How to make wooden steps for a porch with your own hands - Review and types, how to calculate the required number of steps? Review + Video

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When planning the construction of a new two-story house, you need to think about the construction of a staircase, which should be reliable, safe and aesthetically attractive. To achieve such a result, the material from which the structure will be formed plays an important role. Oak is considered the most durable and beautiful in design. He has rightfully occupied a leading position for many years. This elite material is used when decorating classic and non-traditional modern interiors.

Types of steps

Oak furniture and various wood accessories have never been considered cheap. This is explained by the complex preparatory process (drying and staining) of the workpieces. The result is a high quality product. Not everyone can afford to purchase oak products, however, the price does not count when the splendor and durability of the product are at stake. Therefore, when cladding flights of stairs, oak tiles are often used, guided precisely by their long service life. Oak steps last a long time without changing their positive characteristics.

There are 3 types of steps

Kinds:

1. Solid. To create them, a whole piece of wood is used, and the structure of the wood pattern does not change. The main condition before installing the panels is that the wood must be kept for some time in the room where the adaptation work is supposed to be carried out.
2. Solid lamella. Products are obtained by superimposing horizontal plates on top of each other. The pattern in this case is not lost.
3. Spliced. The method is good if you need to create a very durable wooden structure. The method is based on merging several lamellas with tenons or grooves in the vertical direction. It is in demand when lining the treads of a flight of stairs.

How to further process the finished product

Wooden stairs and stepladders are usually treated additionally. This processing stage is called finishing. It terminates all previous processes. The finishing coating ensures strong adhesion of the parts and completes the decoration.

Before assembly, it is recommended to treat the wood with special antiseptic compounds to eliminate the possibility of rotting and molding. For this purpose, stain is used. The composition of the stain impregnates the wood, creates a protective film and extends the shelf life of the wood. When the steps are screwed in, the wood can be treated with drying oil. It is an oily liquid that acts as a pre-coat before painting.

Then the finished product is coated with paint. If the stepladder is intended for room decoration, then it is recommended to paint it in several colors to create interesting locations. Wood carving is considered a special type of decoration.

Types of wood for steps

The aesthetic appearance of a wooden structure depends entirely on the type of wood involved in construction work. For the result to be pleasing to the eye, the tree must meet the following requirements:

• the surface of the elements must be uniform, without defects: cracks, areas damaged by beetles, knots;
• The moisture content of the wood should be no more than 12%. If the indicator is too high, the material should be thoroughly dried.

In this video you will learn how to make wooden steps:

Advice! In places with high loads, it is better to use blanks made from a single piece of wood or take laminated veneer lumber.

The following tree species are involved in the manufacture of products:

• steps made of pine - the hardness is not high, so they can be easily processed. After some time, yellow spots may appear on pine products. But this material can be easily found at an affordable price;
• birch – it produces fairly hard specimens. They serve for a very long time, but, as a rule, large pieces cannot be made from it due to the presence of defects and differences in shades;
• larch – the structure contains tannins, thanks to which larch steps do not deform, but the high cost does not allow the material to get ahead among its competitors;
• beech is a material with a beautiful pattern and color range, susceptible to the influence of ambient humidity. Beech stair treads are recommended for use in interior structures;
• ash - the plates are hard and bright. It is the flashy color that scares off many buyers;
• oak is the most suitable material for steps. Oak stairs are durable, very beautiful, but expensive.

Preparation of material

Before making wooden steps for the porch, you need to choose the right material.

When choosing a material, you need to pay attention to coniferous wood (pine or spruce). But to make the staircase design more reliable, it is necessary to give preference to such types of coniferous wood as larch and cedar. These materials are not subject to rotting and swelling, so a staircase made of cedar and larch will last a long time without repair.

