How to make a staircase to the cellar with your own hands – options and construction technologies

Constructing a cellar staircase is a useful and satisfying project that can improve your home’s functionality. Doing it yourself can be a satisfying and affordable option if you’re looking to upgrade the stairs or create a convenient access point. A solid and beautiful staircase can be built by anyone with a few basic carpentry skills and the appropriate equipment.

The space you have available and the kind of staircase that best meets your needs should be taken into account when planning your project. There are many options to consider, ranging from simple designs like straight flights to more intricate ones like spiral or L-shaped staircases. Each has benefits, and the decision will be based on things like personal preference and available space.

Building materials and construction technologies are essential to creating a sturdy and safe staircase. Knowing the characteristics of each material—wood, metal, or concrete—will enable you to make well-informed choices. Incorporating appropriate safety features, like handrails and non-slip surfaces, is also necessary to guarantee security and long-term usability.

Starting this project calls for thorough planning and close attention to detail. With the correct methods and step-by-step instructions, you can successfully build a beautiful and practical staircase that fits your needs and enhances the appearance of your house.

Option 1: Basic Wooden Staircase	Simple construction using wooden boards and supports. Suitable for small cellars.
Option 2: Concrete Steps	Durable and stable, made with concrete blocks or poured concrete. Requires more construction expertise.
Option 3: Metal Spiral Staircase	Space-saving and modern, ideal for tight spaces. Requires welding skills and special tools.
Option 4: Prefabricated Staircase Kits	Easier installation with ready-made kits. Available in various materials like wood, metal, and fiberglass.

Choosing a staircase design

Given that an adult can ascend it while carrying a load of groceries or other heavy items, the basement staircase of a garage or home should be built with strength and simplicity in mind. The size of the cellar or basement, its relative humidity, and a few other factors must be considered when selecting a design.

Types of designs and their features

Flight stairs

The best and most economical choice is a single-story staircase composed of concrete, brick, metal, or wood. In addition to being very safe, it is also easy to install and use. However, there is a big disadvantage to such a staircase: it takes up a lot of room, which can be problematic for a small basement.

You can compact the area by using a two-flight staircase with a turning platform or winder steps. However, because you have to make a turn to go up or down to the basement, it is more difficult to manufacture and less convenient. Two flights can also be arranged at right angles to one another.

The wide range of steps, easy installation, and mild, practical slope are the primary benefits of flight descents.

Additional ladders

It is advised to use an add-on structure that is installed nearly vertically and with a slight slope for small cellars. Such a ladder has one edge resting on the ground and the other on the top of the wall close to the manhole. By repairing the supporting posts in the upper and lower sections, its dependability is guaranteed.

A structure of this kind may be composed of steel, wood, or a mix of the two.

Spiral descents

Installing screw structures is done when there is not enough room for a staircase. They consist of a vertical post that has steps fixed around its circumference at predetermined ascent angles.

Installing shelves along every wall of the cellar to store supplies is the most practical place for a staircase of that kind. In this instance, you can take the required item off the shelf and raise it without having to reach the bottom. There are boxes installed below, beneath the last set of stairs, to store root vegetables and other goods.

In the shape of a metal pole and wooden steps, screw structures are constructed from wood, metal, or a combination of these materials. To ensure safety and ease of ascent, handrails must be present throughout the entire descent on this type of staircase.

The inconvenient narrow climb with frequent turning is the main drawback. When you have to get up and carry a heavy load or arrange ready supplies, you feel this.

Materials used and their features

Stair assembly products need to be reasonably priced, possess the requisite strength, durability, and moisture resistance, and make installation simple. Four categories of materials fit these requirements. Brick, concrete, metal, and wood are among them.

Brick

A brick staircase needs a lot of room to support it, so it should only be constructed in a large cellar. The structure is built on brick pillars between which lintels are laid in order to minimize the amount of material used.

Subsequently, solid concrete platforms are poured, progressively ascending. This staircase’s construction gives it the appearance of a massive structure with niches at the bottom.

Although a brick staircase is incredibly dependable, sturdy, and easy to use, it is completely inappropriate for small and medium-sized spaces. It also needs a substantial amount of materials.

Reinforced concrete monolithic structures

Moisture resistance and extreme durability characterize reinforced concrete. It is durable enough for a staircase made of it. It is not possible, however, to use such structures for a small cellar.

Concrete slopes work well for separate subterranean structures that are visible from the street or basements that encircle the entire building. You must be fully aware that building a concrete staircase is an extremely labor-intensive and technologically complex process before moving forward with it.

Stationary wooden stairs

Arranging the cellar entrance most commonly involves installing a wooden staircase. Its production requires the use of wood species that are somewhat moisture-sensitive.

Larch is the most readily available wood that satisfies this condition. Because of its higher structural density, moisture cannot enter the material, preventing rotting and the growth of mold. Such a staircase can therefore endure for a very long period.

However, wood of any kind must still be cleaned with an antiseptic and coated with waterproof varnish or oil paint after it has dried. All of the aforementioned designs are created by masters using wood, marching, prefix, and screws.

Steel descent

When it comes to building stairs, metal is just as popular as wood. Tablets, corners, smooth rods, fittings, profile pipes, sheet materials, and various metal rolling techniques are utilized in the installation process.

The primary benefit of these systems is their ability to be installed in cellars of any size, altering the inclination angles, step layouts, and the basic structure of the building.

The requirement for a significant amount of welding work is the primary challenge in the production of a metal staircase. In the event that you lack this expertise, you will need to either refuse to use this material or hire a welder.

Furthermore, it is challenging to identify current metal rolling costs. That means you may have to pay a fair amount for a metal cellar staircase.

