I drew up some plans for a double winder stairs… measuring carefully height from floor to upper floor, number of steps, etc. but I’m getting old and afraid to start the project without some advice. I have tried to find some “step by step” (excuse the pun) instructions but can’t find any for this type of stairs. Obviously I would have to start with basically a short wall type frame for the first landing but in order to put the stringers up I would need to have the second landing made so I could join them. I’m not as sharp as I once was for figuring these things out. If I could just see some pictures I think I’d have the confidence to try it. I would like to use the space under the upper landing as a closet on the main floor. Any suggestions or help welcome! Thanks in advance.
See attached picture of the double winder stairs.
Replies
Try Andy Engel's book, "Building Stairs." He reviews all the stair variations in step by step simple instructions and photos. Using his book's guidance I recently built my (first and only) routed stringer custom stairway, and I am 50 years north of my last geometry class. Mr Engel just recently passed away, sadly, but is remembered fondly by many in this forum.
Best tip- use a carpenter's calculator app on your phone to help with stringer layout to avoid cumulative error (1/32" off when multiplied over 16 treads is half an inch! )
Okay, thanks. I've hesitated to buy some of the books on stair building because they may not include the variation that I'm looking for... a double winder. I already know how to build regular stairs, but I'm 77 now and sometimes my brain gets foggy and don't want to waste wood at today's prices!! :-(
It looks like there are two different covers for Andy Engel's "Building Stairs" book. Do you know if the content is the same??
I managed to overthink the last set of winders I did and in hindsight should have just gone with the stacked boxes approach.
This article is great:
https://www.finehomebuilding.com/membership/pdf/11981/021067044.pdf
To simplify your double, I would think of this as two different sets of winders, with two walls/platforms. A wall/platform for steps 4/5/6, then a taller wall/platform for 8/9/10, or 7/8/9/10.