Methods for calculating winder steps. Calculation of wooden and metal stairs to the second floor of the house Staircase with winder steps

This online calculator has an integrated system so that you can calculate a staircase to the second floor with a 90-degree turn and winder steps without having the skills of a designer or having any special knowledge in the field of construction. This program was created by people, for people. Simplicity and ease of use, a logically understandable interface will help you make seemingly complex calculations in just a couple of clicks. By following the general instructions and rules, you will receive an accurate calculation of materials, as well as clear drawings that exclude any errors.

This simple program is capable of producing high-precision automatic calculations for you, be it wooden or metal stairs. Let's try to figure out together what the design of a staircase with winder steps is, first of all. This type of staircase not only serves for convenient movement between floors, but also significantly saves space in comparison with conventional flight stairs. Due to the absence of an inter-flight platform as such, its aesthetic appearance is enhanced, thanks to which it fits perfectly into any modern decor. Due to the fact that the interfloor platform is made in the form of steps, you save on material when constructing this structural element.

To calculate a staircase with winder steps with a 90-degree turn, you will need some initial data:

  • Standard sizes, lengths and widths;
  • Dimensions of the opening where the winder staircase will be located;
  • Well, perhaps the most important thing is the geometric dimensions of the steps.

In the last point, you need to know and take into account some features.

  • In narrow areas, 100 mm is considered the most convenient size.
  • In the central part of the step, the average size must be reduced to 250 mm.
  • Well, on the widest area, experts recommend using a step depth of no more than 400 mm.

In this case, it is better to take the step height according to the standard within 15-20 cm. And the slope of the stringer for convenient ascent and descent is 30 - 40 degrees. You should also take into account the characteristics of the material from which you plan to make the staircase itself. It can be metal and wood, concrete and even glass. The last thing you should not forget about when calculating a staircase is the overhang of the tread over the riser; the maximum size for this type of staircase should not exceed 5 cm.

Calculation results.

If you follow the rules and recommendations and enter the initial data correctly, as a result you will receive: the most accurate drawing of an L-shaped staircase to the second floor, a calculation of the staircase itself made in accordance with all GOST rules, as well as a safe and comfortable design after its installation.

Winder stairs are a fairly popular type of structure today. It often happens that the area of ​​the room does not always allow for the installation of an ordinary single-flight staircase. But there is a way out - this is a winder staircase, divided into two flights with a section of a spiral staircase between them.

This design is both convenient and practical, and it just looks stylish and modern.

Requirements for march with a turn

The principle that any building structure in a house must meet is, first of all, safety. But the structure should also be comfortable to use. Winder stairs are one of the complex structures that must fully comply with these two principles. It is worth highlighting the main technical requirements that are specific to this type of design.

  • The main thing in installing winder stairs is proportions. The steps of the stairs should be located at exactly the same distance from each other along the entire flight of stairs. Usually the distance between them starts from 100 mm and does not exceed 160 mm.

  • Much attention is paid to the depth of the running step. Experts recommend an approximate distance of 100 mm in narrow areas. In the central part, the depth dimensions should be approximately 200 mm, and in wide areas the step depth parameters should not exceed 400 mm.
  • For any staircase, it is imperative to provide high-quality railings. The winder design is no exception to the rule. Typically, the height of stair railings ranges from 900 mm to 1200 mm.

  • In winder structures, the width parameters of a flight of stairs should start from 900 mm. In principle, this parameter will depend on the design and individual features of the individual staircase model. If necessary, this figure can be increased.
  • For the height of free passage for a person, the range is 1900–2000 mm. This is also an individual indicator, which is set depending on the person’s height. Taking the height indicator, you need to add 100 mm to it. This will be the optimal parameter for the passage height.

  • The angle of inclination of the winder ladder should not exceed 45 degrees. This indicator is the maximum angle of inclination. The most comfortable and optimal angle is approximately 30 degrees.
  • On average, the number of steps on winder stairs ranges from 15 to 18 pieces.
  • The winder ladder must withstand heavy weight, be stable and made of wear-resistant and durable materials.
  • The approximate overhang of the tread on such stairs should not exceed 5 mm.

