Are these stairs acceptable?

TedTrippin · 22 Feb 2024

Had a 2 storey side extension. These are stairs where the wall breaks through. Are they acceptable? One thing which isn't obvious from the photos, they aren't level and they actually feel "weird" when you stand on them.

(Last photo done in better light)

Mike13 · 22 Feb 2024

eww, they are cobbled together from offcuts, will always creak for that instant tudor feel.

Deluks · 22 Feb 2024

What's the measurements? What does building inspector say?

^woody^ · 23 Feb 2024

Nosings?

Tread and height dimensions?

Steps that "feel weird" are a major risk when trying to escape in a panic in darkness.

RandomGrinch · 23 Feb 2024

^woody^ said:
Steps that "feel weird" are a major risk when trying to escape in a panic in darkness.

Feeling weird, and stepping down onto a winder doesn't sound like a winning combination.
I would have done a better job of matching up the skirting as well!

chirpychippy · 23 Feb 2024

I would say No they aren't acceptable or legal.

The steps to the left despite being wonky I would be more concerned about if they are supported adequately.

Stepping down onto the winder is dangerous, you could slip, break an ankle or go for a tumble and worse still.

The winder needs removing and a landing put in its place, however to do this the main flight would need structural support as well as structural support to the landing and the steps left and right, all keeping within the buildings regs of minimum going of 220mm and Maximum rise of 220mm.

TedTrippin · 24 Feb 2024

Both stairs are 222mm deep and the biggest rise is 212mm.

I've contacted building control, waiting for a response.

Dereekoo · 24 Feb 2024

https://www.pearstairs.co.uk/staircase-buillding-regulations#:~:text=The%20Maximum%20Rise%20And%20Minimum%20Going%20of%20stairs,Access%20%28Semi-Public%29%20Max%20Rise%20%3D170mm%2C%20min%20going%20250mm.

chirpychippy · 24 Feb 2024

The original staircase is a "Winder" Staircase, there are three treads which are called Kites, these kites are triangular in shape.

Each Kite is housed into the newel post and then housed into the main staircase string, the main string is on the left handside of the staircase as you ascend the staircase, at the point where you step from the straight flite onto the winder the string becomes huge, the oversized string is designed as such as the kite winders are very wide at this junctior and require an oversized string for support.

Your builder has cut through the kite winder string to form the new botch staircase, in doing so the kite winder string has been undermined, the kite treads may not have adequate support, but nonetheless it is definitely dangerous.

Have a chat with BC you may have to replace the entire staircase.

jurassic sparkk · 24 Feb 2024

Looks like a bodge to me.
Get it done properly, anything else is just time wasting and whataboutery.

big-all · 24 Feb 2024

my thoughts
to change direction at right angles you need a landing the stair width or winders
you have neither as the third step is not full width so doubly dangerous as not guiding you round the corner as winders would or a safe refuge to change direction
but fully my oppinion

thats fully aside from the already mentiond string'uneven'not level'nosing bodges ??

TedTrippin · 13 Mar 2024

First thing, i just noticed on the plans that the second kite should have been " adapted" to make it bigger (which would make the first kite more rectangular).

The BC rep has been. Simply laughed at the stairs and said "we get a lot of those"!!! They didn't say they would flag it I'll phone tomorrow for a second opinion.

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Are these stairs acceptable?

TedTrippin

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