Build stairs yourself?

[John J]

not just counting and measuring.
important with the materials as well

Of course, but that's always the case, so I didn't even mention it d^_^b

...and the machines. You don't build a staircase with just hand tools.

Built several staircases with only hand tools, why wouldn't that work??

How do you think people did it before electricity and machines came into the picture?

 

[byggare henke]

fn76 is probably thinking about a handsaw and a bow drill.

The only thing is that it becomes easier to subcontract it,
how long did it take you to make a straight staircase? you might even have made a curved staircase

 

[Alfredo]

Can't be that hard to build a staircase, it's just some planks, laminated beams, and bolts. Can't you do it yourself?

It's quite a hopeless question to answer... What is difficult? Well, most things if you lack skills, experience, materials, and tools. On the other hand, most things are pretty easy if you've done it many times and have access to everything needed...

 

[fn76]

When one has glued carriage pieces and steps, it is useful to have a jointer, thickness planer, and wide belt sander. This ensures equally thick steps with hundredths of a millimeter in accuracy. Previously, work was done entirely manually, yes, but it also took much more time and wasn't as good. Fields were also plowed with the help of horses.

 

[John J]

fn76 probably means handsaw and brace bit.

The only thing is that it becomes easier to contract it out,
how long did it take you to make a straight staircase? maybe you even made a curved staircase

Most recently I made a curved staircase and it took 5 days including one coat of paint.

When you have glued risers and treads, it's good to have a jointer, planer, and wide belt sander. That way you have equally thick steps with accuracy to a hundredth of a mm.
Previously, people worked entirely manually, yes, but it also took much more time and wasn't as good. They plowed fields with the help of horses too.

Of course, it's more precise with a jointer, planer, and wide belt sander, but is it necessary?

Now, of course, it depends on the type of staircase you're building and the type of house, but mostly it's about measuring and being meticulous, I claim.

PS. I think people were happier when fields were plowed with the help of horses.

 

[byggare henke]

if you think it will be fun and can handle setbacks, then build the staircase. but it will take time if you haven't done it before.

fn76 I know exactly what methods were used before machines existed. I myself have a small private museum with various planers and other hand tools

 

[byggare henke]

John J. Jo nowadays stress destroys a lot.

 

[zsimpey]

It can be a great experience to build yourself a staircase. And if you're doing it for yourself, the time it takes doesn't really matter.

 

[fn76]

What I react to is that the thread creator undervalues the product (the stairs) that a carpentry has quoted a price for. What one manages to put together oneself should not be equated with stairs for 40'. Building stairs from glued laminated timber (spruce!) and, for example, kitchen countertops (which are block-glued short pieces) results in a product that a carpentry would never produce. But I understand that one can put together stairs with fairly simple tools and such stairs could work as basement stairs, in a cabin, etc. However, I would argue that a DIY staircase might not fit into a newly built villa for 4-6 million.

 

[Tyresö]

. But I understand that you can put together a staircase with quite simple tools, and such a staircase could work as a basement staircase, in a cabin, etc. However, I would argue that a DIY staircase might not be suitable in a newly built villa for 4-6 million.

I completely agree - one should not underestimate craftsmanship. Anyone can measure and put together a functional staircase, most people can do that - it's the final finish and precision that make the difference between a professional and a DIYer.

 

[Alfredo]

it is the final finish and precision that make the difference between a professional and a DIYer.

A bit too general, I think. There are exceptionally skilled DIYers, and often a skilled DIYer can afford to completely lavish time and thus achieve a "final finish and precision" result that is incredibly much better than what a professional can (is allowed to take the time to) achieve. Then, of course, there are also bunglers :wow:

 

[Tyresö]

A bit too general, I think. There are exceptionally skilled DIY enthusiasts, and often a skilled DIY enthusiast can afford to completely waste time and thereby achieve an end result in terms of "finish and precision" that is incredibly much better than what a professional can (or is allowed to take the time to) achieve. And then there are amateurs too :wow:

Okay, perhaps I should have specified my statement a bit more clearly.

I claim that 1% of DIY enthusiasts are capable of building a wooden staircase worthy of a 10 million SEK-class villa.

100% of the professionals who specialize in building staircases are capable of the same thing.

 

[Alfredo]

I claim that 1% of home DIYers can manage to build a wooden staircase worthy of a villa in the 10 million SEK class.

100% of the professionals whose craft is building staircases can manage the same thing.

Yes, I won't argue with that!

 

[Forbo]

A staircase that fits in a 10 million villa probably requires specialists to assemble... but most people can manage a straight standard staircase with an acceptable finish if they have some experience.

Why be so categorical in all statements... considering TS hasn't even specified the area of use or type of house?

I myself put together a porch staircase with 12 steps up to a joist 2.5 meters high in half a day... it's not pretty, but it's straight, it holds 4 men and a roof truss without creaking, and it's easy to walk on... probably cost 400 SEK...

But if each step needs to be exactly the same size to the millimeter, with materials that should last hundreds of years and be curved around with hand-forged railings... then I would probably hire someone for that

 

[John J]

john j. nowadays stress destroys a lot.

True

Okay, maybe I should have specified my statement a bit clearer

I claim that 1% of home fixers can build a wooden staircase that is worthy of a 10 million SEK-class villa.

100% of the professionals whose craft is to build stairs can do the same.

Oh please, there are plenty of professionals who do poor jobs just like home hobbyists who do incredibly fine work.

I would actually like to claim that often the best jobs you see are ones done by a home hobbyist for themselves.

We professionals/tradesmen often don't have the time to do a 100% job today, which is very sad.

You have to take shortcuts because if you were to do the jobs the same way as I do for myself, no one would want to pay...

What I react to is that the thread starter undervalues the product (the staircase) that a carpentry has quoted a price on. What one manages to put together oneself should not be equated with a staircase for 40'. Building a staircase from glue-laminated beams (spruce!) and e.g., kitchen countertops (which are laminated short pieces) becomes a product that a carpentry would never deliver. But I understand that you can put together a staircase with rather simple tools, and such a staircase could function as a basement staircase, in a cottage, etc. However, I would argue that a homemade staircase might not fit in a newly built villa for 4-6 million.

You're generalizing a lot, I think.