If you bought material with natural humidity, then it becomes necessary to carefully prepare :

• 
  The material is dried well in a dry room with good ventilation. This may take some time. Lumber usually dries within 3-4 months;

• You can also buy boards for stairs and steps already prepared, that is, they have been processed in special chambers;
• To check the condition of the tree, use shavings. In wood that has dried well, the shavings break without bending;
• To protect wood, special compounds are used against rotting and fungus.

Buy ready-made steps in Petrovich =>>

To build steps to the porch, you need to first prepare the following tools:

1. grinding machine;
2. electric plane;
3. a circular saw;
4. pencil;
5. ruler.

The thickness of the boards for steps should be from 30 to 40 millimeters.

Calculation of stair steps

The flight of stairs is calculated based on the average step length of a person. There are certain formulas for carrying out calculations that can be used to calculate the height and depth of a march element. But there is one rule - when walking, a person must place 1/3 of his foot on the tread of the march. The generally accepted depth should be 20-30 centimeters. A smaller size will make going down the stairs much more difficult.

In their home, when building stairs, they resort to the following trick - they take the shoes of all household members, calculate the average length and, by adding 2 centimeters, get the depth of the tread. If the calculation led to a small depth (in the case of a steep staircase), then it is possible to provide an overlap on the steps, which will prevent the foot from sliding and prevent a person from falling on the stairs.

This is interesting: the optimal height of steps.

Regulatory documents that reflect the requirements that such stairs must satisfy

A wooden ladder, including one made by yourself, must meet the requirements reflected in the following documents:

• GOST 24258-88 “Technical conditions for scaffolding and temporary structures”;
• GOST 26887-86 “Stairs and platforms used for installation and construction work.”

The staircase will be more stable and safer to use if, during its manufacture, the sidewalls are not parallel to each other, but are made to converge upward. But in this case, the steps will be of unequal length, which means that making calculations and manufacturing the structure will be somewhat more difficult. It is more correct and safer to climb up or down such a structure by grabbing or holding on to the bowstrings rather than the crossbars.

Geometric parameters of steps

As you know, all objects are measured by basic parameters: length, width and height. Wood steps are no exception:

• height – accepted in the range from 15 to 22 centimeters;
• depth - the horizontal part on which a person rests his foot;
• width - the distance between the two edges of the flight of stairs;
• The thickness of the riser and tread is at least 25 and 35 mm, respectively.

Attention! The size of the tread depth can vary in turning and spiral staircase models. This way, each family member can choose which side is better to go up or down.

Based on the data obtained, the angle of inclination of the staircase with the number of treads is determined.

Optimal slope of the stairs

The inclination of the staircase design affects how much space it will take up in the room. If the room is huge, you can freely install a large staircase with a wide flight of stairs. In small rooms the rise is steeper.

For ease of movement, the slope is taken to be from 23 to 37 degrees. When the number is less than 23, the span is easily replaced with a ramp - a flat surface connecting two others at different heights.

The slope should not be less than 23 degrees

Calculation of the number of steps in a march

To determine the number of steps required for a climb, you need to measure the height of the floor (rise) and divide by the height of the proposed wooden step for the stairs. If there is a turntable, two calculations are performed with two lifting heights: from the floor to the platform and after it - to the next floor. The thickness of the floor on the next floor must be taken into account.

Wooden steps can be determined graphically. This method involves the use of graph paper, onto which a flight of stairs is transferred to scale. Using special safety formulas and the height of the room, the depth of the tread is determined. The remaining wooden steps are taken according to the obtained dimensions.

This is interesting: how to make calculations for stairs using a constructor?

Manufacturing stages

Assembling a staircase consists of several stages, each of which is very important.

1. Design and calculation. Depending on the specific tasks and location of the staircase, its type is selected and engineering calculations are performed. We will go into more detail at this stage below; it plays a decisive role.
2. Selection and purchase of materials. It is necessary to determine not only the type of wood, but also the linear dimensions and the total amount of lumber. At the same time, you should buy elements for additional decor and hardware.
3. Preparation of elements. These works have differences associated with the design features of the staircase. One system is used to prepare parts for a propeller, and a completely different one for a sustainer.
4. Assembly of the structure. The staircase is assembled according to a specific algorithm; it has no unnecessary elements. Each node is very important and if its stability is violated, the entire structure suffers.
5. Final finishing. The surface of a wooden staircase is covered with various impregnations, varnishes or paints. Such coatings perform two tasks: they increase the service life and improve the appearance of the structure.

