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Porches & Decks Design Dilemma

Front stair replacement proportions and railing material - wood/steel?

3 years ago

Hi, We have much updating to do on our 1927 craftsman duplex. We are starting with the front stairs (soon!!). Would it be good to make the stairs (doing both sides), wider (maybe from stone column to stone column (and thus take out small piece of rail and half post on front of porch... in order to give the steps a better proportion,, sort of prettier/ more grand entrance to balance the big house front? Also, should we make then deeper (and thus come out more) for the same reasons? Thinking for cost, not to use composite (too pricy).. how about 2x10" treads - in walnut stain? Thinking of using untreated cedar treads to pick up stain and treated risers and stringers.. to make it look nicer? Rails: found a reasonable priced steel - very "squarish" simple rail (mimics a bit the existing rail in that it is squarish) in dark bronze, then later maybe replace roof and windows in the dark bronze.. (as opposed to a wood rail.. I will not paint any wood work, so if we went with wood rail, would need to be stained as well).. lastly will keep the permastone and shakes as removal is too much and these are strong materials with integrity. How to update with an urban vibe? start with step proportions and rail style / material.. Thanks!!!

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PRO

Beth H. :

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Are those original? if so, and you plan on removing, you'll have to abide by todays code. check w/your city and see what they say.

The stairtreads should be at least 36 inches wide.But, 48 inches widens good so they don't feel cramped. - The maximum allowable stair rise is 7 3/4 inches, and the minimum stair rise is 4 inches.

The general rule (in the US) is 7-11 (a 7 inch rise and 11 inch run) (17.78cm-27.94cm). More exactly, no more than 7 3/4 inches (19.7cm) for the riser (vertical) and a minimum of 10 inches (25.4cm) for the tread (horizontal or step).

You could prob do something like this design

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Comments (9)

armchairshopper
3 years ago
How severe are your winters? That affects the materials you use and safety.

That’s a beautiful craftsman foursquare house.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Foursquare

Why do you want to go urban when you already have a beautiful architectural style?
Michelle WW thanked armchairshopper
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
The sides of the steps should have some dimension instead of just a wood railing.

Here is a house with framed steps.
Michelle WW thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
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Hi Sammy - thanks for asking. We had planned to remove our awkward, splits the main floor into the worst place, beige-carpeted, mirror-backed, painted-white-Brady-Bunch-banistered-stairway this year, but it’s not going to happen. So I’m considering a facelift of that poorly-placed stairway. We’ve lived with it for 10 years, and it’s time to take action. House is 1895 Victorian with some Art Deco, and Art Nouveau, fixed elements that were here when we bought the house. Instead of fighting them, I’m working with them. One is a black and brass gas fireplace. It served as the inspiration for black and gold backsplash in kitchen (in progress). When I saw that stair photo on Maria’s blog, I thought the vibe is right and the shape echoes - but doesn’t repeat - the gas fireplace. And it has a mix of metals which pulls in some stainless. Pic of fireplace (with tile hearth that will be replaced when we replace the wood floors in a couple years) attached. Your suggestions have been specific and helpful - big thanks!
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Michelle WW
Original Author
3 years ago
ok, so the treads right now, are 52" wide, I love the photos you have all provided, but the question is, do I make the treads a wee bit wider,, because if I don't, I don't see what / or how to make the columns at top of rail tie in at the top on porch. For example I really like how this bottom picture has a wider column at the bottom to kind of balance that existing 1/2 pillar on right at top of stair in photo, however, if I put rail on the left with a 4x4" at top of stair, it will go to right of that large concrete column, and the right side 4x4" will go next to that 1/2 pillar (this is not very clear is it?).. so, do we widen the stairs, and put the 4x4"s for the top of the railings, in FRONT of the concrete pillar on left, and just below that 1/2 pillar on right ? (which means treads need to be wider correct? Or we just tie 4x4"s into the sides of the risers to put them in front of the concrete column and in front of 1/2 pillar(ie the 4x4's tie into the top of the treads in front of columns, or tie into sides of risers in front of columns, or the tie in on tops or stairs with the top starting to the right and left of concrete pillar and 1/2 pillar on the porch floor? Really like the color scheme at top..Thank you all so much, sorry I do not see how to reply to each input.. only see this opening at bottom.
Michelle WW
Original Author
3 years ago
To Beth H above: I do not think stairs are original, but I think the originals were similar, I see no evidence of older "framed" rails.

Armchair shopper: winters here very severe. We also thought the house beautiful, but we find that permastone sort of looks not so appealing.. Thought something "urban" might update it somehow.. Just trying to figure out what to do so it looks nicer WITH the permastone. Really like that first photo with the darker taupe and the brown trim... but to be honest , when I look around town, all of the houses with permastone have that chocolate brown trim and they look not so good (with the permastone I mean). That is why I thought possibly to trim / roof in that newer "deep bronze" metal shade (not so chocolate) and possibly just staining new rails like a dark walnut wood? (or maybe doing the shakes in a deep green with that bronze trim)(either way rather muted). Or getting wild and replacing shakes with the rusty galvenized siding????

Beverly Fladeziner - like best your "framed" steps, but I'd have no idea where to start with building them ourselves, and I imagine as even steel railing are out of budget, that that would be not in our budget either.. (the house has big issues we need to address in the basement, old windows, rotting garage and needs re grading in yard etc.. so, I have to control my spending on things like the porch steps I guess..
mononhemeter
3 years ago
I like the style of your porch as it is. I would not alter those low porch railings because they aren’t up to current code, but as long as you don’t change them, they are grandfathered in. I wish I could reproduce low railings on my old house. I think it just needs a good cleaning and repainting (watch out for lead) and new wooden storm door.
Michelle WW
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you for the input - it is good to hear. I never thought about the railings being low, but now that you bring up, I see what you mean, we were contemplating tearing out everything, and now I think we will keep the railings on the porch and replace the rotted boards. Thank you!
houssaon
3 years ago
Do you own both sides? It would be nice if both sides looked the same. So just replacing what is rotted is probably your best bet. A plain wood hand rail would fit in well.
Michelle WW
Original Author
3 years ago
yes, we own both sides. We are actually doing both sides. I agree, I think we are going with the wood and replacing the rotten floor boards. Thanks!!!

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