Taking into account all the above technical requirements for a winder staircase, the design will be safe and comfortable for its purpose. It is also worth noting the basic GOST requirements for this type of stairs, namely:

  • the depth of the winder step should not exceed 40 cm;
  • the minimum depth of the winder step should be 10 cm;
  • the depth of the center of the winder step should be about 20 cm;
  • the height of the ceiling above the stairs should not be less than two meters.

Types of structures

There are several main types of winder stairs that are worth noting.

  • Spiral winder staircases. This version of the winder design is one of the most compact and aesthetic.
  • L-shaped The stairs are designed with a 90 degree rotation. This option is also quite compact and takes up little space.

  • U-shaped stairs- These are winder structures, completely rotated 180 degrees.
  • Curvilinear stairs- these are the types of structures that have the smoothest turning lines.

  • Stairs on a monostring have a simple design. The structure of this structure is placed on one support beam, that is, on one stringer, which is located in the middle of the steps.
  • Stairs on bowstrings slightly different from the previous version, but similar in design principle. In this case, the steps of the staircase are held by two wooden bowstrings. A wooden bowstring is usually additionally fastened on the opposite side with a metal rod for greater reliability.

Each of these types of construction has its own advantage, but they are all compact and save space in a living space. And also the location of the winder steps may be different. They can be located at the bottom or at the top of the staircase, as well as in the middle of the flight of stairs.

Advantages and disadvantages

Winder stairs have a number of advantages and disadvantages. Their positive features include the following:

  • compact and space saving. Quite often, residents are faced with the problem of placing a conventional straight staircase to the second floor due to lack of space. The winder staircase does not require a large amount of space and fits into almost any room due to its small dimensions;

  • appearance. Winder stairs look very stylish and modern. This adds aesthetics to the entire room;
  • depending on the model of the winder staircase may require much less materials than for a full straight design;
  • such stairs have smooth turn, which is very convenient when moving;
  • variety of materials. Stairs of this type can be made from almost any material.

Among the disadvantages, the following aspects can be noted:

  • due to its compactness, several people are unlikely to be able to disperse on the staircase model under consideration;
  • the design features of these structures are quite complex, for this reason it is difficult to make calculations for them.

Design and calculation

Considering that the winder staircase is a rather complex structure due to its characteristics, it is necessary to take special responsibility for the preliminary drawing up of drawings and the accurate conclusion of all calculations so that the staircase is comfortable and safe. You should take into account the area of ​​the room and determine the dimensions of the structure itself. After this, the following steps are performed:

  • first you need to clearly define the place where the structure will be located;
  • extremely accurately measure the height from the floor to the second floor, as well as the width of the staircase opening

  • Careful attention must be paid to drawings based on measurements. Even the exact number of steps must be noted;
  • it is necessary to decide what type of structure will be used, what type of building materials will be used.

Drawings and methods for calculating winder steps

Today it is not at all necessary to draw up plans and drawings of the future structure yourself. There are several convenient ways that will help you do this and save time and effort. For example, you can use design programs to design various structures. These are different applications and websites where you can clearly calculate the amount of materials and other details.

You can also use ready-made drawings of winder stairs. There are a huge number of them on the Internet today, from which you can choose the right one. But sometimes you come across incorrectly compiled drawings that are not recommended to be used.

You can also use online calculators when calculating the size of the stairs. This is one of the most convenient ways to create a winder design drawing. These programs allow you to make the necessary calculations and adjust the specified values. The programs are fully automated. They produce an approximate drawing of the structure based on the specified values.

Quite often when calculating sizes you have to use the method of proportions. Most often it is used in the design of L-shaped and U-shaped stairs. In such cases, the following steps are performed:

  • The drawing marks the middle of the march along which the line is drawn. Then, on this straight line, segments are marked that are equal to the width of the tread;
  • the boundary between straight and winder steps is marked;

  • you need to clearly mark the middle of the turning platform of the staircase along which the segment is drawn;
  • from the line that defines the middle of the turning part, it is necessary to set aside about half the size of the winder steps;
  • The number of straight steps obtained from the drawing should be subtracted from the calculated number of steps. At the same time, the depth of the tread in the middle sections of the march is controlled. If this indicator is less than recommended, then the number of steps should be reduced.

