Wooden Steps for Elegant and Functional Stair Designs
This past week, we began looking at an interesting set of steps in a wooded area. The steps are simple and rustic and accomplish the simple purpose of making it a bit easier to walk down a otherwise relatively steep hillside. The steps don’t meet the building code though. They weren’t built in a way that was intended to be professional. Officially, we always recommend against anything that’s not built to meet the building code. Today though, we’ll just look at some of the differences between this type of construction and one that is intended to meet the building code. Last week, we mentioned that there is a significant variance between the riser height of each step.
The building code requires consistent riser heights of a stairway. The rules generally require no more than 3/8 inch variation over the span of the stairway between each individual riser height. That’s a relatively stringent requirement. This can help people navigate a stairway more safely because when there is significant variance, it can lead to people losing their stride. When people lose their stride while climbing a set of stairs or descending, they can trip and fall. Tripping and falling on a set of stairs can be very dangerous.
The building code generally requires that all risers in a stairway be within 3/8 inch height variance from one to the next and overall as well. That means that not only can each individual tread not be more than 3/8 inch different in height than every other one in line, but the greatest riser height and the lowest riser height of all must also be within 3/8 of an inch maximum difference.
In addition to the requirement for consistency in the riser height, discussed above, there’s also a requirement for maximum riser height. In DC, in most contexts, stair risers are required to be more than 8.25” tall, in most types of stairways. Here, these stairs go outside of that requirement as well. Particular stair risers are significantly tall as we mentioned.
This particular stairway was meant to follow the existing grade, found in the natural environment. The angle or slope of that overall grade doesn’t allow for a Stairway which meets the modern building code. In some cases, particularly in historic construction, exceptions can be made, in certain circumstances. For things that are historic, where exceptions are made, those exceptions are generally considered related to grandfathered conditions. Grandfather conditions are ones that were built before the building code and are not required to meet or match the building code requirements of today.
Above, we mentioned the requirements for the consistency between stair risers and the minimum required stair riser heights. In addition to these items, particularly when building modern decks, it’s important to have some more consistent constraints apply to stair treads as well. Stair treads should be no less than 9” deep in most cases, but we recommend a depth of at least 11.5 in. We feel like it’s much more comfortable to walk up a set of stairs if the tread depth is larger.
The larger tread depth creates a passage that allows for a more comfortable gate in the typical steps. In other words, it’s just more comfortable to have a stride up a set of steps or down a set of steps if the tread depth is at least slightly larger.
Also, in addition to the simple geometric constraints around the stairway’s reads and risers, there are many other elements here that do not meet the building code. For example, the method of connection and attachment of the stairway does not meet many of the requirements that contractors must build for deck stairways. Decks are required to be assembled with mechanical connections through fasteners. However, in addition to the mechanical connections required for deck construction, metal structural ties must also be used between disparate elements of a deck and a deck stairway. Here, those elements have been omitted.
They’re required in deck and stair construction for structural continuity. The deck has requirements for capacity, load, in terms of the weight which can be sustained or supported on the deck and or deck stairway. The deck also must meet additional requirements for resistance to uplift. The structural ties can help create continuity or connectivity between the elements of the deck which helps prevent uplift. Uplift generally can be a threat during times of heavy winds. Particularly when there are storm surges or hurricane force winds, without proper uplift protection or capacity, a deck can be lifted away from the ground or into pieces.
Use a contractor who understands and cares about doing things right. Always, feel free to reach out to us here at Dupont Decks and Patios. We are happy to help with almost all steps of the deck building and design process. A backyard and outdoor space should make a significant, positive impact on both quality of life and home value. We can help with more than just decks, we also build patios, pergolas, ramadas, awnings, gazebos, arbors, and privacy fences.
Let us know about your ideas and talk to us if you have questions about possibilities. We are happy to participate in improving your outdoor space and quality of life! You can call us at (202) 774-9128. You can find us online at https://dupontdeckspatiosdc.com and you can email us there as well at https://dupontdeckspatiosdc.com/contact-us
