Thanks very much! Code question for you: If the wall around which you are winding has a pass through with a required headroom clearance of 6'8" (per 2018 IRC) would you measure that from the bottom step, or would it have to be measured from the second step since a couple inches of that second step are technically under the pass-through? I'm thinking it should be measured from the bottom step since the walk line, which is 12" out from the wall, would certainly be on the lowest step. Thoughts?
For the sake of information, I'll type up the code just for the sort of person that's googling this sort of thing... R311.5.3.2 Tread Depth. The minimum tread depth shall be 10" (254mm). The tread depth shall be measured horizontally between vertical planes of the foremost projection of adjacent treads and at a right angle to the treads leading edge. The greatest tread depth within any flight if stairs shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8" (9.5mm). Winder treads shall have a minimum tread depth of 10 inches (254mm) measured as above at a point 12" (305mm) from the side where the treads are narrower. Winder treads shall have a minimum tread depth of 6" (152mm) at any point. Within any flight of stairs, the greatest winder depth at the 12" (305mm) walk line shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8" (9.5mm).
You know that when the minimum is a round number of inches, it's really arbitrary. If this was based on science, this would a precise number, in mm, like 265mm or something.
Excellent explanation video ! Well done and many thanks. If you happen to follow up on this, curious about issues / code regarding the outside point on the winders. Can that be cut at 45 deg like the inside point ? And how far back ? Keeping the minimum 36" tread length I guess ? EDIT : And on returning to this, I guess a sub question is where to measure the 36" tread width on the winder. At the faces ? The middle ? Or (probably) whichever is the lesser ? Also, not necessarily going with 45 deg, may be leaning to doing a radius curve, but I imagine the answers apply to both.
As long as you meet the minimum width, usually 36 inches, you should be fine. However, you might need to check with your local building department in your area for the exact measurements.
If it doesn't, it does provide you with information on how to build one individual three-step section that could be duplicated to form a double set of winders going in a variety of different directions.
With current code these wouldn't pass would they? Code requires a 10" walkway at 12" from the inner side of the stair. Try a triangle calculator. Put in three values and get your missing ones. In this case 30 degrees at the center /turn, 22.375 (12 inches per code plus the 10 3/8 you mention here) and 10 for the 10" walkway path code. It returns a value of... "these three values can not be used to create a valid triangle".. Is it possible with todays code to create a 2 or 3 stair landing? I hired a company to draw out plans and there were 5 winder stairs to meet code.
I changed the title of the video, because there are two minimums and this is one of them. Here's a link to what you're referring to as the walk line minimum for winders. www.stairs4u.com/code/winder_walkline.html
@@stairbuilding Does this information change the 10 3/8" measurement? Also will your book on winders (that I just purchased!) have to be modified? Thanks.
At what point would the steps on a winding stair case bre considered a landing for the purpose of providing a continuous handhold with a wall mounted grab rail? I hope that question makes sense
I definitely understand your question about the landing, because winders I've heard plenty of people refer to them as a landing, but in reality they fit better into the step category and would be considered such by most building authorities and inspectors.
Connecting this back to @loueber stair referenced above, I know it is not the intent of this video, but how would you provide a continuous handrail in the ‘S’ shaped reverse winder stair he described?
if i live in an area where code is really not an issue, would it be possible to make the platforms smaller, but keep the same angles?? these videos are amazinh btw thanks for posting.
Yes, if building codes are going to be a problem, then you could lay everything out differently and I imagine could even end up with the same angles. You're also welcome and thanks for watching our videos.
warofwrath remember the building code is for our safety, it's best for our to keep close to the building code even if there are no building code in that area
I’m still struggling with the 36” part. I did extend my landing to be 42”, yet my third winder going up is still only 31.5” after blocking out the wall portion of 10 and 3/8”... help!!
Yeah, that's part of International Residential Code so I think it's pretty widely adopted? The minimum is 10", but I'm 99% sure it still has to be within that 3/8" wiggle room that's held in the rest of the staircase. So that landing split in two probably wouldn't not work. They want that consistent tread depth and riser height to be consistent throughout the entire path of travel to avoid tripping. Especially on winders (Had a quiz about this code just yesterday. Yeehaw)
@@undeadpiano No, the code would allow two step winders like splitting that landing in two. Winders must be consistent but not consistent with the straight run portion. Also, the points of the 2 pie shaped winders would need to be cut off, notched, covered over, etc., so that a minimum 6" tread depth would be had. On a true circular staircase, which is just a bunch of winders wrapped around a pole, that 6" minimum is reduced even further.
