Welding a metal staircase to the second floor means getting an almost eternal and at the same time the most durable and aesthetic design. You can try it yourself if you wish. There are several varieties of such stairs. Some of them are easy to manufacture, welding others requires certain skills. Of course, for the manufacture of such a design will need special equipment.
Open and closed constructions
The metal staircase frame can be either closed or open. In the first case, the entire structure is subsequently closed with a finishing material. That is, the staircase is sheathed with drywall and wood. For the manufacture of such a frame, the use of not too attractive-looking cheap channels and a corner is allowed.
In order to make an open frame, you will need to purchase a metal coated with enamel. All welding work is carried out with maximum accuracy. Indeed, on the open frame, which in this case becomes part of the interior, no seams should be visible. But such metal stairs (photo below) look just fine.
Marching stairs
Marching stairs are considered the most convenient option in operation. Everyone is familiar with this design. It is these stairs that are installed in the entrances of high-rise buildings. Of course, such a design can be made of metal. There are only three main types of marching stairs: on bowstrings, on kosoura and on supports.
Stairs to the bowstrings
A characteristic feature of the stairs on the bowstring is that the steps on the side are not visible in them. The manufacture of metal stairs of this variety is a simple process. In this case, the supports under the steps are simply attached to the inside of the main beams.
Kosoura stairs
In the manufacture of stairs on braces, to channels pre-installed (serving as support beams), corners under the steps are welded from above. Thus, a very reliable design is obtained. It is possible to weld a metal staircase to the second floor both on two braids and on one. In the latter case, the support beam-channel is only one, and it is installed in the middle of the flight of stairs. This design looks very light and elegant and usually does not require risers.
Staircase
A metal staircase to the second floor of this variety is not used very often in residential buildings. The fact is that for its manufacture a lot of metal is needed. The steps and steps of such a ladder are attached to horizontal supports starting from the floor itself.
Spiral staircases
Spiral staircases are most often used where the dimensions of the room do not allow the installation of a marching structure. They look very interesting, but in operation they are not too convenient and less safe. In this case, the whole structure is built around one supporting horizontal pipe.
Making ladders on bowstrings
So, how to make a metal staircase to the second floor? First of all, you need to prepare the source material. To make a construction on bowstrings, you will need:
- Channel section 150x200 mm with a wall thickness of 8 mm.
- Steel angle 45x45 mm.
- Welding machine.
- Electrodes
- Grinding welding discs.
- Primer for metal.
The channels are attached to the supporting concrete beam from above and to the slab from below parallel to each other. The optimal
angle of inclination of the stairs is 20–45 degrees. When installing the channels, this must be taken into account.
Next, the segments of the metal corner under the steps should be welded to the inner sides of the resulting supports. In this case, you should definitely use the level. It is also important to remember that the height of the step should not be more than 18 cm. The optimal width is considered to be 30 cm. If you observe this condition, you will get a very comfortable metal staircase. Do-it-yourself construction of such a construction will not be too difficult.
Making stairs on the kosoura
For the manufacture of stairs on the kosoura, the same material will be needed as for the construction on the bowstrings. In this case, the channel supports are also pre-installed. Next, you will need to make supports under the stairs. They are made from a corner that needs to be bent at an angle of ninety degrees. The resulting kerchief supports are welded to the channels from above or from the inside, carefully monitoring their horizontalness. The result is a very reliable metal staircase. With your own hands, making such a design is somewhat more difficult than the version on the strings.
There is also another way to install supports under the steps. In this case, racks are welded on top of the channel, the height of which is equal to the
height of the step. During installation, they use a level, achieving strict vertical elements. Separately, a frame under the steps is welded from the corner. The resulting quadrangular frames are welded to the uprights on one side and to the channels on the other.
If one of the channels adjoins the wall, it makes sense to additionally attach it to it with anchors. After the frame is completely welded, all its elements must be coated with a primer and painted with two coats of paint.
What steps can be made of
Metal steps for stairs should be made of material with a thickness of at least 3 mm. It is best if their surface is corrugated. You can also cover such steps with anti-slip material on top. For their fastening to supports, metal screws are used, which need to be twisted from below.
Metal steps are rarely used in living quarters. After all, the material is pretty cold. And walking on it, say, barefoot will not be too pleasant. Therefore, most often a metal staircase with wooden steps is installed in the houses. The tree is attached to the frame in this case also using self-tapping screws.
How to make handrails
A fence for a metal ladder can be made using reinforcing bars, tubes or metal. Handrails can be attached to the supporting channel in three ways: by bolts, by welding, or as a whole structure. For railings, you can take pipes with a diameter of 35–80 mm. They are welded to the upper ends of pre-fixed racks. In order for the railing surface to be pleasant to the touch, they can be covered with a plastic pipe, cutting it first along.
How to make a finished staircase
After the frame is welded and the steps and handrails are installed, you can proceed to the final design of the stairs. When welding structural elements, seams should be placed inside. In this case, they will not interfere with the finish. The stairs are usually trimmed with wood or drywall. When choosing a material, they are guided primarily by the general style decision of the interior.
The material is cut in accordance with the design features of the stairs. The casing is fastened to screws or screws so that no gaps remain at the joints.
Do-it-yourself metal staircase is made without any special difficulties. But only if you have basic welding skills. Inept actions can lead to damage to the frame. As a result, you will have to redo all the work again, or the ladder will turn out to be unsafe in operation. In the event that you are not confident in your abilities, it still makes sense to spend money by contacting specialists.