Space Saving Stairs - Building And Planning

Space saving stairs would include any stairway that was designed to save space in a building. The picture below represents a stairway that was designed to increase storage space, by creating a closet underneath the stairs. This particular closet even goes underneath the split landing.

Designing Space Saving Stairs For Small Buildings

This is probably one of the toughest jobs an architect or designer will need to do. It's often difficult to fit a set of stairs into small buildings, while still meeting local building and safety codes.

If you're looking for a small stairway, spiral stairs will usually get the job done, but there rarely used to access spaces larger than 400 square feet.

If you can't use a spiral stairway, the only other option you have to create a space saving stairway for a small building, would be to use winders. This stairway uses triangular shaped treads to reduce the length of the staircase.

Staircases Designed With Closets

Some building codes require fire protection under stairways and you should make sure that you understand what the building department actually requires, before starting on the project.

One time we needed to seal up a closet for a new home, because the local building department required a fire sprinkler under a stairway that was going to be considered living space or a storage area. It was going to cost more money to install an additional fire sprinkler under the stairs, than the homeowner was willing to pay.

Closets under stairs usually require a special drywall, to protect the stairway, in case there ever was a fire underneath the stairs. Since the stairs are the main exit for the people upstairs, we can't have them burning down, before the people upstairs, get a chance to exit the building.

Moral to the story, if you're not interested in doing things twice, make sure that you understand how to do them right, the first time.

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