Stair width and height requirements

[John Timmins]

I'm having a home built. The garage slab is one level and there are 2 steps to enter the house slab on a higher level.

My stairs are 7 1/2 high but they seem like they are not deep enough. Once you're in the house, going from the back door to the yard is 3 steps.

Their " tred" also seems to be too shallow. I'll see if I can get pictures tomorrow.

When the slab was poured some 2x10 were built to have the stairs poured at the same time. There's something really half-*** about the poured steps in the garage and also the front door stairs and back yard stairs.

Thanks in advance, John

 

[spudley]

The rule of thumb is total rise and run should be between 17-18". So if your rise is 7 1/2" the run (tread) should be 9 1/2" to 10 1/2". My preference would be 10 1/2", just feels better.
Rise/run should be the same on all stairs.

 

[John Timmins]

Thank you very much.

In my house I installed maple stair treads I ordered from an online supplier; they are 11 inches and very comfortable.

 

[John Timmins]

Spudley, I asked my building inspector . He's not a young man. At 72 he has been doing this a long time. He said some of the rules are so spread out in the rule books that sometimes you had to take notes from 5-6 different rule books to to get an answer for something.

I have asked a question about stairs that could get more complicated than your 17-18 inch rule. He said that was a rule that used to be true. While it makes sense, that rule of thumb, Different localities can make a mess of it.

He said it varies ! However, I like what you wrote. That 10 1/2" just feels better.

What if my cement stairs have standing puddles in low spots ?

 

[wrenchguy]

Thank you very much.

In my house I installed maple stair treads I ordered from an online supplier; they are 11 inches and very comfortable.

there is a difference between the finished stair tread dimension and the framed carriage dimension that carries the tread. carriage dimension x number of carriages = stair run, not including the bottom tread overhang... usually 1 1/4". i make my concrete steps about 12" x rise.

 

[PelicanPines]

The rule of thumb is total rise and run should be between 17-18". So if your rise is 7 1/2" the run (tread) should be 9 1/2" to 10 1/2". My preference would be 10 1/2", just feels better.
Rise/run should be the same on all stairs.

Rise/run should be the same on all stairs.

We had to pull the steps in a friends garage... 3 steps... not ONE the same as another. They used scraps and it showed it.

No matter what you do do… the measurements and suggestions by Spudley should be a builders left arm TATTOO... split the number of steps height so they are ALL the same amount of step... all the same depth... using those proportions.

 

[Gerald O]

Code usually allows the last (or first) riser at the bottom of a stair run where it meets the lower floor to be of a lower height than the other steps. But you still want it as close as possible.

 

[spudley]

What if my cement stairs have standing puddles in low spots ?

Somebody didn't pour the concrete correctly. You (or your contractor) might be able to either grind or topcoat if it bothers you.