How to make a staircase to the attic yourself: plans and calculations. The device of the mid-flight stairs and the “Duck Step” design. Options for the design of stairs to the attic How to place the stairs to the attic inside the house

In their homes, most people, not wanting to lose the usable area of ​​the attic, convert it into a living attic space. To climb into such a room, you need a safe and comfortable staircase. In order not to make a mistake when choosing, you need to know what are the attic stairs in terms of design and materials of manufacture, where it is best to place it in your home, and what dimensions to take into account when calculating the staircase structure.

Stair structures to the attic floor, according to the type of placement, are divided into two types:

• outdoor
• internal

An external staircase to the attic is located on the street side of the building and provides us with a separate entrance. The construction of such a staircase structure is advisable if the owner of the room needs to get inside without disturbing the residents. In a small house, the staircase to the attic from the street will not clutter up the living space with its design. To avoid unnecessary financial costs, it is best to design the entrance opening for an external staircase at the stage of building a house.

The internal staircase structure is located inside the building, the most common placement option, since you have access to the attic directly from the inside of the house. With the right choice of design and a convenient location, such a staircase design can become a highlight of your interior.

Types of attic stairs by design

There are six main types of stairs to the attic:

1. Single-march - a simple design that you can make with your own hands, consists of a straight flight of stairs, located at an angle. This design is not suitable for all types of houses, since for a comfortable tilt angle, which is 20-45 degrees, it is necessary to have a ceiling height of no more than 2.5 meters. With large dimensions in height, the stairs will have a steep and unsafe descent. The construction of this staircase will require a more gentle opening in the ceiling, which will lead to a decrease in the living area of ​​the attic room.

1. Two-flight - a comfortable staircase suitable for spacious rooms, consists of flights of stairs and a turntable, which is located at an angle of 90 or 180 degrees. With the correct placement of the platform, you can set the appropriate angle of inclination, which will ensure safe and comfortable descent and ascent. It is more expedient to place such a ladder structure in a corner to save space.

1. With winder steps - in this design, the turntable is replaced by trapezoidal steps, the placement of which occurs with the narrow side towards the center of the stairs. Due to this, this type of construction takes up much less space than one or two mid-flight stairs.

1. The spiral staircase to the attic, due to its design consisting of winders attached to the support post, looks elegant and compact, suitable for small spaces. For various types of such a design, 1 sq. meters of living space. It is very easy to stumble on small structures. It must be taken into account that climbing in a spiral in the elderly may become dizzy, and such stairs require additional lighting and more reliable railings. It is impossible to lift bulky items to the attic on it, consider this point, if you need to furnish a room, it is better to do this before installing a spiral staircase.

1. Involute stairs - they look very elegant and original; in terms of design features, they are an average solution between spiral and mid-flight options. This design is mounted on a curved metal or wooden kosour, which is very difficult to manufacture on its own, and therefore such a ladder is a rather expensive option.

1. Folding ladders are a mechanism consisting of sections that fold or slide into each other. When folded, they are placed in the staircase box and closed with a hatch from the side of the room, thanks to which the room is thermally insulated and there is no need to make additional insulation of the stairwell. This type of construction is more suitable if the house is small or you do not plan to constantly use the attic, for example, only in the summer.

What to make a staircase for your interior

The staircase to the attic floor is an important and exclusive part of the interior, which is the focus of attention when choosing an outdoor one, and is also an important architectural element. When choosing a material, be guided by the interior of the house and your preferences.

Common types of materials in the manufacture of staircases are:

• Wood
• Metal
• Concrete (stone)
• Glass

1. A wooden staircase to the attic looks beautiful in any interior, giving extra comfort to the room. For self-manufacturing of stairs, wood is the most suitable material that is easy to work with at home. When choosing a staircase made of wood, you must take into account that wooden steps should not be too smooth, as polished or varnished increases the chance of slipping and falling down the stairs.
2. Metal stair structures in the interior look refined and refined, their characteristics are durable and reliable, and do not require constant maintenance. Metal stairs can be given any kind of design, from artistic forging to chrome plating of individual parts or the entire structure. If you are not familiar with welded business, then this ladder to the attic with your own hands becomes a difficult task at home.
3. Concrete or stone, very heavy and massive, give a strong load on the foundation or floor slabs. Stairs made of such material look bulky in wooden houses, the best place to install it is in brick houses or outside the building. A staircase made of such material will have to be tiled or plastered and painted, which will lead to financial costs.
4. Glass - this is a combined model, consisting of a metal stringer and glass steps, which visually give lightness to the structure. Practical and durable, but requires constant care of the glass. Quite expensive staircase structures, steps will have to be bought in specialized stores.

How to build an attic staircase with your own hands

Before starting work, questions arise, where to start and how to make a staircase to the attic. If you have already decided on the design, then you need to choose the material, the most suitable and affordable material for the manufacture of stairs is wood. Hardwood is chosen, as it will have to withstand a serious load, and repeatedly.

