bill mcdonald
New member
Good news
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Help with structure, and some stair Q's?
- Thread starter bill mcdonald
- Start date
From your location, I would guess those are seismic bracing, and needed. I would be hesitant about cutting and seriously thinking about repairing the already damaged ones.
As far as the stairs, I might consider a ships ladder. Takes up very little space and is very useful if you don't have to go up and down it all the time.
Here's an example of one I installed not to long ago.
As far as the stairs, I might consider a ships ladder. Takes up very little space and is very useful if you don't have to go up and down it all the time.
Here's an example of one I installed not to long ago.
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Stuart in MN
Well-known member
They could also be for wind loading, to keep the building from racking.
In general, unless they were built with a specific attic space, roof trusses aren't designed to hold any real amount of weight, outside of maybe a box or two of Christmas decorations...be careful making any modifications to the trusses without consulting a structural engineer.
In general, unless they were built with a specific attic space, roof trusses aren't designed to hold any real amount of weight, outside of maybe a box or two of Christmas decorations...be careful making any modifications to the trusses without consulting a structural engineer.
TACRick
Member
I'd think the ship's ladder would be better than the stairs you have shown, as your rise/run is pretty steep for stairs. The ladder thing kind of forces you to use the handrails. If the ladder thing won't work (or you don't like it) you need to rethink the length of the stairs. You need enough tread wide to firmly plant your feet so you don't miss a step on the way down, and you don't want too much vertical height between treads so you don't catch your toe on the way up.
Stair design is kind of tricky -- think carefully about your rise/run before you disregard the ladder idea.
Stair design is kind of tricky -- think carefully about your rise/run before you disregard the ladder idea.
NHCharger
Well-known member
That vertical 45 in the attic is most likely a temporary brace the carpenters used to rack and brace the trusses during construction. Most roof truss manufacturers require some type of permanent bracing to be installed in the webbing of the trusses. Size of truss and snow loads dictate bracing requirements.
Stairs can be tricky. If you have more than a 12' drop from floor to floor you are required to have a landing to break up the run. At my old house I had a storage area over 1/2 of the garage. I had a ladder built out of 2x4's connected to the top floor with a set of hinges and a pulley system that allowed me to pull the ladder up out of the way when not in use.
Stairs can be tricky. If you have more than a 12' drop from floor to floor you are required to have a landing to break up the run. At my old house I had a storage area over 1/2 of the garage. I had a ladder built out of 2x4's connected to the top floor with a set of hinges and a pulley system that allowed me to pull the ladder up out of the way when not in use.
Here is a worksheet I used to help me build a staircase from scratch in my sisters' house. Have a look at this for some rise-run ideas:
http://www.southernstaircase.com/Products/extras/Instructions_9.pdf#search='staircase%20worksheet'
I do like the ships ladder idea though, more vertical and doesn't take up much space.
http://www.southernstaircase.com/Products/extras/Instructions_9.pdf#search='staircase%20worksheet'
I do like the ships ladder idea though, more vertical and doesn't take up much space.
Would you have a picture of this and/or how it is framed. I am doing this in my new garage (storage area above where the garage doors go and cathedral on the rest). This way I can have storage and height for a lift! Good ideas.NHCharger said:
Sundowner
Well-known member
have you considered an outside staircase?
an exterior grade black steel spiral staircase goes for ~$425 in the trade magazines. not terribly more expensive than the ~$200 it would cost you to frame a normal staircase out of wood.
an exterior grade black steel spiral staircase goes for ~$425 in the trade magazines. not terribly more expensive than the ~$200 it would cost you to frame a normal staircase out of wood.
TACRick
Member
JMURiz said:
Boy, would THIS have saved me a lot of time! I designed our current house 19 years ago from scratch, and I worked for two weeks to come up with a satisfactory layout. This worksheet could have saved me 12 very frustrating days!
