purplezr2
Well-known member
Curious to see everyone's stairs for second levels/loft etc.
Curious to railing options, fully enclosed vs ???
Curious to railing options, fully enclosed vs ???
Shop Stairs for Second Level
- Thread starter purplezr2
- Start date
66Caprice
Well-known member
Can't help with the stairs themselves. But if you will be parking vehicles close to them or under them. I would enclose them to keep thing's from falling on them.
sh944
ALLIANCE MEMBER
MushCreek
Well-known member
I went fully enclosed on mine. I like being able to attach the stringers to the walls so there's no give at all. I made mine 42" wide as well. I didn't use a center stringer; instead, the riser is part of the structure, and they are the most solid stairs I've ever built. The stringer overlaps the back of the 2X12 treads, and is glued and nailed to them. That way, the riser becomes a beam and really stiffens them up. Because my stairs are so long (12' 4" ceiling height) I had to make my stringers in two pieces, but because they are secured to the walls on both sides, they are solid. Probably not code, but they are stout.
MushCreek
Well-known member
I'll try to take some today.
jmarkwolf
Well-known member
My 28ft x 30ft detached garage shop has a full 2nd story (12:12 roof pitch with attic trusses) with an enclosed staircase (pics below). The 1st floor is nicely insulated and finished and is climate controlled, but the 2nd story is not (yet).
The straight-shot staircase is 36in wide, climbs 11ft, and is getting "increasingly" difficult to hump anything upstairs for storage, which is why I plan to install a fixed light-duty gantry and hoist over the staircase.
The 36in high knee wall adjacent to the staircase was installed to meet code 13 years ago but blocks convenient access to the window over the staircase as apparent in the pics. I'm either going to construct a new knee wall or modify the original one with an integral hinged "gang plank" for window access and a swinging door to accommodate the gantry. The handrail will need to be "segmented" somehow to accommodate the "gang plank".
The straight-shot staircase is 36in wide, climbs 11ft, and is getting "increasingly" difficult to hump anything upstairs for storage, which is why I plan to install a fixed light-duty gantry and hoist over the staircase.
The 36in high knee wall adjacent to the staircase was installed to meet code 13 years ago but blocks convenient access to the window over the staircase as apparent in the pics. I'm either going to construct a new knee wall or modify the original one with an integral hinged "gang plank" for window access and a swinging door to accommodate the gantry. The handrail will need to be "segmented" somehow to accommodate the "gang plank".
Last edited:
MushCreek
Well-known member
Here's a couple pics of mine. Lotsa stuff in the way! For the stringers, rather than cut them, I added supports cut out of 2X material. The risers are 3/4" Advantech that I had left over. They are glued and fastened to the front of the support, glued and fastened to the back of each tread, and glued to the underside of the next tread. I need to figure out a lining for the insulation in the stairwell. There's not enough room for sheet goods, as there is a landing, a 90 degree turn, and a door at the bottom. I'm thinking maybe vinyl siding?
As for getting stuff up the stairs- I made a lift out of a HF winch, over in a front corner of the shop. I never put more than a few hundred pounds on it at most, but it sure saves trying to lug heavy stuff up all of those stairs!
As for getting stuff up the stairs- I made a lift out of a HF winch, over in a front corner of the shop. I never put more than a few hundred pounds on it at most, but it sure saves trying to lug heavy stuff up all of those stairs!
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Just use pieces smaller than 4x8. I'd drywall or put up plywood before considering something like vinyl siding.
Could do t&g or shiplap pine as well
MushCreek
Well-known member
I guess I could figure out the biggest piece that will take the turn. I could get nearly a full sheet on my hoist, but that's on the other end of the shop. Of course, smaller pieces means left weight to lift for a senior citizen. T&G is too expensive; I want the cheapest route possible.