We bring all the wooden material for the stairs into the room where we are going to directly build the staircase structure, and store it for two to three days, this is necessary so that the material is at the same temperature and humidity with the room and takes the final dimensions.

Choosing a place to install the stairs

The choice of installation site depends on the use of the attic, permanent or temporary (seasonal), if it is a living room with permanent use, then the ideal installation site is the entrance hall or living room. It is best to install the ladder structure near or along the far wall (depending on the chosen design), with this arrangement, the usable area is saved, and does not interfere with moving around the room.

Placement of the staircase structure, for temporary or seasonal use of the attic room, the veranda is best suited, it will act as a vestibule, which will prevent cool air from entering the living space, and installing an external staircase structure from the street is also a good solution.

The main parameters when calculating the stairs

For safety and convenient movement, there are norms for the permissible dimensions of the elements of the ladder structure:

• slope of mid-flight stairs -20-40°
• width of stairs not less than 80-100 cm
• width (depth) of the step - 20-32 cm (optimally - 27 cm)
• narrow part of the winder - at least 10 cm
• riser height - 15 - 20 cm

Drawing up a drawing and an example of calculating a ladder

This calculation scheme is applicable for single-flight stair structures made of various materials, be it concrete, wood or metal.

We measure the total height of the lift - the distance from the level of the clean floor of the lower floor to the level of the clean floor of the attic floor, for example, take equal to 260 cm.

We calculate the number of steps, for this we divide the total height of the rise by the height of the riser, take 18 cm (allowable 15-19 cm), we get 260/18 = 14.44 pcs. The result is rounded up to the integer 14.

Therefore, the real height of the steps (from the top of the lower step to the top of the upper step) will not be 18 cm, but 18.57 cm (260/14).

We calculate the length of the march, take the number of steps and multiply by their width 27 cm (permissible 20-32 cm), we get 14 * 27 = 405 cm.

Having made these calculations, we transfer the obtained dimensions of the stairs to the attic to the drawing.

The height of the space above your head is the distance from the lower edge of the attic floor to the steps. For unhindered passage along the staircase, according to GOST, this distance must be at least 185 cm. If this distance is less than the permissible one, then it is necessary to reduce the length of the march by reducing the number of steps and increasing their height.

We calculate the length of the stringer, for this the Pythagorean formula h2 + l2 \u003d k2 is suitable

l - march length

h - lifting height

k - stringer

We get k=√(h2 +l2)=√(2.62 +4.052) =4.81. It is better to take the length with a margin and round up to 5 m.

We calculate the width of the stringer - multiply the size of the riser by 2, we get 17.85 * 2 = 35.7 cm.

Video - calculation of a metal ladder structure.

Installation of an attic staircase

The wooden elements of the staircase structure must be treated with special compounds (impregnations) that give the material resistance to fire and protection from moisture, and also varnished, we do all this after their manufacture, but before the start of installation work.

Work begins with the preparation of stringers, for this we take two boards 5 meters long, this size is taken from the above calculations. Using a square or a template, we mark the slots, draw the places for cutting future steps and number them.

Making a template:

• take a small sheet of plywood
• from the corners we measure the width of the tread and the height of the riser
• the obtained marks are connected by a line
• on both sides, along the lines made, we fasten the rails
• we apply the made template to the stringer in such a way that the slats prevent displacement, and mark up

We use the finished first kosour as a template to make the second kosour.

After the slots have been made, we apply two stringers to each other and check them for an exact match, this is necessary for a stable and reliable design.

To install and secure the stringers, we prepare a support for them. In the ceiling of the attic floor (at the end of the staircase), we make grooves or fix an additional beam on which the stringers will rest. Grooves are easier to make in a wooden floor, and in concrete slabs it is better to attach an additional wooden beam. The stringers are fastened from above and below, so we need two beams. In the prepared beams, we make a gash under the grooves, stepping back from the edges by 7 cm. The width of the gash should be equal to the width of the stringer.

When selecting and installing a support (platform) beam, take into account such dimensions as the minimum section equal to 5 × 8 cm. These section dimensions exclude the thinning of the structure when cutting grooves for the stringer in it.

Having done the above work, we proceed directly to the assembly. We insert the finished stringers into the grooves and fix them with hardware, dowels or studs. We fasten the kosour located along the wall to it with the help of anchors or long self-tapping screws. The next assembly step is the installation of steps and risers, fixing occurs in one of the following ways:

1. cutting
2. screws
3. dowels

The final step is the installation of balusters and railings. Thanks to our step-by-step instructions, a do-it-yourself attic staircase is a completely feasible project, if you follow the sequence of work and make accurate calculations.

You can expand the space of the house by completing the attic. This is a convenient option that can become a real decoration of the yard. The attic is always located on the second floor, so a staircase is required for such a building.

Peculiarities

Different ladders have their own advantages and disadvantages. But there are also common features that are characteristic of all.

Firstly, a staircase with a wide platform allows you to further increase the space used for living. This is very convenient, regardless of whether a large family lives in the room or a small one.

If a small staircase with narrow spans is chosen, then this, on the contrary, saves space. That is why the owners of small rooms prefer screw or lifting models.

