Different Stair/steps idea anyone?

[andershoberg]

I just updated my garage and need some input on my stairs/steps from the hallway door down to the garage floor. I have roughly 30 inches drop and plenty of space. Any fun ideas or different ideas out there?

Thanks in advance,

Anders

 

[1320stang]

I dunno, but your steps should all be of the same height. You should have 3 steps there.

How about covering them with VCT so a to look like they've grown out of the floor, then get some extruded aluminum angle to put around the edges of the steps to protect the corners. You could also do galvanized perforated angle that would have a bit of grip and the VCT colors would show thru.

 

[wilbilt]

How about pouring some concrete steps with the proper rise/run, and form them using the metal edging like is used around gas station islands?

The edging is similar to the stuff in this photo:
http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc15390.php

I found it is available as "island forms" and is very cheap:

http://riverside-steel.com/IslandForms.HTM

 

[Herb]

Fun ideas? Ok, the Home Depot near me in Lisbon, Ct. has some black granite floor tiles on a close out special- $1.97 each!!!!! I think the thickness varies, but a neat, fun project would be to make a form for the stairs, mix up some cement, pour it and then cap off the treads and risers with the tile. At $1.97 each it wouldn't cost too much, and the bags of cement wouldn't be too much either. I'll bet you could get away with spending $50.00 or so and no one else would have anything like it- my 2 cents.

 

[cc_rider]

The black granite tiles would be cool if they're not too slick.

I'd consider making a wooden 'box' of the proper step configuration, then use pre-cut metal stairsteps for the treads. McNichols has several types, from perf to expanded metal to fiberglass. Super-tough, non-slip. Dirt would fall through, but that may be a 'pro' or a 'con' depending.

If you wanted to use tile (granite, VCT, whatever), instead of solid concrete I'd consider building a sturdy wooden frame with steps, then skin the steps with Hardi-type material, then install the tiles. Much easier to get the steps square and true than wrestling with several hundred pounds of concrete. Concrete anchors would bolt the steps to the floor. Made properly, it'll be just as sturdy and permanent.

c.

 

[Junkman]

If you want fun, find an old escalator stair set up and use the treads.

 

[1320stang]

Well Heck, if we're going to be 'fun'. Mount a treadmill there, they reverse so you just stand and go up or down. Hauling in the groceries will be more fun now too, get the kids involved.

 

[Vince1955]

Based on the attached picture and extra room, why not construct a 3' by 3' landing (deck), the height being equal to the base of the door. The 30" height would be used to store the lawn mower under (and out of sight). Then construct "standard" riser/tread steps.
This may be helpful when using the door and also having the room to move about. Also, don't forget the handrail.

 

[tsbrewers]

Personally I would just rebuild them so they looked descent, then paint the treads red and the risers would be the black/grey to match the floor.

Brew

 

[Bear]

Some years ago I built a deck and altered the standard tread from 7hx11w to 5 1/2h x 15w to accomodate my elderly mother. Now that I am closing in on the elderly part I am thinking that I was one smart son of a gun. Made handtrucking heavy stuff in and out a lot easier also.

 

[boiler7904]

Whatever you do, build the steps to meet the code in your area. Code only sets maximum riser height and a minimum tread depth for interior stairs:
IBC (International Building Code) 7 3/4" max riser, 10" min tread
UBC (Uniform Building Code) 8" max riser, 9" min tread

Normal rules of thumb when designing interior stairs:
Sum of two risers plus one tread equals 24" to 25".
Sum of one riser plus one tread equals 17" to 18".
Riser height multiplied by tread depth equals 70 to 75.

Bear listed specs for landscape stairs which I find annoying at best and am always tripping up them.

If you use that door as the family's main entry into the house, try incorporating a removeable grate and pan in the top landing to catch large dirt and water off of your shoes before it gets into the house. Your wife will love you for it.

Other ideas are aluminum diamond plate for the risers, and one piece rubber stair treads and risers. Johnsonite makes them for commercial buildings. They're available in nearly all of the colors that rubber base is.

 

[JMURiz]

Based on the attached picture and extra room, why not construct a 3' by 3' landing (deck), the height being equal to the base of the door. The 30" height would be used to store the lawn mower under (and out of sight). Then construct "standard" riser/tread steps.
This may be helpful when using the door and also having the room to move about. Also, don't forget the handrail.

I like that idea, why not make a little storage under it

 

[Kent in KC]

I don't think you have any choice: you'll have to put one of those mini-trampolines there. Boing up. Boing down. Hang a rope and you might be able to make it all the way outside without touching the floor.

 

[andershoberg]

Wow,

Great forum. Thanks everyone for a ton of good ideas. I used to have a landing stretching from the door towards the right in the photo all the way up to the corner. I got tired of it, pulled it, and added the tile...

I have three children, 8, 2 and three months, so I have to stay away from the harder surfaces, but the escalator idea (or stepmill/treadmill) is great. Soft rubber corners etc. Where would I find a used escalator? I checked ebay - nothing. The rope and trampolin would be my choice if i was single.

I just got an Charger SRT-8, and was going to paint a motif on one wall. a charicature of it actually that I found on a website, something like this... I sketched and outlined something similar last night with a projector and a computer in a 15 by 6 size...

Anyone in SE Michigan good with an airbrush?

Thanks a bunch, everyone!!!

Anders

 

[andershoberg]

..or someone mentioned tiling the stairs.

maybe a freefloat design like this, painted same color as the wall to seem suspended in the air, tiled on top? The walls will match the floor, black bottom, red stripe, grey top.

Input?

Anders

 

[logical]

I had a little more rise to deal with and a lot more room so I built this (The other door goes to the basemant):

 

[BoostAddiction]

I built a custom stair with storage on both sides. The "stair" side holds boots, muddy sneakers, etc in their own shoe-sized cubbies. The other side next to the cabinets has several storage places for odd-shaped items like umbrellas and towels, etc.

I covered it with cheap indoor-pitdoor carpet so I could replace it easily when it got too worn, and because carpet would trap dirt coming into the house.

Here's a pic:

I'm no carpenter, but if you stand back a few hundred feet, it looks good.

-Will

 

[logical]

Based on the attached picture and extra room, why not construct a 3' by 3' landing (deck), the height being equal to the base of the door. The 30" height would be used to store the lawn mower under (and out of sight). Then construct "standard" riser/tread steps.
This may be helpful when using the door and also having the room to move about. Also, don't forget the handrail.

I don't have a good view of it but I left access to under my landing for storage. The landing is actually more like 5 feet wide in my case with the extra creating room to the left of the door for a big shoe storage cabinet. the extended half wall kind of creates a workbench area and keeps it from looking like a big open mess. This is the only other pic but it stops short of showing the access under the landing. I also made sure to put wireing for outlets in the half wall and also laid in wire for my ceiling fan controls once I get them hung. I always hated those creaky tiny little steps a builder puts in so my treads are about 4 feet wide.