Materials and tools

Today, staircase structures are made from almost any material. They can be wooden, metal, glass, or concrete. Quite often a combination of different materials is used. Typically, the supporting frame of the staircase is made of metal, and the steps can be wooden or glass.

Of course, the classic and most popular option is wood. Such structures are both beautiful and lightweight compared to the same metal structures.

There are a number of main difficulties that arise during the installation of stairs.

  • Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the material. Choosing low-quality products will make the ladder short-lived and unsafe. Therefore, it is worth reading all the accompanying documents and visually inspecting the material for damage and other defects.
  • Considering that the winder staircase is a rather complex design, it is worth remembering the error. It is necessary to have some carpentry tools to fit the structural parts.

It is important to install the stairs strictly at the same level. This will affect the evenness of the entire structure and its stability.

To install a wooden winder ladder, you should prepare the following tools in advance:

  • electric drill;
  • jigsaw (preferably electric);
  • screwdriver;
  • roulette;

  • circular saw;
  • self-tapping screws;
  • iron corners;
  • hammer;
  • pencil.

Installation features

Despite the fact that building a winder staircase to the second floor is not so simple, it is quite possible to do it yourself. To make a winder ladder with your own hands, follow the step-by-step instructions.

  • First you need to start making stringers for the future staircase. To do this, a template is made on the selected material, which has a triangular shape. In this case, school knowledge of geometry will come in handy. The legs of this triangle must be strictly equal to the depth and height of the step. With the help of such a template it will be very convenient to make markings and cut the stringer. To cut it, you should use a circular saw.

  • It is necessary to hollow out a special groove in the post on which the stringer will be attached. The stringer should fit into this groove.
  • Attention should be paid to the turning part of the stairs. In this case, a base for turning steps is mounted on the wall.
  • It is worth securing the stringers at the top of the stairs. Metal corners are suitable for attaching them. You need to secure them so that the stringers are strictly opposite each other. Then the future staircase will be level.

  • It is necessary to start cutting out the winder steps for the stairs. Specifically for the winder part, about three or four steps are needed. To cut them, you will need a wooden panel, which is divided into the required number of parts. To do this, you need to draw lines that come from one corner of the wooden panel.
  • The length of the steps is adjusted so that they are equal.
  • You can varnish the steps before installing them, which will be much more convenient. Usually the varnish is applied in three layers.

  • You can proceed to the complete assembly of the entire structure. To attach the steps, grooves are also cut out in the pillar. They should not be made too wide, otherwise the steps will not hold.
  • You can additionally lubricate the winder steps with glue and secure them with self-tapping screws. Regular steps are also attached with self-tapping screws.
  • It is necessary to proceed to the installation of the railings of the structure. There are several options for mounting them. You can simply screw them to the steps with self-tapping screws.

You can also use dowels, which are used more often and increase the reliability of fastening. To do this, a hole is made in the step and filled with glue. A dowel should be inserted into the hole.

  • After installing the posts for the railings, you need to cut them as accurately as possible. To do this, a cord is attached to the first and last post, which is stretched along all the posts. The stretched cord marks the level at which the posts are cut.
  • After trimming, a handrail is attached to the posts, which can be secured with self-tapping screws.

These staircase structures resemble screw structures, but are compact, convenient, safe and neater in appearance. They are placed near the walls, usually in the corner. The base is stringers or bowstrings on one side and a wall on the other. At turning points, the steps are attached to support pillars that reach the height of the second floor.

This design, without changing the interior, allows you to rationally use a small space.

A turning staircase with winder steps can be L-, U-shaped and curved. A 90-degree turn can be made in any part, which does not in any way affect the ease of movement. The staircase run 180 degrees gradually changes the direction of movement in the opposite direction, while the winder and ordinary steps alternate in several segments. Rotation of 30, 40 and 70 degrees is also used, but such models are rare. Winder steps have a trapezoidal shape, equipped with risers or can be without them. To ascend to the second floor, an intermediate platform is built between the flights, under which you can place a dressing room or storage room.