Combined use of materials

The most popular way to combine different options when building a staircase is to install a metal supporting structure and then install wooden steps and railings on it.

The end product is a stunning and long-lasting structure that is less expensive than an all-metal one, stronger than a wood one, and much simpler to erect than a concrete one. Concrete steps can be fully or partially tiled with ceramic tiles or covered with wood.

Which option should a novice builder choose?

The best option for creating a basement staircase for a do-it-yourself craftsman without any stair installation experience is to install a combined type of marching structure. Consider a two-flight staircase with an intermediate flat platform if installing a large flight of stairs in your cellar proves to be challenging.

Metal requires a substantial learning curve for welding and construction. Building a concrete monolith requires a lot of labor, and constructing one on your own will be very challenging.

We look at doable methods for building a cellar staircase yourself in this post. We’ll go over a variety of building techniques and options, walking you through detailed instructions and important factors to take into account. Regardless of your desire to economize or derive pleasure from do-it-yourself endeavors, we will assist you in comprehending the fundamental components, calculations, and safety measures required to construct a stable and useful cellar staircase. Learn how to modify your design to suit your needs and available space for a finished project that improves your home’s usability and accessibility.

Calculation of staircase structure

The prevailing indicators listed below are used as starting points for computation and illustration:

• convenient staircase width is about 900 mm;
• riser height approximately 200 mm;
• optimal tread width 300 mm;
• clearance height on descent not less than 2000 mm.

Although it’s generally assumed that the slope for entering subterranean rooms is 45˚, it can be made smaller in certain cases because occasionally you’ll need to lift a large hydraulic control unit out of the cellar. Please be aware, though, that the stairs will require more room in this instance.

You can determine the number of steps by measuring the distance between the floor and the ceiling. This can be accomplished by dividing the measurement value by the riser’s diameter (200 mm) and rounding to the next whole number. You can then calculate the riser’s correct working height by dividing the basement’s height by the number of steps. It will differ slightly from the accepted amount.

The width of the tread and the length of the base are calculated by multiplying the number of steps by 300 mm. The value that emerges should not exceed the basement’s length minus 0.9–1.0 meters. In the event that this requirement is not satisfied, it should be decided to construct a two-story staircase with a level platform that is at least 1200 mm long between each flight.

Production of monolithic reinforced concrete stairs with lower formwork

The existence of a sturdy foundation is one of the main requirements for building a concrete basement descent. A specially prepared small foundation or a reinforced floor poured in place can be used for this.

There are two methods for building a concrete basement staircase with your own hands. The first one is a monolithic reinforced concrete descent that is entirely supported by the floor. The second concerns the presence of open space beneath the staircase and the installation of lower formwork during the concrete pouring installation.

The structure can be placed in the center of the space or snugly up against the wall in any of the options.

Reinforcement and installation of formwork

Building a concrete staircase is not the same process as building a monolithic foundation. The formwork fences are put together in two steps in this instance. First, just the bottom formwork is put in place. Next, a reinforcing frame is put together and sheathed in side sheets and riser partitions. Boards with a thickness of 30 mm or multi-layered plywood can be used for the formwork.

Soft knitting wire is used to connect the various reinforcement components to one another during the frame assembly process. Initially, the entire length of the flight is covered by the lower longitudinal row of reinforcement. There are at least four rods with a diameter of 12 mm and at least six with a diameter of 10 mm.

It is advised to use "star" or "stand" type polymer fasteners to raise the laid strings 3-5 cm above the lower formwork. Every 250–300 mm, transverse reinforcing inserts with a diameter of 8–10 mm must be inserted to join the longitudinal rods that have been laid. If the stairwell is close to the wall, it is advised to pound the corners of the transverse bandage into the building’s framework.

Reinforcement is done on a horizontal platform using flat meshes measuring 8 by 100 by 100 that are arranged in two rows of height. The completed frame must be three to five millimeters smaller than the staircase’s outline, which includes all of the steps and the landing.

It is advised to install a 32×32 mm metal corner with welded rods embedded in it along the side edges of the lower formwork. This corner must be connected to the frame. It will act as an extra stiffener and prevent the stairs’ bottom corner from eventually collapsing.

When repositioning the formwork boards during construction, they must be fastened firmly enough to support both your weight and the weight of the concrete mix.

Pouring concrete

It is important to schedule the work so that all of the required concrete mix can be poured at once. Via the open steps, concrete is laid from the bottom up.

It is necessary to insert metal embedded parts or wooden blocks treated with a bitumen composition in the areas where the railings are installed. Using a trowel, the surface of each step needs to be carefully compacted and leveled. The formwork is taken down and the entire staircase is leveled after a 24-hour period.

Building a cellar staircase can be a fulfilling project that raises the value and usability of your house. You can construct a long-lasting, secure access point to your cellar that meets your needs by selecting the appropriate layout and components.

Safety is a major factor to take into account when constructing a cellar staircase. To avoid mishaps and offer comfort, accurate measurements, strong railings, and non-slip surfaces are crucial.

You can use a variety of construction techniques, depending on your level of expertise and the tools at your disposal. Every choice, from a more contemporary metal design to a more conventional wooden staircase, has advantages both practically and aesthetically.

To ensure that your staircase blends in perfectly with your cellar space, make sure to carefully plan out its dimensions and layout before you begin construction. If you take the time to do it correctly, you’ll have a staircase that improves the functionality of your house overall in addition to serving its intended purpose.

Lastly, if you run into difficulties along the road, don’t be afraid to ask experts or use internet resources for guidance. You can successfully construct a cellar staircase that fulfills your expectations and endures over time if you are patient and pay close attention to detail.

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