staircase problem

12 years ago

im in way over my head and would appreciate any experienced advice i can get. im trying to put in a new staircase in my 100 year old house. this is my first staircase, an it will be completly new as there isnt an existing one, so i have nothing to base my measurements on. my total rise is 9' 7 3/4". because i dont have a lot of room for the total run, i tried building the stairs with a 10' total run. 7 5/8" rise an a 9 1/2" tread, but they feel very fast when im coming down. i think if if i could stretch my total run out a little more so that i could add 1 or 2 inches to each of my treads the stairs would be much better. what do you think?

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Comments (9)

sombreuil_mongrel
12 years ago
I think just going to a 10" tread cut (and using 11.25" treads) will make it a lot more comfy, if you can spare the extra 7.5" for the run.
Casey
hendricus
12 years ago
This is what I used.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stair calculater
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weedyacres
12 years ago
Definitely stretch out the treads if you've got the room to do so in the overall run. 9 1/2" is narrow.

Cool tool, hendricus!
don92
11 years ago
Can you make a turn at the bottom and have a winder?
hardtb
Original Author
11 years ago
What i decided on was extending my run as far as i can so that i have 10"s of exposed tread when im walking down. I have to drop to 14 treads an 8 1/4" risers to get it but i think it will feel better tgen the 7 1/2"s of exposure i originally had. No don92 i cant make any turns, its all gotta be 1 straight shot. I cant go back any farther because of a window and i cant go any more forward because of my front door. Im pretty much maxed out at a rise of 115" and a run of 140"
renovator8
11 years ago
You have a totally incorrect idea about the relationship of risers to treads. An 8 1/4" riser should have an 8 1/2" tread. I will try to offer an appropriate design later when I have time but the best stair design is a 7 1/2" riser and a 10" tread if it fits. Mixing tall treads with long risers will create a safety hazard.
renovator8
11 years ago
There is only one optimum design for this stair space:

15 Risers @ 7.7166" = 115.75" floor to floor

14 Treads @ 9.75" = 136.5" run face to face of top & bottom risers

The 3/4" or 1" nosing projecting is not used in this calculation. It is added to each tread after the above design is determined.
renovator8
11 years ago
There is only one optimum design for this stair space:

15 Risers @ 7.7166" = 115.75" floor to floor

14 Treads @ 9.75" = 136.5" run face to face of top & bottom risers

The 3/4" or 1" nosing projecting is not used in this calculation. It is added to each tread after the above design is determined.
renovator8
11 years ago
I think the basis of your problems is that you are including the nosing as part of the tread dimension. A nosing overhangs the riser below and does not add to the overall run of the stair so when you talk about a 10" tread design, it will actually be 10 3/4" or 11" under foot.

The last stair design you last mentioned would be appropriate only for giants.