Secondly, a beautiful staircase and a properly designed entrance to the room will become a real decoration of a private house. Wide steps and railings, decorated with forged elements or carvings, will perfectly complement the corresponding interior.

And finally, the stairs leading to the attic are a traditional element that does not become obsolete over time. Like many decades ago, they are used to decorate houses, even with a small area.

materials

Stairs leading to the attic, as a rule, are metal and wooden. The first option is perfect for the manufacture of outdoor structures. If you cover the surface of the metal with additional protective agents, then it will not lose its attractiveness over time and will not be covered with a layer of rust.

Wood is more often used in the manufacture of stairs that are indoors. Wood is a fairly versatile material. On the one hand, wooden stairs can be built independently, on the other hand, wood is short-lived and flammable. Moisture usually has a negative effect on such raw materials.

Types of structures and dimensions

There are two main types of stairs: spiral and mid-flight. The former are considered more compact, but the latter look more attractive.

marching

If there is a lot of free space in the room, then it is better to give preference to wide mid-flight stairs. They are not only beautiful and comfortable, but also safe. On such stairs, not only an adult will feel comfortable, but also a baby who has only recently learned to walk.

The most beautiful option is a comfortable two-flight ladder leading to the second floor. But if there is not enough space for such a design, the volume can be limited to a single-march variation.

Some designers adapt the space under the stairs under the closet. You can also install a custom-made cabinet or shelves there.

screw

The second type of stairs is used a little less often. The fact is that making them with your own hands is much more difficult, and moving around them can be quite difficult. But, if you want to decorate your home with such an unusual design, then it is quite possible to make it to order or choose the right option in a furniture store.

Stairs also differ in location. In some cases it is more convenient to put it inside the house, in others - outside.

outdoor

Outdoor stairs make them durable materials. The most common of them are stone, metal or wood. Despite the apparent fragility of this material, sometimes preference is given to wooden stairs. If you additionally treat them with a protective coating, then they can last no less than the same stone or metal structures.

True, outdoor wooden stairs have a significant minus. They are quite difficult to clean. But even here you can find a way out. For example, use a retractable or lean-to ladder. It can be removed for a while and used only when it is really needed.

Internal

It takes longer to think about a project of such a design. It should be not only comfortable, but also aesthetically attractive. It is difficult to combine everything in one model, but, as practice shows, it is possible. Inside the house they put either spiral staircases or multifunctional ones with used space under them.

lifting

Such a staircase, as a rule, is also located indoors and leads to the attic. For those who store some temporarily unused things in the attic, or rarely visit this additional room, such a model will do just fine.

The device of such a staircase allows you to save free space and use the room on the first floor completely. There are folding and retractable models. The first fold like an accordion, and the second, if necessary, rise and fall. Such a simple design is surprisingly useful in everyday life.

Design Options

Like any detail in the interior of a modern house, the staircase should be its decoration. Now there are many interesting design options. Some of them are very modern, others, on the contrary, are stylized antique.

Many designers prefer to use mid-flight stairs with wide steps and beautiful railings in the interior. This move leaves a lot of room for creativity. Handrails can be decorated, for example, with carvings, if a wooden base is used. And metal or stone stairs will be decorated with elegant forging.

A spiral staircase can also be original. By itself, this design looks unusual. Therefore, making a choice in favor of a spiral staircase, you can emphasize your good taste and love for beautiful things. A model of this type resembles a spiral, so it should not be richly decorated. Too many decorations will merge together, which will spoil the overall impression of the structure.

Separately, it is worth noting that for living quarters and places for meeting with guests, as a rule, different stairs are chosen. In the living room, for example, I want to put a luxurious, richly decorated model. But in the corridor or hallway, you can get by with simpler options.

Where to place?

There are several options for the location of the stairs. It all depends on the size of the room and the features of its use. For example, if there is so little space in the house, you want to save every free centimeter. In this case, it is much more rational to choose an outdoor model, while maintaining free space inside the room.

If there is enough space, then you can even allocate a separate room for an attic staircase. Such tambour rooms, as a rule, are made quite small, and their arrangement and design are not thoroughly thought through. The only requirement is that the room be warm and comfortable. The presence of a vestibule is especially good if you do not want children to go to the attic, or if it simply is not heated. It is enough just to hang a lock on the door and close it tightly, and the cold will not penetrate into the house, and the way to the attic will be closed for children.

When there is no opportunity to put a ladder in a small separate room, you have to use the free space of one of the rooms. As a rule, this is a hallway, a little less often - a living room. In this case, the transition from the first floor to the second should be beautifully decorated. You have to choose the model of stairs that matches the style of the interior of the room, and think about how to use the space under it.

The best layout option is to put a ladder near the far wall of the living space. Ideally, from the side of the street, because in this case you will not have to sit or sleep next to a cold wall.

As a rule, it is advised to trust the installation of stairs to professionals. But it often happens that the owners want to do everything with their own hands. This is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to use simple tips.

