Halfing the vertical gap between stairs

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Halfing the vertical gap between stairs

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20141 posts

Uber Geek

#3106444 21-Jul-2023 03:11

Bung: Adding a baton under the tread to close the gap is common practice on exterior stairs. Example https://www.stairs.co.nz/stairs/quicksteps/

The 100mm gap requirement also applies to the balusters. I'd also check how sturdy the railing feels

The difference with the stairs in your link, is that the treads don't overlap, or not very much. But the OPs ones look like they have a fairly large overlap due to the steepness of them.

Handle9

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#3106448 21-Jul-2023 06:46

Rikkitic:
Just put a screen or trellis under it, attached to the back edge of the steps. Make it a feature.

Sounds a great way to take beautifully made stairs to look like dog poop. Either do it properly or leave it alone.

If I was selling the house I’d leave it alone, there is nothing to gain.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#3106456 21-Jul-2023 07:24

Handle9:
Rikkitic:

Just put a screen or trellis under it, attached to the back edge of the steps. Make it a feature.

Sounds a great way to take beautifully made stairs to look like dog poop. Either do it properly or leave it alone.

If I was selling the house I’d leave it alone, there is nothing to gain.

If you want a way to keep kids from falling through the steps the options are limited.

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Sidekicknick

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#3106662 21-Jul-2023 14:20

How about a perspex (plexiglass) rod between each tread? they could be epoxied in place, or you could use a wardrobe hanging rail cup fixing at each end. Just an idea the preserve the open nature of the staircase which would close the gap to less than 100mm. The palcing of each rod will have to be done carefully so as not to look untidy or impede those with big feet as they go up the stairs.

gzt

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#3106675 21-Jul-2023 14:59

I suspect that's going to look bathroom-like. Barrier strength will be a problem with perspex in that configuration so not a barrier.

cunningdavid

76 posts

Master Geek

#3106696 21-Jul-2023 15:42

eracode:

Rikkitic:

Just put a screen or trellis under it, attached to the back edge of the steps. Make it a feature.

Yeah - then grow ivy or bougainvillea on it. 😀

😅

I emailed the council and they replied to say consent is not required as long as the profile of the stairs doesn't change, so that's something.

Thinking about cost, a thousand or two or make the home more appealing to buyers spending a million dollars might be worthwhile.

frankv

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#3106704 21-Jul-2023 16:22

mattwnz:

How steep are the stairs? From the photo they look steep and not very safe tbh as the treads look like they overlap one another which likely limits what you are trying to achieve.

This will provide more info on stair design https://www.building.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/building-code-compliance/d-access/d1-access-routes/asvm/d1-access-routes-2nd-edition-amendment6.pdf

Unless you're going to pull the staircase out and put in one with different geometry, it will always be that steep.

Here's a quick sketch of what I'd do... basically, add an extra step halfway between each existing one. At the top rear of each new step, put a vertical bearer up to the bottom of the next one up. Likewise put a bearer down from underneath the new step down to the one below it. Screw the new steps and bearers to the skirting board (or whatever it's called) on the outside of the staircase, and to the wall on the other side.

If you want to play with this (I just guessed at the 200mm "run" on each step and 240mm tread depth), the sketch is at https://cad.onshape.com/documents/91d27fdf57b1ef9afe0ad4e0/w/c3d09eb9c8394390ab6319d8/e/f7e6966f3453e9c124e83233

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frankv

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#3106707 21-Jul-2023 16:28

cunningdavid:

Any idea on how to attach something to the steel? I guess that welding is messy and maybe expensive. Thank you.

Drill a hole through the steel, put a wood screw through the hole into wood.

cunningdavid

76 posts

Master Geek

#3106708 21-Jul-2023 16:29

Frank, if we did that the space for your foot on each step would be quite small.

Reaching up to each step isn't enough to bother me personally. I've just heard my partner express concern about the size of the gap and the potential for small children to squeeze through.

cunningdavid

76 posts

Master Geek

#3106709 21-Jul-2023 16:34

frankv:

Drill a hole through the steel, put a wood screw through the hole into wood.

Drilling holes in the steel makes me a bit nervous, maybe more than welding. Though I should probably take advice from someone who knows, which is not me!

frankv

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#3106710 21-Jul-2023 16:35

cunningdavid:

Frank, if we did that the space for your foot on each step would be quite small.

Reaching up to each step isn't enough to bother me personally. I've just heard my partner express concern about the size of the gap and the potential for small children to squeeze through.

That's geometry for ya! If you put in twice as many steps, the horizontal space on each step is going to be half.

Unless you do this...

These are called Witches Stairs. Allegedly, witches can't climb up them ...

As a bonus, they're witch-proof!

cunningdavid

76 posts

Master Geek

#3106760 21-Jul-2023 17:02

What I'm thinking of doesn't involve adding new steps at all, just blocking the space. For example, here are some thoughts on how a metal barrier could work:

djtOtago

1149 posts

Uber Geek

#3106764 21-Jul-2023 17:26

As a parent, I would be more worried about my kid cracking their head on the sharp edge of the stair tread if they slipped on the stairs more than I would them falling through the gap.
or running into the steel beams holding the stairs.

I would do what frankv suggested in post 3106704

Those treads look pretty wide, so I don't think reducing foot space is a problem. (Unless the perspective in the picture is hiding their true width) or you could attach the vertical board to the end of the tread instead of on top.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#3106768 21-Jul-2023 17:51

cunningdavid:

You could make B out of thick perspex and solid, and top hung as you have done it, so it is more invisible. Black steel as you have done it could also work and not be that visible and you may find something off the shelf.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#3106769 21-Jul-2023 17:53

djtOtago:

As a parent, I would be more worried about my kid cracking their head on the sharp edge of the stair tread if they slipped on the stairs more than I would them falling through the gap.
or running into the steel beams holding the stairs.

An edge of a stair is unlikely to kill or cause serious injury through compared to a fall from a height, through the stairs.

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