What are they made of?

The basis - stringers and support posts are made of wood or metal, which practically does not affect the price. The choice of material for the steps depends on the customer’s preferences. Models you can buy:

  • wooden;
  • metal;
  • plastic;
  • stone.

The most common and convenient option that we offer are rotary wooden stairs to the second floor. Such designs can often be found in country houses and two-level apartments.

A turning staircase is the most popular type of structure in two-story houses. Its main advantages include its compactness and the ability to be placed in a corner, resulting in significant space savings.

What are the main advantages of a turning staircase?

This design is ideal for small spaces where it is important to save more space. In this case, the key feature is the ability to install additional steps if the opening width is about a meter. The staircase can be rotated in several ways - 90° and 180°, and the latter design looks very “fragile” in appearance, but does not take up much space.

Types of turning stairs:

  • Curvilinear, used quite rarely due to the fact that you will not be able to feel the necessary stability under your feet, because when creating it you will have to strictly observe the width of the fitting end - it should be at least 10 cm;
  • A curved staircase is considered the most economical type. Such designs, in turn, are divided into screw, quarter-turn and half-turn, differing in the angle of rotation. However, it is worth mentioning separately, which are considered the most practical, especially if you place the rack in the middle when arranging. They are most often made of either wood or metal. Their key feature is the possibility of arrangement in a small area, but there is also a minus - metal stairs are not entirely convenient.

Wooden staircase with winder steps

The most famous type of turning staircase is this option. It looks like a plate with edges that differ in width. In this case, the dimensions vary taking into account several factors: the width in the narrowest part should not be less than 100 mm, in the middle - at least 200 mm.

This is dictated by key points: one foot must rest on the wide part to obtain the required area for normal support, while the second foot ends up in a narrow place, which means it will not receive proper support.

By the way, this factor is the main disadvantage of such a staircase - it is inconvenient and quite dangerous to climb and descend, since there is a high risk of slipping. If you make the steps smaller, the staircase will be unusable. And this problem can be solved if wood is used as a material for the stairs.

However, a rotary staircase with winder steps is most often installed in small rooms, since this design will save space, and it can also be mounted either in the center of the room or near the wall - it all depends on the design of the room. The simplest version of a staircase is the connection of several straight flights with steps in a turning area. The most difficult moment when creating a staircase is the middle step of the turn, which is most often performed in the following variations:

  1. The step will be adjacent to the corner of rotation so that its wide part rests against the walls of the opening, located perpendicular to them.
  2. The edge of the top step should be adjacent to the corner between the walls. In this case, one step will rest against the wall, the next – against the wall, which is located perpendicularly. Moreover, their shapes and sizes should not be different.

The site’s site masters have prepared a special calculator for you. You can easily calculate the required dimensions of the stairs.

Do-it-yourself turning staircase: the work of a professional

To make a practical and beautiful staircase, you need to correctly calculate it, select the material used, and purchase the required tools if necessary. The first thing you need is to calculate your future project. The standards clearly show the key characteristics of structures: width and height, as well as railings (fencing). And only if you take into account all these factors can you get a positive result. Naturally, you can’t do without tools - hammers, a grinder, if you need to “bring it to mind,” bolts and bowstrings, screwdrivers. It is advisable to stock up on this in advance so as not to be interrupted from the work process in the future.

How to make a turning staircase with your own hands - step-by-step diagram

Step 1: Carry out calculations

To calculate the required number of steps, you need to proceed from the height. Practice shows that the optimal height is about 15-20 cm and no more than 30 cm, since higher or lower steps make the climb dangerous. You need to think about the width: it is necessary that it can guarantee full support for the legs - from 20 to 30 cm. The width of the staircase itself is also important - it is undesirable to make it less than 1.2 m. By the way, for many it is considered the most difficult step, so just try find a scheme that suits you on the Internet.