Firstly, when planning a construction with your own hands, you always need to think over a full-fledged project and calculate everything. First of all, the location of the stairs is determined. A lot depends on this in the future.

If the house is small, then you should not choose massive luxurious stairs.

Although they look really impressive, they always disappoint the owners of small rooms, leaving no free space for installing sofas, tables and other important pieces of furniture.

The second thing to do is prepare all the necessary tools. Their choice depends on what materials the staircase is made of and on the skills of the master. All structural details, as a rule, are made in several stages, and only then are they assembled together. This also applies to stairs in several openings, and spiral or single-flight.

When the foundation is made, you need to take care of your safety. Any staircase should be not only beautiful, but also comfortable and safe. In order to make it such, it is necessary to use handrails or other additional fences, if necessary.

Finally, the building can be decorated, but this is an optional step. Especially if the budget is too limited, or the stairs are used where almost no one sees them.

Beautiful examples in the interior

Houses with several floors with a beautiful attic staircase are considered a sign of luxury. So, every detail in such a building should look appropriate. The same applies to outdoor structures, because they largely change the exterior of the site. It is difficult to understand how you can turn your ideas into reality without any experience. To make things easier, you can look at real examples.

Staircase to the attic

The equipment of an additional room in the attic is a good option for increasing the living space in the house. After the attic has become residential, care must be taken to install a beautiful staircase to the attic. Even when designing, it is necessary to consider where the attic staircase will be installed, what kind it will have, and what material it will be made of.

Types of attic staircases

At the place of installation, the attic staircase can be internal or external. The internal ladder structure is the most used option, but takes up a lot of space. The external staircase for the attic is mounted from the outside of the buildings, it is an element of the facade of the building. By type of construction stairs to the attic are:

• Single-flight staircase to the attic. Such an attic staircase is easy to manufacture and install.

• Two-flight (turning) staircase for the attic.

• With running steps. In this case, the turntable is replaced by steps in the form of a trapezoid. Such an attic staircase takes up less space than a two-flight staircase.

• Screw. This type of attic structure occupies a minimum of space, is the most acceptable option. A spiral attic staircase will add originality to any interior. A helical attic structure is assembled from winders, which are mounted on a supporting pole.

• Foldable. This is the most economical type of construction. It is used in the case when attic stairs are rarely used. The folding staircase to the attic consists of separate sections and fits into the ceiling hatch. It is easy to install, easy to operate, small space occupied, reliable and simple.

Material selection

The main material for the manufacture of stairs to the attic is wood, less often metal and very rarely stone. Sometimes the march to the attic is combined, when the bowstring is made of metal, and the steps are made of wood.

Inside the house, a wooden staircase for the attic is more often used. Wooden staircase can be of any type and shade. Wood is environmentally friendly, reliable, easy to process. The lumber prepared for work must be even, free of knots, cracks and deformations.

The staircase to the attic, made of metal, is mainly installed indoors. Such an attic structure is reliable in operation and is characterized by high strength.

An attic staircase made of stone is installed outside the building. It is reliable, made thoroughly. After installation, the stone staircase structure is plastered and painted in the color of the building's facade.

Marching design and calculation of elements

The attic staircase is the easiest to build. It may have one or more spans. In order for the flight of stairs to be operated for a long period, it is necessary to carry out the correct calculation of all elements during the design:

• The bowstring and kosour are the main load-bearing elements of the entire structure. An attic ladder on bowstrings is the most used option. The bowstring is either made of wood or metal. A bowstring made of wood is most often used, as it is easy to process and install. The recommended dimensions of a bowstring made of wood are: length - 2000-5500 mm, width - from 350 mm, thickness - from 25 to 50 mm. The stairs to the attic with stringers look prettier, but are difficult to manufacture and install. For installation, you need to know what length and height it will be, the depth of its steps, the height of the riser.

• Steps and risers. They are made from a flat, processed board, with a width of 0.2 to 0.3 m, based on the free space allotted for the flight of stairs. All steps must be sanded, cuts and irregularities removed. The risers are selected in height, in the range from 15 to 20 cm.

• Number of steps. The length of the flight of stairs must be divided by the allowable step height. If the ladder structure has 18 steps or more, it is recommended to make a U-turn platform.
• Turnaround area. The attic staircase can be rotated 90 and 180 degrees, based on the shape of the stairs. The width of the landing should be the same as the width of the flight of stairs. It is necessary to provide for a platform length of more than 1 meter, which is commensurate with the length of a person's step. This will ensure normal movement around the site.

• Steepness. The slope of the flight of stairs should be in the range of 30 to 45 degrees. This meets the conditions for its safe use and ergonomics. When the slope is more than 45 degrees, carrying heavy things and moving people will be very inconvenient. With a slope of less than 30 degrees, the stairs to the attic will turn out to be longer and take up a lot of free space.

• Structure length. To calculate it, you need to take the fastening points of the march in the floor and lower floors. Having received the height and width of the structure, we calculate its length using the hypotenuse formula of a right triangle.

