Staircase (WIP) starting to install

[JonnyD]

I have just started a staircase and hopefully it will look a bit like this when its finished

There is going to be a first step quarter landing then a cut string run and then a winder to the top. The architect has cocked up and there is a need for a full height newel to support the floor above to get the required head room. The stairs are going to be painted white and the strings are to be made from southern yellow pine and the treads from 25mm MRMDF and the risers 15mm MRMDF. The Newels and handrail are solid oak and are to be finished with hardwax oil to contrast with the painted staircase.

Strings are cut with a router and jig with a dovetail cutter to give a slight undercut and a tight joint when it is wedged up.

I use a small mdf piece in the jig so that you get a nice neat cut and dont cut to far into the string which is possible with my jig

Riser cut

Tread cut

To do the winder treads the jig needs moving along

Wall side Housed string cut out

The cut string is cut out to the shape of the string using a router and bearing guided cutter. The riser parts are then undercut with a mitre cutter in the router. I use a scribe out of a profile and scribe set.

The back part is then removed so that the riser will fit and join up with the mitre on the string.

A few stages are missing but the stairs are assembled and then the newels test fitted. The stairs are held up on props and clamps and set perfectly level.

Just got the winders to fit at the top and the handrail and spindles to fit.

will keep you posted

Cheers

Jon

 

[mtr1]

Looking good! never made a winder before, always look quite challenging.

 

[OPJ]

Looking good and certainly not something you could achieve in a small workshop. After this job, will you reconsider adding that floor above? :wink:

 

[crazylilting]

Looks great!!

One of the projects on my list of things to do for our place this winter. We don't want a handrail though. Got some 2 inch Scottish pine just waiting for the thicknesser.

 

[MikeG.]

This is an odd one!

Normally with cut strings the risers and goings oversail the string, with a moulding underneath. Presumably here the cut string will be stained or just sealed, but the MDF risers and goings will be carpeted?

Seems odd to me that an architect would want to have the edge of a piece of carpet meeting the string without anything to demarcate the junction......and, the carpet layer is going to have to cut around each spindle. He'll be cursing!!

Still, you just make what the client wants............odd design isn't your fault!!

Mike

 

[JonnyD]

The strings and risers and treads are all going to be painted white. The carpet is going to be a runner down the middle of the stairs so no cutting around the spindles. The customers wanted a plain look so there is not going to be any moulding around the treads or fancy brackets. The tread overhangs the string by 25mm.

An architect cant be blamed for the design as i had to do it

cheers

Jon

 

[MikeG.]

Oh I see...well that makes sense then! I hadn't thought of paint......

Mike

 

[JonnyD]

Done a bit more today. The winders always take longer than you think they will a few templates and a couple of attempts at the middle one had them fitted.

Had just about enough time to make some handrail up 65X52mm section

cheers

Jon

 

[Mr Ed]

Its a bit of luck that you had those steels installed just before you take on a staircase job...

Looking good

Ed

 

[JonnyD]

Yeah the steels have been quite usefull just got to find the time to board them out.

The steel was put in last week and should give an extra area of 30X20ft and a 10X13ft piece at the front.

Cheers

Jon

 

[Doug B]

That extra room above will be a massive bonus Jonny, it will also make it warmer "downstairs" as the winter draws in. You want to move your bench under there

Those stairs are looking good, will you be fitting them? if so can we have pictures of them installed?

 

[chippy1970]

This is an odd one!

Normally with cut strings the risers and goings oversail the string, with a moulding underneath. Presumably here the cut string will be stained or just sealed, but the MDF risers and goings will be carpeted?

Seems odd to me that an architect would want to have the edge of a piece of carpet meeting the string without anything to demarcate the junction......and, the carpet layer is going to have to cut around each spindle. He'll be cursing!!

Still, you just make what the client wants............odd design isn't your fault!!

Mike

Doesnt look odd to me I have seen and worked on loads of similar staircases as Jonnyd says its all painted white and you have a runner carpet so it doesnt go anywhere near the spindles.

 

[JonnyD]

That extra room above will be a massive bonus Jonny, it will also make it warmer "downstairs" as the winter draws in. You want to move your bench under there

Those stairs are looking good, will you be fitting them? if so can we have pictures of them installed?

The idea is to have a finishing room underneath the mezzanine. This will be insulated and heated hopefully by a new woodburner with a back boiler so i can have some rads throughout the workshop.

I will be fitting the stairs and taking some pics. I doubt anyone else would be able to figure out how they go together

Cheers

Jon

 

[JonnyD]

Heres an update on the staircase.

The handrail has been fitted. I prefer to use a large dowel screw in the newel post and bolt the handrails on. The top dowel screw is angled into the newel post at the same angle as the handrail and the bottom one goes in perpendicular so it slides into the end of the handrail as the newel post is assembled.

Bottom joint

Top Joint

Pulls up nice and tight and is rock solid

The stairs have been taken apart and are being spray primed.

The newels have been stop chamfered and sanded up ready for installing.

The newel that supports the winders has quite a few cutouts

I am going to finish priming everything tommorow ready for installation on Monday.

Cheers

Jon

 

[crazylilting]

Now that's some serious oak!!!

Looking very good by the way, i've been following with interest, can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[Mr Ed]

Looking forward to seeing the installed job Jonny

Ed

 

[JonnyD]

Just a quick update. Been spray priming the staircase today and has turned out pretty well.

Thanks for looking and the comments

Cheers

Jon

 

[Paul Chapman]

Great thread, Jon, and impressive work 8)

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[JonnyD]

I have started fitting the staircase today didnt get there until 11-00 as we had to wait for a timber delivery so didnt get as much done as i had hoped. The stairs are going into an old farmhouse which is being done up. The area is quite dark with not much natural light so that was the main reason to go with a painted finish with the hardwood newels and handrails.

Started of by putting the staircase roughly level in the stairwell.

Holes were drilled so that the newel could be drawbored onto the string

Newel post fitted

The first 2 winders were fitted with the stairs level but to get the winder string and the rest of the treads installed the stairs had to be leaned forward so that they cleared the trimmer joist. The rest of the stairs could then be assembled from above.

leaning forward

Winders finished

Left everything clamped up so glue could go off overnight.

Cheers

Jon

 

[JonnyD]

This will be the last update for a while. The staircase is finished apart from the spindles and the landing gallery but it has been decided that these will be done after the plastering has been completed.

Main view of the stairs

Bottom of large newel and angled first tread

Top winders

The Top newel supporting the winders

Top Handrail Joint

Bottom Handrail showing some quite nice quartered figuring in the oak. The oak has been treated with osmo polyx oil

Thanks for looking and the comments

Cheers

Jon