Step 2: Installing Treads and Risers

To secure elements such as treads and risers, you should cut out ledges on the strings into which we insert the stair tenons. If the “sockets” (ledges) are on the lower part of the string, then we first put it in place, and then install the steps themselves from below. Bowstrings can be installed on the platform beams using a variety of methods. The most reliable type of fastening is using a bowstring with end spikes.

There is also the option of using brackets, but in this case one should not talk about the practicality of the construction. By the way, you can use bolts instead of a bowstring, since such fasteners are considered the most effective today. Despite the fact that the structure will be very fragile in appearance, such fasteners are very strong and reliable - if you use bolts, your staircase can withstand loads of up to 1500 kg.

Step 5: Decorating the stairs

Our last stage is decorating the structure. Since we used wood in our work, it is necessary that the material we use not only decorates the wood, but also becomes a kind of protection. Therefore, it is best to purchase translucent paint or simple varnish. At the same time, it is advisable to carry out painting work in warm weather, and the wood itself should be dry. The stairs are painted with a roller or brushes from top to bottom, painting the railing and steps at each level. The average drying time for the material is about three days.

By the way, In order for the wood to serve you as long as possible, it must be stored for several days in the room where the repair will be carried out so that the difference in temperature does not affect the structure and quality of the wood. Thus, turning staircases to the second floor are, although quite complex to create independently, but also the most practical designs. Saving space, the ability to install both near walls and in the center of the room are not the only advantages!

When building houses with more than one floor, a common problem is the limited space for installing stairs. The most suitable option in such cases would be a metal turning staircase with winder steps. Due to their variety of shapes, such staircases will fit well into a modern interior and save usable space.

Types of structures

Usually, to get to the second floor, a staircase with one flight is installed. This ascent can be divided into two flights, then there should be a transition platform between them. To save space and have a more aesthetic appearance, this platform is replaced with winder steps. Winder stairs are called staircases with steps shaped like triangles or trapezoids, attached radially to one common support.

There are several types of such stairs.

  1. Screw. Looks like a spiral. They consist entirely of winder steps.
  2. Marching. Instead of transition platforms, there are winder steps with a 90-degree bend.
  3. P - shaped. The parallel flights are connected to each other by a 180 degree bend.
  4. Mixed. The lower flight and upper spiral staircases are connected by winder steps.

The requirements for turning staircases with winder steps are quite strict.

When installing such a ladder, comfortable, unhindered and safe movement should be ensured. To do this, the following conditions must be taken into account when designing:

  • the width of the step along the line of movement (where the foot directly steps) is at least 200 mm, in its narrow part - 100 mm, and in the wide part - 400 mm;
  • the height of the tread should be equal on all flight flights and comfortable for descent and ascent; the optimal range is considered to be from 120 to 220 mm;
  • for comfortable movement, the distance between the ceiling and the steps should be equal to the height of a tall person plus 10 cm, but not less than two meters;
  • the recommended angle of inclination of the stairs is 30-45 degrees;
  • the angle of rotation should be equal to or slightly greater than the angle of inclination of the stairs;

  • the railings are installed parallel to the angle of inclination of the stairs at a height of 0.8-1.0 m;
  • the optimal width of the flight of stairs is at least 0.9 m;
  • the stairs must be freely accessible;
  • the structure is located in a less visited part of the room, for example, in a corner;
  • The installation of a metal staircase in a wooden building must be done after the house has settled, otherwise a structural failure may occur.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like all stairs, winders also have their pros and cons.

The advantages of these designs include:

  • Possibility of installation outdoors and indoors;
  • saving space not only on the first floor, but also on subsequent floors;
  • thanks to the variety of shapes and designs, you can create a unique work of art that fits original into any interior;
  • long service life;
  • reliability of the design.

Disadvantages include:

  • for reasons of safety and ease of use, accurate calculations are required during design;
  • high risk of injury and inconvenience when moving due to the width of the steps: wider on the outside and narrow on the inside (absent with proper design);
  • noise made when walking (eliminates by finishing the steps with wood, rubber, tiles, etc.);
  • painting or enamel coating is required, with the exception if the structure is made of stainless metal;
  • high price both when purchasing a finished product and when making it yourself;
  • self-installation requires knowledge of welding production and appropriate equipment.