March installationladder construction

This installation order is typical. The set for attic stairs includes a bowstring, balusters with railings, treads, risers. To install the bowstring, grooves are equipped in the upper ceiling for its installation. Sometimes these grooves are not performed, but metal stoppers are mounted and tightly fixed. In the place of the lower attachment of the bowstring at the level of the first step, a locking bar is installed and fastened to the floor so that even minimal movement is excluded when the ladder is loaded. Installation of steps is extremely simple. The grooves prepared for the steps in the bowstring must be smeared with adhesive and the risers should be installed. After that, you need to make sure that the risers are aligned with the edge, and attach them with nails or self-tapping screws. Treads can be laid on the fixed risers and fixed. Glue in this situation does not allow the steps to creak.

Advice! For ease of use, it is recommended to start the installation of steps on attic stairs from the first lower step.

When installing balusters, you need to ensure that they are all installed at the same height.. To do this, you need to mount identical balusters on the first and last steps, stretch a rope between them and install the remaining balusters along the line of the stretched rope. On the fixed balusters, handrails are installed and attached, which can be made of different materials. The assembled attic stairs are polished again. Polished stairs are opened with impregnations that repel water and protective agents against wood insects. Installation of a mid-flight ladder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs53sgwpvEo

Screw design, the order of its installation

A screw attic design looks more attractive, but its production and installation are much more expensive than direct marching ones. When installing a spiral staircase in the attic, a carrier column is most often used, where trapezoidal steps are mounted on the axis one after the other. For stability and reliability, the column is set exactly vertically and concreted at the base. Cylinders are cut from a pipe, which is several millimeters larger than the column in diameter. Steps are attached to the cylinders and mounted on a pole. After the steps are put on the axial pole, they are set to the desired angles and attached to the pole. The tread should be from 10 cm deep at the post and up to 40 cm at the outside. The riser should have an average height of 20 cm. The staircase to the attic is equipped with a railing. Standard railings have a height of 1 meter, which can be increased if necessary. When installing screw structures for the attic, do not forget that all of them are limited in use due to design features. Installation of a spiral staircase https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIAhjFjVWf4

The attic floor in a small house increases the usable area, but to use it as a living space, a convenient staircase is needed. It can be arranged outside, which somewhat reduces the functionality of the second floor. The internal passage upstairs turns it into a full-fledged living space. The market offers beautiful, reliable designs, but it is difficult to choose the exact size. Not everyone can afford to order. A do-it-yourself attic staircase is ideal. You can choose the most suitable type, material, calculate the optimal dimensions.

Selecting a product type - what should be considered?

Having decided to arrange a permanent staircase from the room to the attic, determine its location. If there is someone's bedroom on the second floor and you need a separate passage, then it's a good idea to place it outside. At the same time, the likelihood of intruders entering the house increases.

Most prefer to arrange stairs indoors. The limited area puts forward the requirement of a compact design. If you correctly calculate the location and all dimensions, then it will not take up much space, but will be a convenient, beautiful and reliable element of the interior. The best material for an attic staircase is wood.

How to choose the shape and type?

All stationary stairs are divided into groups. The first includes marching, consisting of one section, as well as two or more. A straight line with a single span takes up too much space, so it is preferable to arrange platforms or turns - winder steps.

Stairs of a spiral (spiral) type are twisted around a central pillar or rest with one edge on a wall. They are arranged with a strong shortage of free space. It is not very convenient to use, especially for the elderly, and even dangerous for small children. Lifting furniture and appliances on them is problematic. Manufacturing is labor intensive and requires careful calculations.

Another factor to consider is the frame. The most popular load-bearing element is the stringers. They are beams with cut out openings for steps that rest on them. Another method of fastening is a bowstring, in which recesses are made, where support pads are inserted.

It should be borne in mind that the design on the stringers takes up less space, it is more durable. All load is on the supports. Bowstrings play a supporting role, holding the steps together.

Between the two load-bearing elements at the top and bottom, a coupler of threaded studs is arranged so that the structure does not loosen.

Optimal location

The experience of professionals suggests the best places for arranging stairs to the attic:

• choose the part of the house that is used less than others;
• the platform is more economical in terms of space and manufacture than winder steps;
• a metal staircase is installed 1.5 years after the construction of the house, when it shrinks completely;
• make sure that a hole can be made in the ceiling for access to the attic floor.

An important role is played by the angle of inclination: a design with a large inclination takes up less space. On the other hand, too steep a rise is inconvenient - it is difficult for the sick and the elderly to use. The optimal value is from 27 to 40 degrees.

With any steepness, the distance from the step to the ceiling is at least 2 meters, so that a person does not touch the ceiling with his head.

Calculation of product parameters - span and steps width, height, length

After determining the angle of inclination, the width of the flight of stairs is selected. 125 cm is considered the most comfortable, but in a house with a limited area and a small number of residents, they are useless. For one person, 90 cm is enough, and if there are rarely tenants in the house, then 70 cm at all.

Determination of the dimensions of the marching stairs

Step parameters require special attention. Usually they consist of two parts: treads to support the foot and risers, on which the height depends. It is missing in some versions.

