Let's see your Garage Stairs!

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 31, 2011

Buddy just got a new house, xSteve Edgex, and we're looking for ideas for his garage stairs to get up stairs! His current setup won't allow for a electric garage door, so we have to move his ladders, so he wants to do some nice stairs to the 2nd floor/attic area..

Post what you got! Creative, not creative, spiral, straight, etc....

czr12x · Dec 31, 2011

not the greatest pic... straight up from the door.

NXGTS · Dec 31, 2011

From the floor to the ceiling it is almost 11' so an L shape stairway is the only thing that made sense to me. I didn't want a ladder to struggle with.

VairKing · Dec 31, 2011

Wide and steep. Air compressor is in a sound insulated room built under the stairs. Wouldnt have it any other way!

Kevin54 · Dec 31, 2011

xJoey Dubsx said:
Buddy just got a new house, xSteve Edgex, and we're looking for ideas for his garage stairs to get up stairs! His current setup won't allow for a electric garage door, so we have to move his ladders, so he wants to do some nice stairs to the 2nd floor/attic area..

Post what you got! Creative, not creative, spiral, straight, etc....

Can you move the door opener off to the side of the door for clearance. If the door is balanced correctly, you can move it to the side.

xJoey Dubsx · Dec 31, 2011

I don't believe so. They are newer doors, but the issue is that the hole for the stairs is as wide as the door.

Bear · Dec 31, 2011

Still unfinished but here tis.

KCarGuy · Dec 31, 2011

Here Is Mine...So Far
There is a Compressor Room with Storage up top on the left...
A Landing
Stairs going up with a 3/4 Wall (going up), and Storage under.
A Metal and Wood Hand railing...Top and bottom.
(3) Stringers for strength and support
I made it as steep and narrow as I could get away with. (as per Code)
And 3 way switches at the top and the bottom.

shopnut · Dec 31, 2011

Here's a few shots of mine during construction:

And some when it was finished with black/silver aluminum treadplate:

Storage under treads:

TommyK · Dec 31, 2011

This is the only picture I had kind of showing the attic stairs which you can see in the background.

Bonus points for whoever can guess what engine that is.

Dragster Racer · Dec 31, 2011

Kind of looks Olds, but I'm not much good at ID's.
So what is the tallest rise that is reasonable to use? I am not restricted to code, and I have about 106" of rise to deal with. I want to go one straight shot, and use as little room as possible. I am using a ladder now, so a little steep isn't going to bother me a great deal. How about tread size. How narrow is comfortable/safe with big feet?

Pulpwood · Dec 31, 2011

Ford y-block?

TommyK · Dec 31, 2011

Dragster Racer said:
Kind of looks Olds, but I'm not much good at ID's.
So what is the tallest rise that is reasonable to use? I am not restricted to code, and I have about 106" of rise to deal with. I want to go one straight shot, and use as little room as possible. I am using a ladder now, so a little steep isn't going to bother me a great deal. How about tread size. How narrow is comfortable/safe with big feet?

If code is not an issue a ladder stair is typically built on a 65-68 degree incline and would use a 6 inch tread with a 12 inch max rise. This type of stair utilizes very little run.

An alternating ladder tread design would use even less run.

Super Sport · Dec 31, 2011

shopnut said:
Here's a few shots of mine during construction:

And some when it was finished with black/silver aluminum treadplate:

Storage under treads:

I love that black/chrome look! Just curious, but what do you plan on using the storage area for?

Dragster Racer · Dec 31, 2011

TommyK said:
If code is not an issue a ladder stair is typically built on a 65-68 degree incline and would use a 6 inch tread with a 12 inch max rise. This type of stair utilizes very little run.

An alternating ladder tread design would use even less run.

Sweet. Now I know the practical limit. Thank you. I will see what the closest is that works.

D.J. · Dec 31, 2011

I guess a ford possibly a 302?

Bear · Dec 31, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by TommyK
If code is not an issue a ladder stair is typically built on a 65-68 degree incline and would use a 6 inch tread with a 12 inch max rise. This type of stair utilizes very little run.
An alternating ladder tread design would use even less run.

Sweet. Now I know the practical limit. Thank you. I will see what the closest is that works.

Operative word here is "ladder". A standard stair has 11"tread and 7" rise. - google is your friend.

TommyK · Jan 1, 2012

D.J. said:
I guess a ford possibly a 302?

Close.

Its a Cleveland.

Dragster Racer · Jan 1, 2012

Bear said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by TommyK
If code is not an issue a ladder stair is typically built on a 65-68 degree incline and would use a 6 inch tread with a 12 inch max rise. This type of stair utilizes very little run.
An alternating ladder tread design would use even less run.

Sweet. Now I know the practical limit. Thank you. I will see what the closest is that works.

Operative word here is "ladder". A standard stair has 11"tread and 7" rise. - google is your friend.

That would be great if I wanted a standard stair. I am trying to save room on a stair that is certainly not used every day and by everyone. I did google it to begin with.

Dragster Racer · Jan 1, 2012

That alternate tread design is neat! I don't know if I want to tackle it on my first stair, but it is cool as heck.

shopnut · Jan 2, 2012

Super Sport said:
I love that black/chrome look! Just curious, but what do you plan on using the storage area for?

Thanks for your comment and interest. Sorry for the slow response - didn't see the question buried in this thread until now.

The access panels on the risers of the stairs serve two functions - access for storage and access to service several things.

