It was my intention to build a staircase off my back porch that included a landing about 5 steps down, with another 3 steps off (to the right) to a patio.
I set footings for a 3’x3′ landing, which (I thought) would provide adequate clearance for the steps descending onto the landing, and those descending from it to the patio.
But I forgot that the upper stairs have to land on that landing–so I’m 10″ short in one direction (I think).
Any ideas how I can fix this mess, preferably without digging up the patio to set new footings? I’m wondering (but doubting) whether I could attach the upper set of stairs to the landing with joist hangers, so that the last step is flush with the landing rather than sitting on it. My other idea is to make a turn in that stairs on top of the landing, rather than having a flat landing.
I am fully aware of the profound stupidity that got me here, and would be very appreciative of any wisdom that might get me out.
Thanks,
Melissa
Replies
Melissa
Would you post a picture so we can see clearly the situation .
thanks
draw it
Hey, at least your making it a learning experience. That's the thought I console myself with when I've had a bout of profound stupidity.
I think one of the most important learning experiences you can have here is: Start your project by drawing your plan of action. It's a lot easier to move a footing or structual framing member on paper (or digitally) than upon terra firma.
Remember - Good judgement comes from experience. And most experience comes from bad judgement.
Has the landing been built yet? If not, could you cantilever the joists out to one side to make it wider in the direction you need more width?
Yeah, you can cantilever the landing, or arrange for the stringers to attach to the side of the landing somehow (something more substantial than a common hanger, like through-bolting to an extended joist).
(But stairs, especially anything more complicated than a straight run, need to be fairly carefully designed, with detailed drawings and some numbers on paper.)
Use a different tread width
If you use a unit run slightly longer than ten inches you will pick up enough cumulative length to notch the plumb cut at the bottom riser. This notch lands on the landing, with the remainder of the stringer resting against the rim of the landing. Cut a 1 1/2" horizontal flat spot off the bottom of the stringers, enough for either a joist hanger, right angle clip or even a 2x4 face nailed to the rim of the landing and butted up tight to the bottom of the flat spot on the stringers. Three stringers right?
btw, stairs are frequently hung off of landings with hardware. In tight quarters where headroom is an issue you sometimes don't have the room to extend landings to allow stairs to bear directly on them. Not uncommon to see the bottom riser cuts extend in one line from the tread cut all the way to the bottom of the stringer. Make that small flat spot for a hanger, or pressure block between the three stringers, face nailed into rim and then face nail the stringers into the end grain of the pressure blocks.