There are formulas by which you can calculate the dimensions, determine which are the most convenient and safe. The result will still be something like this: height 17 cm, width 27–28. It is not always possible to adhere to the optimal values. They are changed in one direction and the other, but one should not go beyond: the height of the steps is from 15 to 22 cm, the width is at least 22 cm, maximum 40. For ease of use, an odd number is chosen.

At the next stage, they find out the height of the stairs: they measure the distance from the base to the attic floor. From this value, the number of steps is calculated. The total height is divided by the number of steps. For example, with a staircase height of 2.9 m and steps of 17 cm, 17 platforms will be needed.

The length is calculated by multiplying the number of steps (minus one) by their width. In the example: 16×27= 432. These are quite large sizes. If you reduce the steps to a minimum value of 22 cm, then 16 × 22 = 352. But this is not the only way to change the parameters of the stairs.

Products with turns - platforms and winder steps

Direct single-march construction requires a fairly large space. With its lack in a small house, products with turns are built. A platform is arranged between the two spans. Its length is from 100 cm, and the width is equal to the stairs.

When turning with the help of winder steps, they are satisfied with at least three. Requirements for them:

• wide edge from 40 cm, in the middle part at least 20;
• rotation is carried out with a radius of 30 cm;
• for a comfortable ride, the winder steps gradually follow the span line.

The minimum width of the tread from the narrow edge is 14 cm. Then the dimensions of the middle part, along which they mainly move, will be sufficient for the human foot.

Spiral design - calculation features

A spiral staircase consists of steps arranged in a circle with different edge widths. It occupies a much smaller area, and this is its advantage. There is a support post in the center, and treads around the circumference. Their length is equal to the radius of the entire structure. The height of the steps are calculated similarly to the marching stairs.

When arranging a spiral staircase, take into account important factors:

• the length of the tread and the width of the span are equal to the distance from the rack to their border;
• steps have a trapezoidal shape with a minimum width of 20 cm on the narrow side and a maximum width of 40 cm on the opposite side;
• for convenient ascent and descent, the height of the tread is made as small as possible;
• the vertical turns are arranged at a height equal to two diameters.

"Goose step" - the most compact ladder

The name was given due to the original shape of the treads. They are installed in a small house when significant space savings are required, slope from 45° to 65°. Only half of the step is wide, the second is the minimum size. First determine the angle, then carry out the rest of the calculations, taking into account the following:

• for leg support, the width of the step is 30 cm, it can be less;
• the dimensions of the narrow side depend on the strength of the chosen material;
• the height of the tread is 15 cm, you should not increase it much - it is unsafe for people.

Structurally, the staircase to the attic "goose step" is made in the form of a marching or spiral staircase.

Bases - manufacturing process

The support for spans are stringers. This is the simplest and most reliable design. But its manufacture should be approached responsibly: the slightest error, and the steps will be crooked. A board 80 × 160 is sawn off in length with a margin.

The most delicate operation is to machine the ends at the right angle so that they fit snugly against the floor and floor beam. The workpiece is loosely fixed at the location of the future location of the kosour and the upper part is sawn off so that it stands on the side of the ceiling. Then the same operation is done with the lower end.

It should be borne in mind that the first time it is unlikely that it will be possible to accurately cut off and will have to be repeated. It is important not to cut off the excess.

The kosour is divided along the length into three parts, not necessarily absolutely equal. According to the marks (there are two of them), horizontal lines are drawn using the level. Now each segment is divided into equal parts, the number of which corresponds to the number of steps. Draw along the horizontal marks.

A line is drawn along the entire board, departing from the edge of 50 mm or more. At its intersection with horizontal markings, angles are formed from which verticals are drawn. Remove the temporarily fixed board, check the distances, if necessary, make changes. The finished kosour is laid on the second board and an exact copy is cut out.

The marking of the bowstring is carried out in a similar way. Only instead of cutting out pieces of the beam, it is required to make grooves in it for the steps. It is better to work with a portable router. The use of hand tools requires hard work and a lot of time. To maintain accuracy, a pre-made plywood template is used.

To support the spiral staircase, a thick-walled metal pipe with a diameter of 50 mm or more is installed. It is attached to the floor in a strictly vertical position. For the installation of steps, bushings are made, which are freely found on the riser, and washers are installed between them. The total height of each individual node is equal to the distance between the treads.

Assembly of products of various types

Despite the difference in design, stairs with stringers or bowstrings are almost the same, except for the initial stage - the manufacture of the supporting parts themselves.

One board is bolted to the wall, fixed from above and below. Along the width of the march, a second one is installed in parallel and the places where the steps are attached are checked for horizontality. They must match in both products. Deviations are corrected by moving the loose structure up and down.

The installation of the stairs begins with the fastening of the risers. For manufacturing, a dry board with a thickness of 20 mm is taken. It is much easier to install along the stringers than into the grooves of the bowstring. In any case, carpentry glue and self-tapping screws are used. There are products without step support, which gives them a lighter, more elegant look.