Several panels lead to deep storage compartments where I have things like spare fluorescent light fixtures and bulbs stored. In the shallower compartments, I have lifting accessories like chains and straps stored since the jib crane is right around the corner. Here's an early shot showing the deeper spaces (steps above the can lights):

But what I found the handiest, is the access to all the things I have crammed under my stairway. Things such as stereo wiring, washer water hose hookups, and electrical wiring. The following shows a couple examples. The white box is a UPS (computer power backup) and beyond it is the stereo wiring.

Here's a shot of what's underneath the stairs to explain things a bit. The stereo is at the upper left and the washer is hidden in the lower right cabinet.

Kevin54 · Jan 2, 2012

On the locker door to the furthest right right above the sink, is the door squared off or do you have the door cut at an angle at the top right corner?

ddawg16 · Jan 2, 2012

I went for basic black...

shopnut · Jan 2, 2012

Kevin54 said:
On the locker door to the furthest right right above the sink, is the door squared off or do you have the door cut at an angle at the top right corner?

Hey Kevin54 - That was such a tight sqeeze there, but I managed to fit those cabinets in without modification. I wanted all three of those cabinets in there since they matched the 39" width of the sink perfectly. These views show it better:

That notch to the right of the cabinets represents the only stair riser that is mounted permanently. The panel you see here share the same board as that riser on the other side.

Kevin54 · Jan 2, 2012

shopnut said:
Hey Kevin54 - That was such a tight sqeeze there, but I managed to fit those cabinets in without modification. I wanted all three of those cabinets in there since they matched the 39" width of the sink perfectly. These views show it better:

That notch to the right of the cabinets represents the only stair riser that is mounted permanently. The panel you see here share the same board as that riser on the other side.

I see how that works. Nice job on boxing it in the way you did :thumbup:

Graham08 · Jan 2, 2012

Here are mine. Not quite finished yet...need to insulate and drywall the closet underneath. Like one of the previous posters, mine is going to house my air compressor.

These are my first attempt at building stairs. The building inspector said, "That's a hell of a stairway for just some attic storage."

Dragster Racer · Jan 2, 2012

The only thing I accomplished in the shop today was laying out and cutting one stringer. I feel good about getting the hard part done though. Was my first one, and it is a non standard deal, so I had to do my own. I can finsh that this week I hope. That and a new electrical box for my shop thermostat.

XsteveedgeX · Jan 2, 2012

i will finally post on this, since it is my garage we are talking about. i would love a metal spiral stair case, or i might just bolt a ladder to the one wall. the issue right now is that there is a ladder that swings down, but it is right in the way of where a garage door opener would go, so it's getting moved. hopefully joe cna get some good pics for me tomorrow...

NUTTSGT · Jan 2, 2012

Pics would definetly help us out.

xJoey Dubsx · Jan 3, 2012

shopnut, I love your stair idea. The sink under it and the storage idea under each step is amazing.

Dickey · Jan 3, 2012

Bought a set of stairs from the local metal recycling place for $185:

Last week, I put a temporary handrail on it for my New Year's party:

I'd like to replace it with something made out of steel but I won't do that until I come up with a style I like for it and the kneewall I did for the loft.

thdewey · Jan 3, 2012

Built mine on the outside to save square footage. Now, the upstairs is not used for garage type items and in the future will be a bonus room. So it made sense to do that. You can see photos on my build thread.

Dragster Racer · Jan 3, 2012

So what about railings? How much space between uprights/posts can you go and have them sturdy? Materials?

xravenx · Jan 3, 2012

Took the railings down after the final inspection, I like the cleaner uncluttered look better. There is a railing on the outside wall. Been thinking about carpeting them.

jdub63 · Jan 3, 2012

Here's my loft stairs in the down position... to raise the HF hoist just pulls them up and out of the way.

xJoey Dubsx · Jan 3, 2012

Might as well ***** my thread....
Anyone need any white 6x23" "STAIRWELL" decals?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/22092558526...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_1208wt_1270

Victorymike18 · Jan 3, 2012

Here's mine. There used to be a very flimsy three-section pull-down ladder that went from the ceiling to the floor. It was scary to use, and started cracking.

My Father-In-Law and I built these very steep stairs to replace them. We enlarged the hole so it's easy for someone on the landing to pass up large boxes (you can see where the old pull-down ladder was).

They aren't pretty but they're SOLID. Although they're steep, once you're up one step you can grab the frame opening so they're comfortable to be on.

shopnut · Jan 3, 2012

Kevin54 said:
I see how that works. Nice job on boxing it in the way you did

xJoey Dubsx said:
shopnut, I love your stair idea. The sink under it and the storage idea under each step is amazing.

Thanks guys.

Here are the dimensions on my stairs if it may help someone. Tread boards were cut from carefully selected (read flat

) 2x12" lumber.

Rothaus · Jan 3, 2012

shopnut said:
Here's a few shots of mine during construction:

And some when it was finished with black/silver aluminum treadplate:

Storage under treads:

That is the coolest stair I have seen. Nice Job.

I have LED installed, it's connected to a motion sensor, and when I enter the garage it turns on. Still not complete, here is what it looks now.

Cheers

MN4x4 · Jan 3, 2012

xJoey Dubsx said:
Buddy just got a new house, xSteve Edgex, and we're looking for ideas for his garage stairs to get up stairs! His current setup won't allow for a electric garage door....

Take a look at the LiftMaster 3800 threads on here. No framing changes necessary, all done in about an hour.

BTW, I have them on both my shop AND my house.

Let's see your Garage Stairs!

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