Dont Know Remodeling

Chances are that your basement already has a stairway leading down to it. However, you may not feel that it is adequate for the additional traffic it will get as you finish your basement. So let's take a look at how to install or remodel stairways.

The three primary types of stairways are straight, landing, and circular. A straight stairway is made of three or more sets of treads (horizontal steps) and risers (vertical tread supports). A landing stairway has at least one area with a deeper tread, called a landing. A landing typically is used to break up a long stairway into shorter ones for safety or to allow a turn in the stairway. A circular stairway is a space saver, requiring less space for installation. However, circular stairways make moving furniture between floors difficult.

There are numerous regulations and guidelines for stairways. For example, there must be at least 6 feet 8 inches of headroom, treads must be at least 10 inches deep, risers must be 7-1/4 to 7-3/4 inches high, landings must be at least 36 inches wide. There's lots more depending on local code, the living space the stairway will serve, and the run or horizontal length of the stairway.