The key step is designing the structure

Before studying the instructions for making stairs themselves, you need to familiarize yourself with the theoretical part.

Installing wooden steps on a metal staircase

Holes are drilled in the metal frame of the stairs every 15 centimeters. Make an indent of 2 centimeters from the edge. Wooden steps made of oak or other wood will be attached to these holes. During the welding process of metal elements of a flight of stairs, some inaccuracies may occur, resulting in height differences. Such defects can be easily corrected by gluing the backing onto the frame, which can be plywood.

To securely fix the substrate, use self-tapping screws. To brighten up the cold metal, wooden steps are made with a protrusion.

Arrangement of stringers

When choosing the length of a march or span, it is necessary to distinguish between elements such as a bowstring (a load-bearing part of the structure with grooves for fixing steps) and the so-called stringer - a beam with a comb for their installation. Their geometric shape and size also influence the final appearance of this structure.

Before you start making wooden stringers yourself, you should take into account that their length is directly related to the angle of inclination, the value of which varies from 27 to 45 degrees.

Experts do not recommend making stairs with too steep a slope, as this is not entirely convenient for older people. At the same time, making it too flat will also be wrong, since this will significantly increase the length (it should not exceed 5 meters).

The dimensions of the stringer can be calculated using the classic formula for a right triangle, according to which its unknown side is determined through the other two (through the angular sine).

Installing wooden steps on concrete stairs

Almost any structure made of concrete does not shine with beauty, so they try to cover it with another, more elegant material. Wooden steps made of oak or other types of wood look very impressive, although they require considerable investment. Cladding work should only be carried out on dry concrete, otherwise the wooden steps may become deformed from absorbed moisture. The horizontalness of the surfaces is carefully checked using a building level. If necessary, a screed or plywood backing is provided.

Upon completion of the preparatory work, you can install wooden steps:

1. The installation procedure begins with the bottom riser. The first step is to securely fasten it to the floor; to do this, two self-tapping screws must be screwed into the end of the tile. Their caps are trimmed.
2. Then holes are made in the floor for self-tapping screws and filled with glue.
3. Risers are inserted into the prepared places.
4. Glue is applied to the horizontal part of the march and treads are placed.
5. You need to put a weight on top.

Finishing

After installing the staircase opening, finishing will be required. It consists of painting or varnishing the element.

Painting consists of three stages:

• preparatory work;
• coloring;
• applying a varnish layer.

First of all, you need to prepare each part of the staircase structure for the painting process. This will require puttying and sanding.

After the putty has dried, you can begin sanding the surface. The work is divided into two parts:

• rough, superficial treatment, after which you should wait two days;
• second grinding.

After sanding, the wood acquires a flat and smooth surface. Now you should start applying the painting material. Before painting, you should apply a primer coat. The primer is selected to match the paint. There is white, black and even blue primer. It is recommended to coat the stairs with alkyd or urethane paint. They are best suited for wooden stairs.

Some users use stain for coloring. This product can highlight the uniqueness of the wood pattern, so the staircase takes on an attractive appearance. Natural drawings are always in demand, so you shouldn’t hide the beauty under a layer of paint.

When the paint is dry, you can begin applying varnish. Matte varnishes are popular. It is recommended to apply the product in three stages. Each layer is applied after the previous one has dried. If bubbles appear on the surface, they need to be sanded down.

Wooden stairs can be finished with laminate. To do this, you will need to take into account the characteristics of this material.