Just look at how ignorant that code is... If it goes all the way to the point, that's no good--- but if you take that exact same step and cut 10 1/2 inches off of that point-- then all the sudden it's legal. smh. That 10 3/8 x 6" clearance is still there, whether you cut the point off or not.... It's actually much safer when you build them too small, because then no one will dare to walk on that side... yet when you build them with the 6" like you say--- people feel like it's ok to walk down them and then they fall-- because 6" is still way too small for a tread. I can't stand code inspectors.
@@stairbuilding Yeah.. that's mostly only California code and other states that follow them. It's fine for new construction.. but for an old house that actually needs winding stairs to fit--- it's never going to work. Because if you had enough room to expand your steps to get the 6", then you wouldn't even need winding stairs and would just build it with landings. Even if you added a false over sized post in the center, to get you out to the 6" clearance-- then your overall width will no longer work either. So you literally have to have an area that's already big enough to build regular steps, before you can put in a winder-- which is dumb. The whole point in a winding stair is to make it work in tight spaces where you can't fit a regular stair system... It's always the same thing-- Rules, regulations and laws that do nothing to help anyone, and only get in the way and bring tyranny down onto people that's unnecessary. Like all the ignorant gun law for example.. smh.
This video is pure gold! Redesigning the stairs in a 120 year old house. Very tight space - winders stairs are the solution.
Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you sooo much. I’m currently making one. This is my last obstacle. Great video.
You are so welcome!
I've been looking for this video for ever and it really helps !..............thank you Sir !
You're welcome and thanks for the enthusiastic response.
really good job explaining stair layout
Glad you think so and thanks for letting us know!
Thanks very much!
Code question for you: If the wall around which you are winding has a pass through with a required headroom clearance of 6'8" (per 2018 IRC) would you measure that from the bottom step, or would it have to be measured from the second step since a couple inches of that second step are technically under the pass-through?
I'm thinking it should be measured from the bottom step since the walk line, which is 12" out from the wall, would certainly be on the lowest step. Thoughts?
No, here's a link to our stair building code videos. Look at some of the headroom ones. www.homebuildingandrepairs.com/codes/stair/index.html
YOU have just solved a major problem for me Thanks
Awesome.
For the sake of information, I'll type up the code just for the sort of person that's googling this sort of thing...
R311.5.3.2 Tread Depth.
The minimum tread depth shall be 10" (254mm). The tread depth shall be measured horizontally between vertical planes of the foremost projection of adjacent treads and at a right angle to the treads leading edge. The greatest tread depth within any flight if stairs shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8" (9.5mm). Winder treads shall have a minimum tread depth of 10 inches (254mm) measured as above at a point 12" (305mm) from the side where the treads are narrower. Winder treads shall have a minimum tread depth of 6" (152mm) at any point. Within any flight of stairs, the greatest winder depth at the 12" (305mm) walk line shall not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8" (9.5mm).
Thanks for time to share this information.
Thanks!!
You know that when the minimum is a round number of inches, it's really arbitrary. If this was based on science, this would a precise number, in mm, like 265mm or something.
Excellent explanation video ! Well done and many thanks.
If you happen to follow up on this, curious about issues / code regarding the outside point on the winders. Can that be cut at 45 deg like the inside point ? And how far back ? Keeping the minimum 36" tread length I guess ?
EDIT : And on returning to this, I guess a sub question is where to measure the 36" tread width on the winder. At the faces ? The middle ? Or (probably) whichever is the lesser ? Also, not necessarily going with 45 deg, may be leaning to doing a radius curve, but I imagine the answers apply to both.
As long as you meet the minimum width, usually 36 inches, you should be fine. However, you might need to check with your local building department in your area for the exact measurements.
Don't forget to check out our book on How to Build in Frame Winder Stairs. www.homebuildingandrepairs.com/books/index.html
Does your book describe and detail the process for a "double" winder stair? My basement stairs start facing N, turns west, 3 steps down then turns S.
If it doesn't, it does provide you with information on how to build one individual three-step section that could be duplicated to form a double set of winders going in a variety of different directions.
Muy buena descripción.
With current code these wouldn't pass would they? Code requires a 10" walkway at 12" from the inner side of the stair. Try a triangle calculator. Put in three values and get your missing ones. In this case 30 degrees at the center /turn, 22.375 (12 inches per code plus the 10 3/8 you mention here) and 10 for the 10" walkway path code. It returns a value of... "these three values can not be used to create a valid triangle".. Is it possible with todays code to create a 2 or 3 stair landing? I hired a company to draw out plans and there were 5 winder stairs to meet code.