Designing a turning staircase with winder steps

One of the main stages of staircase construction is design. It determines what size and appearance the future interfloor transition will have.

Design includes the following stages:

  • taking measurements;
  • carrying out calculations;
  • drawing up a diagram - a drawing according to which the rotary staircase will be mounted.

Initially, they determine the location of the stairs and take measurements of the length, height, and width of the space under the flight of stairs. The type and size of the future inter-level transition depends on the amount of free space.

For each turning staircase, a corresponding calculation is carried out.

Calculation of the number of steps

For a more accurate calculation, you can use the formula N=H1/H2, where:

  • N – number of steps;
  • H1 – span height;
  • H2 – step height.

If you don’t get a whole number, then you need to change the height of all steps or just the first one. You can substitute a platform with the missing height under the flight of stairs.

It is not recommended to install more than 3-5 winder steps, otherwise the steps will be narrow and inconvenient to climb.

For products with sharp turns

At the initial design stage, the master determines the axis from which the bending radius of the staircase is located. For a 90-degree bend, the axis is located at the point where the lines of the outermost straight steps in the flights join. If the angle is 180, then it’s right between two spans. To prevent the steps from being too narrow, the axis can be moved beyond the span by 1/8 of the flight width.

The outer edge of the winder section is equal to the gap from the axis to the outer edge of the straight marching steps. And also from the axis you can draw arcs passing along the inner edge and the middle line.

Along the line of movement, it is necessary to set aside segments equal to the width of the foot, approximately 200 mm long. Draw rays from the central axis through these segments. This will be the silhouette of future steps.

For model with smooth transition

Stairs with a steep transition are inconvenient for movement, so a softer transition is often used.

In such a transition, the change of steps into a triangular shape begins from the march flight.

For U-shaped stairs

  1. Initially, the drawing indicates the contours of the marching spans. There should be ¼ of their width between them. The radius of curvature of the winder section is equal to half the width between the marches plus the width of the march. Then this radius is set off from the upper edge of the winder steps and the axis of curvature of the flight of stairs is found.
  2. After the radius of curvature has been found, the upper and lower arcs of the marching turn and the middle of the staircase are drawn from the axis.
  3. The next stage is the distribution of steps. It is recommended to start from the center. Segments with a length equal to the width of the step are laid along the midline. This line should be exactly in the middle of the step, and from this line the next steps are sequentially marked.

Unlike a soft transition, you need to decide where the winder section will begin. The fewer steps there are in this area, the safer and more convenient this area will be.

For stairs with a 90 degree turn

To save space and securely fix the structure, it is more convenient to install it in the corner of the room.

The calculation must begin with a drawing of a circle with a radius equal to 1/2 the span width. In the future, this will be the middle line on the run-in section.

In relation to the vertical of this circle, we draw a line (the axis of rotation) at an angle of 45 degrees. The tangent line to the axes of the circle indicates the line of movement along the stairs. Then this line is divided into segments equal to the average width of the steps.

There may be two options for the distribution of steps:

  • the rotation axis divides the middle step in half;
  • the steps are proportionally laid out on both sides of the rotation axis.

Then we find the intersection point of the last step of the lower march and the first step of the upper march. This will be the center from which radial lines are drawn through the segments on the line of motion. This center can be adjusted to maintain the size of the external step width of 400 mm and the internal width of 100 mm. These lines are the contours of the steps.

The resulting drawing is a scale diagram of the staircase.

To obtain more accurate dimensions, it is better to carry out calculations in a graphic editor or a special computer program. The programs will allow you to create a three-dimensional model indicating all the parameters.

The most famous programs are:

  • "Compass"– you don’t need to have any special skills to work in it;
  • SolidWorks– a program for creating engineering structures;
  • Consultec Staircon– will allow you to create a 3D project and calculate the necessary costs.

But the data obtained by drawing up a drawing on paper will be enough to build a reliable and durable staircase. For ease of construction and obtaining the most approximate dimensions, it is better to draw up such drawings on graph paper. This will make it easier to convert sizes to actual size. Minor inconsistencies can be eliminated during the installation process.