• A laminate of at least class 31 is suitable for work.
• When purchasing material, you should remember that each step must be equipped with a solid board.
• Cladding work is carried out using solid material, so it is necessary to carry out competent calculations of the product.
• Often steps can have different widths, so calculations should be made based on the widest part. Then you will need to count the number of steps. The resulting amount of material will only be needed for treads.
• Then you need to multiply the height of the risers by the number of steps. If the staircase is facing, you should remember that there is a landing.

• Before finishing, it is recommended to place a cork or polyethylene backing under each step. This will create high-quality shock absorption on the surface, and will also reduce the noise level when moving along the stairs.
• To connect multi-level surfaces, special profiles are available for sale. With their help you can create beautiful decoration of joints. The profile is also responsible for distributing the load and uniform abrasion of the material.
• To carry out laminate finishing, you will need tools. It is most convenient to cut the board using an electric jigsaw. If this tool is not available, you can use a hacksaw or circular saw.

How to make steps from wood with your own hands

To do the work yourself, it is advisable to have the following tools on hand: an electric saw and plane, a grinder and a milling machine for processing the edges of wooden tiles. On rotary structures of a flight of stairs, individual tread elements are prepared according to a template and treated with a protective compound. The steps are secured to wooden stringers or bowstrings using nails or glue. After completion of the work, the junction of the march and the walls are covered with a plinth.

A detailed description of how to make wooden steps, namely steps from a terrace board, is presented on our website.

Metal

Making a model takes longer. Channels or pipes are used for it. The frame is mounted in several ways:

• Installation of the central support. It is fixed in the middle with anchor bolts, then the fillets for the steps are welded.
• Straight bowstrings. Similar to the previous option, only two profiles are used on the sides.
• Stringers. Individual elements are welded in a stepwise manner, according to the location of the treads. Sheets of iron with sawn teeth are also used.

The ascent to the second floor is also arranged using a screw method, in this case one vertical support is installed around which the steps are fastened, bolts or welding are used; the second option is better, but it is more difficult to do independently.

Metal staircase

The steps are made in one piece from a sheet of corrugated iron, or only a frame is constructed from corners, to which the boards will be screwed in the future.

Treatment of steps with protective agents

Steps made of larch or oak are quite resistant to external influences. But there are several techniques that can further improve the protective properties of the material. Oak steps can be varnished. This adds shine and prevents minor scratches on the surface. Temperature changes and humidity have a negative impact on wooden steps; they can become deformed. Varnishing the surface eliminates such a nuisance.

It is better to use polyurethane mixtures as varnish, which can withstand significant damage. The varnish is applied in three layers, but first a primer is applied.

The next operation to extend the life of the product is wood impregnation. At the stage of selling wooden products, no one can say for sure in what conditions they will be used: in dry places with high loads or wet conditions.

Positive effects of impregnation:

• creates a surface wear-resistant layer and improves the performance of wood (not so important for steps made of larch and oak);
• reduces the sensitivity of the material to ultraviolet radiation - paints and varnishes last a long time and do not fade;
• improves the moisture resistance of wood.

Advice! A board treated with paint and varnish coatings and various impregnations does not allow air to pass through it well, so unpleasant odors will accumulate in the room more quickly. This drawback can be eliminated by good ventilation of the room.

Form

The design of the feet is greatly influenced by their shape, chosen taking into account the possible designs of this structural element. They can be:

• straight (the so-called steps with rectangular platforms), which are the simplest of all possible designs;
• with round or semicircular contours, differing in their radial orientation;
• and finally, trapezoidal, in which the sides have different depths (in this case, the structure takes the shape of a trapezoid).

The last version of the steps is usually used when arranging spiral and special rotary staircases made of wood.

When constructing porches and other simple structures, the first type is mainly used as the least slippery. Often there are original methods of making steps, the implementation of which uses halves of a log (they are called that - stairs from a log to a porch).

