I am preparing to build a woodworking shop/garage 30x40 with a double garage door on the front gable end. I plan to have a loft with load bearing trusses and am trying to decide whether to place the stairs inside or build a landing with exterior stairs and a rear entry door. I plan to use the loft for a wood drying kiln and storage, so I won't be going up there frequently. I would appreciate pros and cons from anyone with prior experience. Also, any general advice on a new construction workshop. Thanks, Walt
Loft stairs, inside or out?
- Thread starter wliggett
- Start date
koditten
Well-known member
I need an answer too. I can't decide.
KO
KO
RVDan
Well-known member
Pro for inside stairs: don't have to go outside to go upstairs
Con for inside stairs: stairs eat a lot of floor space
Pro for inside stairs: don't need an exterior door upstairs
Pro for outside stairs: don't have to go inside to go upstairs
Con for outside stairs: weatherproofing, pressure treated lumber etc
I wanted my stairs inside but I didn't want to give up the floorspace
Con for inside stairs: stairs eat a lot of floor space
Pro for inside stairs: don't need an exterior door upstairs
Pro for outside stairs: don't have to go inside to go upstairs
Con for outside stairs: weatherproofing, pressure treated lumber etc
I wanted my stairs inside but I didn't want to give up the floorspace
Tbucit
Well-known member
I put mine on the inside and if you are going to do the same here are a few thoughts. You can use under the stairs for storage and if you leave one end open you can add a hoist to get stuff up there. There are a few pics in my build
Randall
Randall
ForceFed70
Well-known member
I put my stairs outside and I'm glad I did. It makes the room more versitile (I can put an apartment up there if I want to) and the stairs take up a LOT of room - especially if you have a high ceiling.
It mostly depends on weather and security.
At 30 feet wide you should be able to get all the up with a single flight.
Maybe a small platform as the bottom stair.
Under the stairs is the usual place for the work bench.
So, if inside, you will not be “wasting” much space.
At 30 feet wide you should be able to get all the up with a single flight.
Maybe a small platform as the bottom stair.
Under the stairs is the usual place for the work bench.
So, if inside, you will not be “wasting” much space.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Mine are inside...spiral stair case
e30bradley
Well-known member
Mine are inside...spiral stair case
Isn't it difficult to take stuff up those stairs? Like supplies..? it would be especially difficult to take a long board of wood up those cuz of the spiral.. right?
ddawg16
Well-known member
Nope....actually real easy for long items.....just stick them up through the opening....
When we are putting a bunch of stuff up or down...my wife will be at the top...me at the bottom...I only have to go 2-3 steps up to be able to reach her...she reaches down and grabs it....
We would not do it any different.....
If it's really large....we use the 4x4 window on the side....if it's bigger than that...it shouldn't be up there.
You can see more pics by clicking on the link in my signature.
e30bradley
Well-known member
okay. I've only gone up a spiral stair once and I though it was a pita but it was a very small one. Like 5ft across the imaginary cylinder it makes.
64dragnwagon
Well-known member
I would probably go with inside. If you lay it out right as stated you can get some storage and a workbench and not lose much space. I would go traditional not spiral, also I have found in most cases that an L shape fits better and doesn't seem to get in the way as much. The last two stairs I layed out and built have been L shaped (my basement in my house and in an old carriage house I remodeled).
Where do you live ?
Mine are inside, with a 12 foot ceiling it took a 90 degree turn in the corner and a landing...but takes minimal space and there is a lot of storage space under the stairs...before I moved the compressor to the second floor it used to live under the landing....
I did the trap door with a hoist for easy access for large or heavy loads. I live in New England and can't imagine outside stairs with snow and ice, but if you live in a nice warm climate with no snow outside stairs might be just fine....
Mike B
Mine are inside, with a 12 foot ceiling it took a 90 degree turn in the corner and a landing...but takes minimal space and there is a lot of storage space under the stairs...before I moved the compressor to the second floor it used to live under the landing....
I did the trap door with a hoist for easy access for large or heavy loads. I live in New England and can't imagine outside stairs with snow and ice, but if you live in a nice warm climate with no snow outside stairs might be just fine....
