The staircases with landings refer to space at the top or bottom of the staircase. It also can be the space between flights of staircases. These areas remain unused and become dead space. However, there is no reason why these spaces should be left unused. These staircases with landings can be turned into libraries, galleries, reading books, storage areas, and more. You only need to be creative.
Additionally, staircase landings provide a place to stop and rest or change the direction of the staircase. In many cases, adding a staircase for landing in the middle of a stairway is not difficult. A homeowner with some do-it-yourself hacks and basic framing skills can easily manage the project.
Staircases with Landings
In a home, a staircase is a simple connection between the floors. In homes with high ceilings, this makes the staircase long, which sometimes takes a lot of floor space.
Some buildings’ rules say that the landing is required on a staircase that rises above a certain height.
Whatever the reason may be for adding a staircase landing, you can add a landing to an existing staircase. You need to remember that each step on a staircase must rise in the same measurements as the others.
In simple words, you cannot have a rise of 7 inches on one step and 8 inches on another step. None of the steps should vary in height more than 1/4 inches than any other step.
However, if you cut off the staircases and add a staircase landing, this won’t be a problem. You can use the cut-off stringers for the second set of staircases, and they will in the right size, as long the original steps met the code in the first place.
If not, you might have to get permission from the building department to make a set of different steps.
If you are a homeowner and do the staircases for landing all by yourself, you might need to work for 8 to 10 hours a day to change the stair into landing.
Getting started with staircases for landings
Staircases with finished treads, risers, moldings, and skirts are cut and fitted together. Each part fits into the next, and the staircase is a complete wood project.
You need to careful when you are disassembling a finished staircase to avoid the damage of parts and moldings. You also need to be extra careful when you are cutting the moldings.
To get started with building staircase landing, you need to remove drywall, if any, from the staircase’s underneath to place a support system. Then you need to evaluate where the landing will go and mark the stringers at the bottom of the last riser.
Some staircases do not have a frame to support stringers. In this case, you will need a temporary support structure that will hold the stairs up while building the landing and reattaching the cut-off stringers. Then you need to install a pair of 2/4 to support each stringer placed above the cut-off point.
Remove the stair threads and risers just above the cut point and all the threads and raisers below the cut point.
Then draw a vertical and horizontal cut line on each stringer using a level. Cut the stringers with a vertical saw and first make a horizontal cut and then a vertical cut.
Finally, set the cut-off stringer aside. You will need it later while building a landing.
Building a landing
A landing is nothing but a small floor supported on all four sides. The landing is rectangular and is made from a strong material built to fit under the stairs to support them and extend in front of the stairs connecting to the floor of your landing. Build a landing frame with 2/8 lumber which looks like a normal floor.
You need to connect the joists to the end of the joist hangers. Keep the frame square and place the inside joists on 16-inch centers.
Raise the landing frame to the end of the stair stringers and build a support wall under all sides. Connect the support walls to the landing frame with nails and screws.
Once you have connected the support walls, plumb the walls and attach them to the floor. Then connect the landing frame to the stair stringers with the help of mending plates. Recess the wall on the side that will have the bottom set of the stairs by one and a half to allow room for the header plate.
Tip: Depending on the height of the landing, space below can offer a good amount of storage. Note this while you frame the walls that support the landing frame.
Replace the treads and risers on the stairs that lead up from the landing. Then cover the landing floor with 3/4 inch plywood, then use a second covering to increase the thickness of the landing floor, which is the same as the stair threads’ thickness.
Tip: If you need a railing on the landing, attach railing posts to the framing with 1/2 inch carriage bolts before installing the floor sheathing.
Then cut the plywood that fits around the posts. Few landings on the staircases will not have a wall or railing. Check with your building owner for the rules and regulations regarding the same.
Reattaching the stringers
Cut a 2-by-8 to suit below the landing frame on the side. The bottom set of the stairs will attach and then fasten it to the wall frame with screws.
This offers an attachment point for the stringers. Attach these stringers to the landing frame and support the header with hangers.
These look considerably like joist hangers and work the same way. Use A level to stay the step cutouts on the stringers level from front to back while you attach them. Then check for level across the thread cutout from one stringer to another.
Set a thread on the top step, cut out, and measure from the top of the thread to the surface of the landing. The distance needs to be the same as the distance from the top of one thread to the top of another thread that is on the upper set of the stairs.
Then remove the bottom thread and measure between the stringers. Cut 2-by-4s to fit between them and place the 2/4s on the floor between the stringers and against the risers.
Nail the 2-by-4s to the floor and nail the stringers to the other 2-by-4s. It will stabilize the bottom of the staircase and keep them stiff. Reinstall the threads and raisers on the bottom set of the steps.
Staircases With Landings Ideas
Now that you have built a staircase landing for your home, you need to make it look attractive. You can turn it into a seating area, add bookshelves to store books, or make it your reading area for yourself.
Here in this section, we have mentioned some staircase with landing ideas.
- Elegant staircase landing with window bench and storage
One of the most elegant ways to decorate your staircases with landings is by adding a cozy sofa near the window with some storage cupboards or shelves to keep eye-catching flower vases or to keep some crockery or other important things in your cupboard. Wonderful, isn’t it?
- Staircase landing with a cozy reading space with a bookshelf
If you are a book and a nature lover, then this one is for you. You can create a cozy reading space for yourself near the window by adding a small comfortable sofa and a small bookshelf by the side that will have all your books. So now you can read your favorite book while sipping your favorite coffee and spend some time with yourself.
Takeaway
Another excellent idea is to turn your staircases for landings into a cozy reading space. Of course, you need a window as well. If you have some extra space, you can keep a small bookcase with your favorite books. This is not it. There are many other ideas that you can use. You can also come up with your staircase landing ideas.