Content

• Introduction
• Wood grain direction

• Wall stringers
• External stringers
• Attaching the stringer to the ceiling
• Connecting stringers to each other

• Attaching steps to a string - methods

• Methods of fastening balusters
• Installing railings on stairs
• Attaching the handrail to the pole

We make grooves in bowstrings

To make a high-quality recess in the support girder, we will use a plywood stencil. We will make a stencil from a rectangular piece of plywood and from two bars nailed to the plywood parallel to the elongated sides, so that they lie at a distance equal to the width of the lumber used.

The grooves for the treads can be hollowed out by hand, but it is better to use a milling machine. The grooves in the supporting beam must be selected towards the fibers at an angle, regardless of the material used for this device.

We proceed directly to milling the recesses. It is better to place the bias beam wood on the sawhorses, put a stencil on top, aligning the marked tread line on the support with the tread line in the stencil, and temporarily fix the stencil on the beam. Using a milling cutter in a couple of passes, we will go through the beam to a depth of no more than 20 mm; the corners of the grooves will finally need to be carefully processed with a chisel.

When assembling the installation, it is recommended to treat the ends of the ledges and recesses of the oblique beam with glue. There is no need to specifically recommend any glue, since there is a wide variety of proposed compositions for working with wooden surfaces, which must be accompanied by annotations.

Additionally, the treads can be strengthened with bolts, studs, screws, pins, etc. From the outside of the supporting support, screws can be screwed into the thickness of the tread. To prevent additional joints from being visible, we bury the fastening heads into the wood and putty them. You can screw the screws deep enough into the support and seal the hole with wood plugs, and then sand these places.

During the process of assembling the ascending system, inconvenience may appear in the form of damaged grooves in the inclined beam, into which the wood of the joint does not fit tightly enough. This misunderstanding can be corrected using the method of wedging ledge blanks in recesses (grooves). To do this, we will expand the recesses of the load-bearing support in the shape of a trapezoid with an angle of inclination towards the rear part. We wedge the tread blank inserted into the hole from below using wood wedges, which will tightly press the tread to the top of the recess (Fig.).

It is better for an amateur to install rotary structures through the platform

Attaching support posts to the floor

Support pillars are vertically located load-bearing elements that form the basis of the frame of the lower part of the staircase. They provide support for the winder steps (landing) and the stringer (string).

There are no special requirements for the wood of the part - the main thing is that it is uniform, without cross-layers and large knots. Typically made from the same type of wood as the rest of the staircase.

In order for the future structure to be strong and reliable, the pillars must be firmly secured. This can be done using steel angles, studs, zip bolts, wood glue and other devices - there are a lot of options.

Finally, it is recommended to connect the columns with supporting stiffening beams.

Of course, by this time, all the technological holes and grooves for other elements of the staircase should already be made in the pillar structure.

Options for attaching steps to the string

Frame porch

It is made much easier from timber measuring approximately 100×100 mm, boards from 25 mm thick for steps and platforms, and boards from 40 mm thick for stringers. A frame is made from timber according to the dimensions of the porch. Frame elements can be secured with metal corners and self-tapping screws. Do not forget to waterproof between the vertical posts and the foundation.

Frame porch (markings)

Marking cutouts in stringers for steps

For flooring the site, use logs; the distance between them depends on the load and thickness of the boards. Check the position of the logs by level; they should all lie in the same plane.

The calculation of the stringers is the same as for the construction of a wooden staircase. If desired, the entire frame can be covered with boards on all sides, this will improve the appearance of the porch. There is no desire - close only the upper belt of the frame to hide the ends of the beam and the fixation points. It is advisable to treat all lumber with special impregnations to increase their service life.

Porch installation

Drawing up a sketch of the porch is a prerequisite. Mark all the dimensions on it and prepare the blanks taking into account the drawing. If you are confident in your abilities, you can prepare the boards as a set and then fix them to the frame. If you have no such experience, measure each board separately. It will take more time, but there is no chance of errors.

Porch on wooden stilts

Porch made of boards