Build stairs yourself?

[lordmetroid]

Read that a staircase can cost around 40 thousand, feels a bit expensive to me. Can't be that hard to build a staircase, it's just some planks, glue-laminated beams, and bolts. Can't you do it yourself?

 

[ingemar_o]

"It's just some planks, glulam beams, and bolts. Can't you do it yourself?"
Sure, you can do it yourself, but keep in mind that it requires great precision. If there's a difference of a few mm in height, and a degree between the steps, the stairs will feel uncomfortable to walk on.

 

[styrman1]

My friend, who is a furniture maker and one of the most skilled I've ever met, refuses to make stairs because it's so difficult to get them right.

It's not just a bit of glue-laminated wood and planks.

 

[pbengtsson]

Built mine from steel and steps in ash, about 10,000.
If you're going to build in wood, unfortunately, that's the money you've mentioned.

 

[_bystrom_]

Mjaa...it obviously depends on the type of staircase you want to make... A straight run, L-shape, landing, U-shape...there are many options. If it's a basic straight or L-shaped staircase - sure, you can do it yourself. Spend a day with Google SketchUp or similar and prepare with patience for an army. I'm in the early stages of my staircase project - the SketchUp drawing is ready, and the treads/risers are cut. I'm making an L-shaped staircase. I know it's going to be a real pain in the butt to get it just right, but it will work. The price for the materials is just under 3000kr, building with solid pine throughout. Then there's the surface treatment...let's say another thousand - 4000kr plus a few days of my own time.

 

[fn76]

"Can't be that hard to build a staircase"

Is that irony or what? Haha. My dad is an interior carpenter and has been making staircases his entire career (40+ years). He has a carpentry workshop with machines worth a few million, but no CNC. He probably thinks it's easy to make a staircase though because he can do it in a workweek.
What’s included in the 40' you got a quote on? Handrail, balustrade, upper floor railing, installation, etc.? A staircase also lasts for 100 years. How many years does it take for a car to depreciate by 40'?

 

[AnneFi]

I don't want to come in here and read that it's difficult to make a staircase. Our staircase up to the attic is dangerously steep, and when a friend was here, he said it was super easy to put together a new one.

 

[byggare henke]

40000kr?
what was included in the price?

 

[Tyresö]

I don't want to come in here and read that it's hard to make a staircase. Our staircase to the attic is dangerous to walk on because it's so steep, and when a friend was here, he said it was piece of cake to put together a new one.

Of all things related to woodworking (carpentry), building a staircase is the hardest thing you can do.

Personally, even after so many years in the concrete industry, I still find it a bit tricky to shape a stair form. It's not entirely easy to shape and cast a staircase - despite that, it's easier than carpentry a staircase.

Sure, most people can probably put together a staircase that looks like it was created by clown Manne and monkey Coco - but who wants such an ugly staircase?

 

[byggare henke]

Tyresö
Sure, it would be nice with vibration-free concrete in the stair mold later. And of course, tip in everything that needs to go in directly ;-)

 

[Tyresö]

Hahaha, especially when you've shaped a steep open stair form.......

 

[byggare henke]

much more interesting with an open form indeed

 

[John J]

I read that a staircase can cost around 40 thousand, feels a bit expensive to me. It can't be that hard to build a staircase, it's just some planks, glulam beams, and bolts. Can't you do it yourself?

It's not as difficult as some try to make it seem.

If you can calculate, measure, and be precise, you'll manage just fine.

 

[byggare henke]

not just counting and measuring.
the material is important too

 

[fn76]

...and the machines. You don't build a staircase using handheld machines.