I changed the title of the video, because there are two minimums and this is one of them. Here's a link to what you're referring to as the walk line minimum for winders.
www.stairs4u.com/code/winder_walkline.html
@@stairbuilding Does this information change the 10 3/8" measurement? Also will your book on winders (that I just purchased!) have to be modified? Thanks.
How does this work when the stair treads have a nose on them (which causes them to overlap)?
His risers r in correct place just run ur BN 1inch past. Ive built these b4
At what point would the steps on a winding stair case bre considered a landing for the purpose of providing a continuous handhold with a wall mounted grab rail? I hope that question makes sense
I definitely understand your question about the landing, because winders I've heard plenty of people refer to them as a landing, but in reality they fit better into the step category and would be considered such by most building authorities and inspectors.
Connecting this back to @loueber stair referenced above, I know it is not the intent of this video, but how would you provide a continuous handrail in the ‘S’ shaped reverse winder stair he described?
Yep, helpful, thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Where does the number come from? I mean how to calculate or guess?
Building Code Books.
Does your book address handrails for these steps? Thanks.
No, just the construction of the stairway, but I am planning on doing a book in the future about handrails.
if i live in an area where code is really not an issue, would it be possible to make the platforms smaller, but keep the same angles?? these videos are amazinh btw thanks for posting.
Yes, if building codes are going to be a problem, then you could lay everything out differently and I imagine could even end up with the same angles. You're also welcome and thanks for watching our videos.
warofwrath remember the building code is for our safety,
it's best for our to keep close to the building code even if there are no building code in that area
Very nice explain, i got sir.., thankz to show this..
You're most welcome
I’m still struggling with the 36” part.
I did extend my landing to be 42”, yet my third winder going up is still only 31.5” after blocking out the wall portion of 10 and 3/8”... help!!
Send me some pictures or a drawing and you can get our email address at the website.
Thanks! I sent an email.
Thanks
Welcome
In michigan, we need not only 6" at the inside, we also need minimum 10" of tread a foot from the inside (line of travel).
9mmkahr same here in Cali, curious if the measurements in this video equal out to that
Yeah, that's part of International Residential Code so I think it's pretty widely adopted? The minimum is 10", but I'm 99% sure it still has to be within that 3/8" wiggle room that's held in the rest of the staircase. So that landing split in two probably wouldn't not work. They want that consistent tread depth and riser height to be consistent throughout the entire path of travel to avoid tripping. Especially on winders
(Had a quiz about this code just yesterday. Yeehaw)
@@undeadpiano No, the code would allow two step winders like splitting that landing in two. Winders must be consistent but not consistent with the straight run portion. Also, the points of the 2 pie shaped winders would need to be cut off, notched, covered over, etc., so that a minimum 6" tread depth would be had. On a true circular staircase, which is just a bunch of winders wrapped around a pole, that 6" minimum is reduced even further.
Just look at how ignorant that code is... If it goes all the way to the point, that's no good--- but if you take that exact same step and cut 10 1/2 inches off of that point-- then all the sudden it's legal. smh. That 10 3/8 x 6" clearance is still there, whether you cut the point off or not.... It's actually much safer when you build them too small, because then no one will dare to walk on that side... yet when you build them with the 6" like you say--- people feel like it's ok to walk down them and then they fall-- because 6" is still way too small for a tread. I can't stand code inspectors.
6 inches is the minimum at edge, but you still need about 10 inches at walk line that is about 1 foot from inside edge of stairs, leaving enough room.
@@stairbuilding Yeah.. that's mostly only California code and other states that follow them. It's fine for new construction.. but for an old house that actually needs winding stairs to fit--- it's never going to work. Because if you had enough room to expand your steps to get the 6", then you wouldn't even need winding stairs and would just build it with landings. Even if you added a false over sized post in the center, to get you out to the 6" clearance-- then your overall width will no longer work either. So you literally have to have an area that's already big enough to build regular steps, before you can put in a winder-- which is dumb. The whole point in a winding stair is to make it work in tight spaces where you can't fit a regular stair system... It's always the same thing-- Rules, regulations and laws that do nothing to help anyone, and only get in the way and bring tyranny down onto people that's unnecessary. Like all the ignorant gun law for example.. smh.