap,” that is, between the handrail and the wall.
Having decided on the design parameters, installers proceed to marking. On the prepared beams, the lines of future grooves are marked in a mirror manner. The points on should coincide as much as possible. Otherwise, the steps will not fit into the grooves smoothly. The grooves are cut on the inside of the bowstring using a router. The depth of each should not exceed 2 cm.
Step-by-step assembly of ladders on bowstrings.
A tread is driven into each recess - the horizontal part of the step. Depending on the width of the step 80, 100, 120 cm, boards with a thickness of 4, 5, 6 cm are selected. Depending on the project plan, a riser (step height) can be attached to the tread. The parts of the step can be connected using a groove, screws, fasteners, or a triangular strip and glue.
Examples of joining step parts
After all the steps are installed on one of the strings, the second one is pressed on the other side. The builders hammer it with a wooden hammer to drive all the gaps into the grooves.
They can be connected to each other by additional fastening structures - cords. Depending on the expected load on the stairs, builders choose steel, wood or screw ties. The metal fastening prevents the sidewalls from moving apart, so it is installed at the beginning, middle and end of the flight. Wooden strands are driven in every 5 steps.
Installation of strands in a flight of stairs.
The finished product is lifted to the ceiling and attached to the support and load-bearing beams. At the final stage, railings and balusters are attached to the stairs.
When installing a ladder for the first time, the builder may make mistakes in the calculations. To avoid problems with the manufacture and installation of spans, it is useful to know a few construction tricks:
Video tutorials on making ladders on bowstrings
Scheme of a finished staircase on bowstrings
Video tutorials will help you build a one-flight staircase on a bowstring with your own hands. They describe in detail the phased construction of a wooden structure.
1 step. Marking
Step 2. Sorting of workpieces
Step 3. Marking grooves on steps
Step 4 Milling grooves
Step 5 Selection of materials
Step 6 Rough assembly of the stairs
Today, ready-made ladders on bowstrings can be purchased at most hardware stores. However, making a structure with your own hands will not only help you save money, but will also not be difficult. One person can handle the project of a wooden single-flight staircase.
