another flight of stairs

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katellwood

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Near Dartford, Kent
Following an entry I placed on this thread and now having a bit of enforced time on my hands

stair-advice-please-t118948-15.html

I would now like to go through the build of this flight of stairs

Firstly I would like to congratulate MikeG on his excellent build of his staircase and apologise in advance re the lack of pictures taken during the build.

This staircase and balustrade also acts as the support for the upper landing with the client wishing to maintain a view to some original leaded windows found in the property (which dates from the 18th century and was originally a pub/Inn) and which I have previously restored and framed in oak.

In addition beneath the main stairs is another flight which accesses the cellar and was extremely difficult to design owing to the limitations of the floor space area available

All the newels are constructed from 90mm square u/s softwood (made up of two pieces of 50mm glued back to back to prevent and movement. These were then clad in 20mm panelled oak creating 130mm square newels

Hope the pictures help in understanding this

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A full size rod in plan was created on an 8 x 4 sheet of mdf to locate all wall and wall corner locations and the radius in plan.

From the rod a jig was set out and built out of ply, 2x2’s and 3 layers 6mm mdf glued together and clamped with ratchet straps to facilitate making the curved string (sorry no photo’s of this however I still have the jig if anyone any pictures).
Upon making the jig it was then placed on the rod and riser lines of the cured section projected onto the jig followed by tread lines, in essence I turned the jig into a curved rod which included the top and bottom lines of the string.

As this setup was too big for my airbag and also the reason for three layers of 6mm mdf I covered to area of the string on the jig with clear packing tape then laminated 4mm birch ply to a thickness of 28mm. This was done in two stages with the first stage being glued on top of the second stage in an attempt to eliminate springback.

Lengths of materials/offcuts kicking around the workshop were utilised to clamp the ply to the jig, I also glued strips of hardboard with CA to these offcuts on the outer edges to spread the clamping effect.

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Once the ply had dried I resawed a piece of oak to 5mm on the bandsaw and ran it through the drum sander down to 4mm. This again was placed on the jig and all clamped up again

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When everything was fully cured the jig was used as a setting out rod for the curved string and a reverse curved base was made for the router, the base had a straight edge at a right angle to the curve to allow it to run alongside of another straight edge

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The riser housings were created in a similar way with underside wedge room also being routed (again a lack of pictures here). The housings in the upper newel were also routered and a dry fit was attempted. This is where working alone can be a right pain trying to balance/support everything to check all the joints.

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This whole upper curved section was glued and wedged, in addition I screwed the treads through the back of the curved string to keep everything tight. (both treads and risers are made from solid oak as opposed veneered mdf for the risers)

I then made a short section of two treads with closed strings which went against walls, this was attached to the curved string with a series of dominoes

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To further make this joint more secure I routered a couple of 30mm x 6mm deep grooves into the back of the curved and straight string and glued some appropriate strips into the groove to improve strength.

This assembled upper section was to be jointed into two newel posts half way up the full stair where it came into contact with walls (all will become evident as I proceed).

The next stage was the lower section which was to be cut or open string. I would have liked to have included brackets to the design as I think they enhance a stair plus they can hide a multitude of fixings however, on this job it was not to be however, I did incorporate mitred breadboard ends to all the lower treads. Again I did not photograph the construction of the cut string but have a sketchup of how the construction went

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All joints were fitted and as much of this section was glued in the workshop to as larger sections as were practicable to facilitate transport and access. Scotia moulding was machined added to the underside of the treads.

NB, on a cut string to secure the riser a screw can be used behind the scotia and behind the tread prior to it being fitted

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Re the assembly, I will show what photo’s I have taken, any questions please ask.

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A bullnose step was made however the fitting of this awaits until a new floor is fitted and I can scribe the riser to the floor (its not level)

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To follow is a the few photo’s I took re balustrading I know I should have taken more but I just get engrossed in the workshop and in essence I forget

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Currently stalled from the final finish as waiting for some slightly longer wrought ironwork being powder coated, when fully finished with snagging, final sanding and oiling I will post more photo’s

Please any questions, comments constructive criticism please don’t hesitate

Thanks

Chris
 
From my perspective, that looks like a display of proper skill. Well practised too.
Thanks for posting. It took a while for my jaw to close.
xyo
 
Fabulous, Chris. That looks wonderful. Love the curved string, and the curved handrails. But particularly, I love the paneled newels. I drew mine like that, but changed my mind. Seeing those I kind of wish I'd stuck with the idea. That all makes mine look extremely simple.