For supporting platforms, a board with a minimum thickness of 36 mm is used, the width of which is equal to or greater than the steps. They may show up a little. The blanks are ground, the edges are rounded. Attached with glue and screws.

The components of the railing are balusters and handrails. Balusters are made from a square rail or bought made on a lathe. Stronger elements are installed above and below, intermediate between them at each step. Fastening is carried out with screws or spikes. There are railings on top. The acceptable height of the fence is 85 cm.

The design of a marching staircase with turns is more complicated, respectively, and installation too. The following scheme is recommended: 3 steps to the platform, then the rest. If winder steps are used: first two straight steps, then three rotary steps. Additional supports are installed under the rotary elements.

The assembly of the spiral staircase is shown in the figure. Node A - connection of the support pipe and the fence in the attic. There is a bolt on the rack, on which a handrail is put on through the slot. Everything is closed with a decorative cover. B - threaded connection of the support and the bushing inserted into the step. B - washers and sleeves. G - fastening the support to the base.

Everyone can choose the most suitable design according to their capabilities. Only the calculation stage presents difficulties. If you perform them accurately, correctly install the bearing supports, then a reliable staircase will come out.

The decision to remake attic spaces for arranging an attic is made if you wish to increase the residential or other area used for other purposes in the house without erecting additional extensions to the building. But for the normal operation of new rooms, you will need a good staircase to the attic, which you can do with your own hands. And in order not to make mistakes during its construction, you should first understand the existing staircase designs and choose the most suitable option for your home.

Stairs for climbing to the attic floor can be divided into several categories according to:

• location;
• type of construction;
• materials used.

The last classifying indicator in some cases may not accurately determine the options for attic stairs, since sometimes different materials are combined for its manufacture.

Location of stairs

A convenient lift to the attic can be installed not only inside the house, but also outside, on the street. In this case, to go upstairs, you will need to leave the house. But such an external arrangement will be very convenient when living in the same house with, for example, an adult son or daughter. Your grown-up child will have his own entrance and his own room.

The most common option is to install stairs to the attic floor inside the house. To do this, choose a place where it does not take up much space and provide a convenient and safe ascent to the top. Usually this is one of the corners in a common room, a corridor, or a place near a blank wall without windows.

Applied spatial structures

Among the possible options for mounted stairs, six different types of structures are distinguished:

• direct single-march;
• rotary two-march with an intermediate horizontal platform;
• with winder steps;
• vertical spiral staircases to the attic in a small house;
• involute complex geometric configuration;
• folding and lifting.

Single-march stairs can be considered the simplest. This is a structure consisting of one straight march and a railing enclosing it. Their main disadvantage lies in the large amount of space occupied by the room in which they are installed.

Reducing the length will increase the angle of inclination and make it too steep and uncomfortable. Therefore, single-flight stairs to the last floor are arranged in wide hallways or large rooms up to 3 meters high.

two-march occupies a much smaller area, but more difficult to manufacture and install. In addition to two straight flights, the design includes a securely fixed horizontal platform for the possibility of turning at a right angle or 180 degrees.

Such stairs are placed in the corner of the room or in a specially provided space niche. Installing a turntable allows you to get a comfortable angle of inclination at any ceiling height.

stairs with winder steps even more compact. This is achieved by replacing the horizontal turntable with steps with a trapezoidal shape. Their narrow side is smaller than the wide part and is directed towards the middle of the turn. They can be one-, two- or three-flight systems that are installed in relatively small rooms at any ceiling height.

screw the stairs are very original, beautiful, but rather inconvenient for permanent use. Especially for the elderly. In addition, the furnishings will have to be lifted through windows or before the screw lift is installed. Such structures have a central axial support and are completely assembled from winder-type steps.

involute stairs from the first floor are an intermediate solution between mid-flight and helical spatial structures. They look very nice and original. But they are distinguished by the high complexity of manufacturing parts and assembling at the location.

It is most likely impossible to make such a system on your own and you will have to invite a specialist. As a result, this will be a convenient, but expensive option for resolving the issue.

folding small structures are a system of folding or sliding sections into each other. Quite difficult to manufacture, but on sale you can always find a wide variety of folding stairs at very affordable prices.

This is a good option for arranging stairs to the attic with a small area - if desired, you can always remove it to the attic floor, and close the opening with a descending hatch.

What are stairs made of?

The choice of material for the manufacture of stairs depends, first of all, on the chosen design, the desired design and the financial capabilities of the developer. They are made from:

• wood;
• metal;
• concrete;
• natural and artificial stone.

Sharing of various materials is widely used. For example, the supporting structure is made of metal, and the steps and railings are made of wood. Well, or the supporting one is metal, stone steps, and the railings are made of glass and wood.

Wooden Stairs are not only beautiful and suitable for any style of interior, but also create additional comfort and a sense of closeness to nature. Wood is the most affordable and suitable material for self-manufacturing and installation.

However, most types of wood are not distinguished by increased strength and durability, and dense varieties are expensive and not so well processed. When finishing the steps, they should not be over polished, as they become slippery and reduce the level of safety.