Mike B
I have had both of mine on the inside. The old shop had a false wall at he end of the loft so the pickup could back in and move from the pickup to the loft with a lot less lifting. The new shop below I can drop out the railing and lift stuff with a fork lift or the backhoe bucket.
lg
no neat sig line
lg
no neat sig line
If you're planning on using it to try lumber, make sure whatever you chose, that you can swing an (atleast) 8' board in/out.
KPSquared
Well-known member
I'm building my 30x36 right now and the stairs are going to be on the outside. This decision was made just because inside stairs waste so much space. I've considered adding a spiral staircase inside as well as the outside stairs just so I can go up from the garage, but that is an unlikely situation as the retrofit would **** at this point.
Our outside stairs actually are going to tie into a whole deck/boardwalk design from my shop to the house and fire pit area on the hill behind the shop.
My pros/cons:
Inside:
Pros:
- Easy access
- Don't have to go outside.
Cons:
- Waste space (upstairs and down)
Outside:
Pros:
- free up a ton of space
- quick access without walking through the shop
- just makes the most sense for my place
Cons:
- Treated lumber costs more
- more stuff to shovel in the winter
- slippery when wet with an armload of junk. . .
Our outside stairs actually are going to tie into a whole deck/boardwalk design from my shop to the house and fire pit area on the hill behind the shop.
My pros/cons:
Inside:
Pros:
- Easy access
- Don't have to go outside.
Cons:
- Waste space (upstairs and down)
Outside:
Pros:
- free up a ton of space
- quick access without walking through the shop
- just makes the most sense for my place
Cons:
- Treated lumber costs more
- more stuff to shovel in the winter
- slippery when wet with an armload of junk. . .
BD1
Well-known member
I would go with inside. Don't have to be concerned about weather. Adding a outside gable end door would help to for longer stuff. Is the loft going across
the entire length ? you could even have a opening in the floor to pass material up from inside. For heavy stuff maybe get a Genie lift.
http://www.genie-lift.com/
the entire length ? you could even have a opening in the floor to pass material up from inside. For heavy stuff maybe get a Genie lift.
http://www.genie-lift.com/
Zeke
Well-known member
For limited access I'd put in a ladder and an opening upstairs to pass things down on the outside. You can also buy some pretty tall pull down stairs.
White 99
Well-known member
I agree with what most have replyed already. I have a two car garage attached to the house and a room above with inside stairs. I probably go up there a couple times a day and some days many times; outside stairs would be pain with weather and door locks to go through.
My other garage is detached 24 x 50 and has a room above it also. It is used for storage and I probably don't go up there once a week; I have outside stairs on that one. Inside would have used up a lot of space, both upstairs and down.
Like others have said a lot depends on how much you are going to be up there.
My other garage is detached 24 x 50 and has a room above it also. It is used for storage and I probably don't go up there once a week; I have outside stairs on that one. Inside would have used up a lot of space, both upstairs and down.
Like others have said a lot depends on how much you are going to be up there.
LutzTD
Well-known member
I plan to put mine outside with a swing open outer rail for getting things up to bring in with a fork truck and a solid landing to act as a rain cover for the ground floor entry door. I see very nice steel commecial stairs sets on Craigs pretty ofter for $500
HKB3
Well-known member
I did not have a choice as my garage was already existing when I bought my house, I have a 2 story 24x32 with 9'6" ceiling on lower level an standard 8' ceiling upstairs. I am in the planning stages of moving the stairs which are "L" shaped from the center of the garage to run along the back & side walls. Orignally I wanted to relocate them outside but decided against it for convience and mostly cost. Once I get moving on the project I will start a thread in the gallery.
Bender78
Well-known member
When I first built my 28 x 32 timber framed barn/garage/shop I put the stairs inside. After a couple of years the shop grew where space was a a premium and the stairs just took uo to much valuable space. They got moved outside. I love the view from the top if the stairs now, I can survey the entire property from there. I also think it gave the building more character.
Rixter58
Well-known member
Inside and hinge them to retract. Best of both worlds. 
Thanks for all the pros and cons, guys. I think I will likely go with inside as I will likely bring water out (200ft from house) and will place the utility sink and commode under the stairs. Really like the idea of an opening with a winch or block and tackle in the middle, too. 