Just a thought, though. Is there a minimum 50mm going on all those steps winding around the newel?
 
Super work. The photos say it all. Clearly you have the skill and the kit to support it. Looks really good to me.
 
Fabulous work!

I would loved to been with you and see you make those curved handrails.

How many hours involved in the complete job?

Sent from my SM-J530F using Tapatalk
 
Top job =D> =D> =D>

Good to know there are still some craftsmen left left in the world.
 
Thanks all for the kind and encouraging comments. Mike yes the going on the winders at the newel are in excess of 50mm, with incorporating a scotia and the rounding of the tread the nosing is 35mm that plus an 130mm newel the going is approx 60-65mm

In relation to time on and off been on it since Oct last but not full time as there were numerous delays mainly waiting for the wrought iron as i did not supply it.

Further to the above, I would like to share how I set out the oval on the goose/swan neck

I, like probably a lot of you enjoy puzzles etc, and enjoy watching this guy on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI2p-e7dL3E

I thought what if the midpoint of the ladder was offset i.e. not midpoint, this would create a major and minor axis and as the ladder slid down the wall a true oval would be formed.

Substitute ladder for a rod the length of both major and minor axis with a pencil at the meeting point and as stated you get a true accurate oval. Then using two rods taking into consideration the depth of the handrail you achieve a handrail template with no messing around with bits of string and nails (wished I’d taken pictures)

So in true sketchup style

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Some of you may probably use this method or similar but thought I would share

The main curve in plan is purely a semicircle which was achieved with a router on a radius bar then a bearing guide on the spindle
 
MikeG.":w72cegmz said:
Just a thought, though. Is there a minimum 50mm going on all those steps winding around the newel?

I always found building inspectors interpreted this as 50 mm of tread showing where it meets the newel which is easier to achieve (fit in) then the 50 mm going which it really should be but who am I to question them.
 
I've never had a Building Inspector be that lenient! It's very hard with 90mm newels to get more than 3 winders to work, and there is often a little secondary newel planted alongside the main one. This one is deceiving because the newel is 130+ square, which fools the eye somewhat when you're used to smaller.
 
MikeG.":751yykhl said:
I've never had a Building Inspector be that lenient! It's very hard with 90mm newels to get more than 3 winders to work, and there is often a little secondary newel planted alongside the main one. This one is deceiving because the newel is 130+ square, which fools the eye somewhat when you're used to smaller.
It's ok just to say you got it wrong. [WINKING FACE]

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
 
does this help

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and any interpretations

I take it as the width of the tread inc nosing not the going from the pitch line (where riser meets tread) but I might be wrong

In the past i have increased the nosing on kite winders only on a narrow stair to meet the regs dictated by centre line of winders being same or greater then going, got away with it.

my experience is council man/woman walks up and down stair to see if it feels right, checks for 2m head height from pitch line and sub 100mm between balusters.
 

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Looks like I'm wrong on the 50 mm going thing then #-o

I don't do staircases anymore but sure it was 50 mm going and not tread width, although it was actually 2" at the time so yeah I'm probably out of date with the regs....
 
It is minimum going, not tread. It's clear in the Regs (para 1.18B), and in the NHBC standards. However, the diagram in the regs is misleading as it definitely shows tread rather than going.
 
That's a lovely job. Just the idea of the layout for that makes my head spin.
 
You're missing the interpretation, Jake. It's right there in what you posted:

".....for the going" (of tapered treads....). The going is the nose-to-nose measurement.
 
Lovely work,I have made a few flights of stairs in my time but never curved work like this.Brilliant execution of the handrails and the made up newels.Your attention to detail is to be admired.Not wanting to sound patronising but very well done,regards Kevin.
 
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