Metal in the interior of the premises it always looks elegant and attracts attention, especially if forged or chrome elements are used for manufacturing. Metal structures are distinguished by reliability and durability, and the plasticity of the material allows them to be given any spatial configuration.

However, for the manufacture of metal stairs with your own hands, you must have the skills of locksmith work and the experience of a welder, which will ensure the reliability and strength of the joints.

Stairs from concrete heavy, massive and require a reliable reinforcing frame, and in certain cases, supporting metal structures. The best option for installing them is the arrangement of an external entrance to the attic.

And, only for stone buildings. In a wooden building, such a bulky structure will look ridiculous. But making a concrete marching staircase on your own is not so difficult.

Steps from natural or artificial stone look beautiful. They are assembled on metal bearing stringers. Durable and reliable. In the case of installing wrought iron railings, they create a feeling of luxury and speak of the wealth of the owners. The main disadvantage of these materials is the high cost and the need to hire experienced specialists for installation.

To answer the question of how to make a staircase to the upper floor, you must determine:

• where is it installed?
• choice of construction type;
• what materials will be used for manufacturing.

Manufacturing of parts and installation

A builder who does not have professional experience is advised to opt for a simple marching structure made of wood. In this case, a single-flight staircase will be located along a blank wall that does not have windows, where it can be further secured.

The two-flight is placed in the corner of the room or also along the wall with a small lower march, turning 90 degrees towards the room. A good solution could be to install an attic staircase on the veranda, which will become an insulated vestibule and protect the room from the cold.

What is required for work

Wood for manufacturing must be selected from dense hardwoods. Oak, larch, birch, cedar are considered the most suitable. All purchased material must be brought into the room and kept before the start of work for 3-4 days. During this time, the temperature of the wood will become equal to the temperature in the room and acquire the correct mounting size.

The right choice would be to install a 65x25 mm steel profile pipe as the supporting stringers. This will strengthen the structure and allow the use of welding for the installation of wooden step supports, refusing to use less reliable spikes and self-tapping screws. In addition, this will allow the use of metal for the installation of railings or facilitate the installation of wooden balusters.

To protect wood from moisture, wood-boring insects, in case of fire and to obtain a beautiful appearance, it is necessary to purchase appropriate impregnations, stains and varnishes. For painting metal - primer and paint.

Tool

The set of necessary tools depends on the place of manufacture of blanks. If the details of the steps are made in a carpentry workshop, then this is only an assembly tool:

• jigsaw;
• electric drill;
• electric planer;
• angle grinder (grinder);
• wood saw;
• chisel and chisel;
• hammer and mallet.

When using steel profile pipes and corners for installation, a welding machine and electrodes are required.

Estimated part of the work

To ensure convenient and safe operation of the ladder structure, the following regulatory requirements must be observed:

• elevation angle of marches 20-40 degrees (limit value 45);
• passage width 800-1000 mm;
• step depth 200-320 mm;
• riser height 150-200 mm;
• the narrow edge of the trapezoid is not less than 100 mm.

A wide part of winder steps is not standardized. The recommended width of the intermediate horizontal platform is 800 mm, the length must correspond to the adjoining ladder.

The calculation begins with measuring the height of the lower floor room, taking into account the clean floor of the attic. To determine the number of steps, you need to divide the previously obtained value by the accepted height of the riser. It is selected in such a way that when dividing, an even integer corresponding to the standard range is obtained.

So, with a floor height of 3 meters, a riser with a size of 187 mm is suitable. In this case, the number of steps will be 16.04, which can be rounded up to 16. Then the length of a single-flight staircase with a step width of 280 mm will be 16 x 280 = 4480 mm.

Now you need to measure the existing length of the room, which should be equal to 4480 + 800 = 5280 mm. If the flight of stairs does not correspond to the data received, then a two-flight staircase will have to be installed.

Elements of building structures protruding from the walls and the size of the free passage on the upper steps of the stairs should provide a free passage with a height of at least 1850 mm, optimally - 2000 mm.

If the dimensions of the hatch are too large, then the height of the riser should be increased, which will reduce the length of the stairs and increase the angle of inclination. The length of the kosour is calculated by the Pythagorean formula: the sum of the squares of the legs is equal to the square of the hypotenuse.

Now transfer the results to paper in the form of a draft drawing. At the same time, be sure to reduce the size of the riser by the thickness of the board used when laying the steps.

Manufacturing of components and installation

So, we came close to how to make a staircase to the attic. The parts required for the installation of the stairs are made in accordance with the drawing data. Initially, stringers are cut out of two 5-meter boards.

Install the finished stringers in place and secure them with hardware fasteners, dowels or studs. If one of the boards goes along the wall, then provide additional fastening to building structures.

After that, proceed to the installation of steps, which can be fixed on screws using self-tapping screws or on wooden cotter pins with glue.

The final stage is the installation of balusters and railings. These parts are best bought ready-made, factory-made. This will greatly facilitate the work, making it simple and understandable.

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