robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1 | reply to dbamber
Re: Adjusting Stairs The inspector doesn't care. What they want to see is that the risers are the same. This staircase, at this point in time, is legal and has not failed an inspection. The inspector was nice enough to point out the problem to the OP. I believe that it will be the final inspection which it will fail if the problem is not resolved. |
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 PacratOld and CrankyPremium,MVM
join:2001-03-10
Cortland, OH
 ·RoadRunner Cable
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I believe that the building inspector will bitch about any variance in riser height as it really IS a safety problem. I have a double staircase up to my second floor deck on the back of the house, and it took me quite a while to get the tread heights just right. Any variance in step height can/will promote a misstep and a tripping hazard. The human body does not adapt well even slight variance in step heights.
If it were me, I'd start over and take great pains to make sure each rise is the same from top to bottom.
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Keep your eye on the ball, your shoulder to the wheel, your nose to the grindstone, and your ear to the ground. Now, try to work in that position!!! |
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 SandSharkLong may you runPremium,MVM
join:2000-05-23
Santa Fe, TX
kudos:3 | reply to joetaxpayer
Why not call the building inspector and ask his opinion. Isn't that why they're there? |
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 ArthurSWatch Those Blinking LightsPremium
join:2000-10-28
Hamilton, ON | reply to joetaxpayer
Here you go:
»www.ez-stairs.com/index.html
You should inquire whether the inspector will allow this solution to be used. |
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 John GaltForward, MarchPremium
join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp
kudos:3 | reply to joetaxpayer
The inspector DOES care. The issue is not height alone, but that the installation also be of sufficient strength and structural integrity to withstand the imposed loads.
Stairs are one of the things that get MUCH scrutiny...the other being elevators.
Inspectors are also (generally) prohibited from giving/offering advice/directing the "means and methods" of the work to be accomplished. That is why they cannot tell you how to do the work, but when you get it done they can tell you that you did it wrong. 
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»www.archive.org/details/Meatpies_1984
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SandSharkLong may you runPremium,MVM
join:2000-05-23
Santa Fe, TX
kudos:3 | Maybe they can't tell him how to do the work, but they surely can tell him beforehand if what he's wanting to do is going to be acceptable or not. |
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John GaltForward, MarchPremium
join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp
kudos:3 | said by SandShark:Maybe they can't tell him how to do the work, but they surely can tell him beforehand if what he's wanting to do is going to be acceptable or not.
All he has to do is follow the approved plans.
But yes, the inspector will generally listen to what the homeowner is proposing. If he likes you...
This is why it is important to develop a good working relationship with the local inspectors from Day One, and, believe me, they do talk about the "difficult cases" and their projects back at the office. 
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»www.archive.org/details/Meatpies_1984
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 chambercPremium
join:2008-08-05
Irving, TX | reply to joetaxpayer
Your house, do what you want. Kick the bum welfare recipients that are government employees out of your house. |
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 joetaxpayerI'M Here Till Thursday
join:2001-09-07
Sudbury, MA | reply to joetaxpayer
Interesting turn of events. Jane asks me why mess with the whole set of stairs, would a landing remove the height issue? Coming down, there's the door on left, and hall to right. Landing would be 30 inches as noted. Does code permit that landing to have a different height (than each step height)?
This would seem to be the least work, if it passes code. |
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 ComaThanks StevePremium
join:2001-12-30
NirvanaLand |
Put it on paper and take it down to the county zoning & permits office and run it by the authorities.
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Live from NirvanaLand™
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robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1 | reply to joetaxpayer
I believe that for it to be considered a landing it has to be a minimum of 36" in the direction of travel. |
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joetaxpayerI'M Here Till Thursday
join:2001-09-07
Sudbury, MA | reply to Coma
said by Coma:
Put it on paper and take it down to the county zoning & permits office and run it by the authorities.
I will do that. Asking here because if it's stupidly against code, I'll save myself the embarrassment.
For those commenting on the inspector's co-operation, he was very nice, gave me a pre-inspection where we agreed I'd lift some ductwork, and clip a room outside corner to keep proper hall width, etc. I'm nearing the end of this project, so if this is the only thing left, I'll ask him. |
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joetaxpayerI'M Here Till Thursday
join:2001-09-07
Sudbury, MA | reply to robbin
said by robbin:I believe that for it to be considered a landing it has to be a minimum of 36" in the direction of travel.
See? If that's the code, I'll save myself the appointment.
Much thanks! |
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| reply to joetaxpayer
Mass. Building Code 780 CMR 3603.12 Landings: A minimum of 3 feet by 3 feet landing shall be provided at the interior side of all EXIT doors. From page 478 of the 6th edition of the state building code. |
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joetaxpayerI'M Here Till Thursday
join:2001-09-07
Sudbury, MA | said by dbamber:Mass. Building Code 780 CMR 3603.12 Landings: A minimum of 3 feet by 3 feet landing shall be provided at the interior side of all EXIT doors. From page 478 of the 6th edition of the state building code.
Ok. Is this to say I need 36" or that since it's inside, it's not an exit so not applicable? |
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| six pack + pizza don't see any easy way out other than new stringers, ripping existing risers to accomodate built up floor, reuse existing threads. your inspector will be all over stairs if you have a final.
with a helper and taking your time, you should be able to complete in a day. disassemble carefully. use old stringers as a pattern for total length. run to concrete floor, extending raised floor through bottom riser opening (stringer bottom thread cut will be 2 1/4 longer/vertical than remainng steps). put it back together the same way it came apart.
the hardest part of building stairs is calculating riser cuts. since you already have staircase, you just need to adjust each riser to accomodate new floor height. maximum riser height should be 7 3/4", minimum thread depth 10" (check this). post pictures.
[5311.5.4 requires 36 inches in the direction of travel. (780)] |
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| reply to joetaxpayer
Re: Adjusting Stairs Just a suggestion but why don't you just cut away a portion of the raised floor from that section??? You can still floor it but you would just have a slight step down then up the stairs. Couldn't be considered landing so I don't know... just an idea. I know I wouldn't be ripping out all my stairs to fix it, there has to be some type of interm solution. |
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| reply to joetaxpayer
I would just buy a framing square, and a set of brass stair gauges. Amazon sells them for around $20. If your total rise is 70 inches, and you have 9 risers then each riser height should be 7.77. The stair gauge is set at 7 3/4 + plus on the short side of the square. If your tread is 11 inches wide then set the gauge at 10 1/4 inches to allow for a nosing. If you were to place the framing square on your stringer with the gauges touching the edge, and draw a line for the riser and tread on the outside of the square. then move the square up the stringer where the bottom gauge touches the line from the top gauge, and mark and continue till you have the required amount of treads. The bottom riser should be trimmed the thickness of the tread. I would use a 2x12 for your stair stringers if you have 8 treads then a 12 ft would be more than enough to lay out a pattern stringer which when cut you could place on another 2x12 and trace out, and cut. |
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joetaxpayerI'M Here Till Thursday
join:2001-09-07
Sudbury, MA | reply to themagicone
said by themagicone:Just a suggestion but why don't you just cut away a portion of the raised floor from that section???
That was a thought, but it seemed a far greater trip hazard that what we have now. Funny, I took forever to get to the framing and drywall. This short step has been there for 6 years. Wife never noticed, even after I pointed it out. |
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