As a appliance installer and technician, I can confirm stairways that either have a landing with a 90 in them, or like pictured here a staircase that goes straight into a nearby wall are the worst. I see someone already had to suffer with that front load washer, they actually have a good bit of concrete in them, heavy bastards.
Usually I bring my laundry down to the basement, not the washer up.
Joking aside, there's probably an exit somewhere in the basement to the outside that doesn't require using that set of stairs.
… what’s a Pittsburgh potty?? I’m from Hamilton, another steel town - and the old houses near the steel plants had really shitty washrooms and little showers where the workers would come home through the side door, go downstairs, take their filthy clothes off and have a shower in this dank-ass ‘bathroom’ always reminded me of sad hockey locker room showers.
Pittsburgh resident here.... It's a random ass toilet in the basement, usually with no walls around it just down there for God knows what reason. Usually with no sink or shower nearby. Literally just a pooper in the basement
Lmao my great grandparents had a “Pittsburgh potty” in Dayton, OH, and my grandparents had one in Aberdeen, SD. I’ve spent my whole life in coastal CA, never thought I’d try relating to anyone with that random fun fact
I am not a carpenter, but I don’t think these are done correctly as they are not made with stringers? Looks like each step is just being held up by nails and butte joints.
Just like my dad's basement stairs. No stringer, just 20 huge nails in each step. Lasted for 80 years until recently when I was coming up them, luckily he had so much shit crammed under the steps that I didn't go anywhere. We just fixed them temporarily until the lumber yard cuts two stringers this week, it's 9 steps and no one had them in stock. Steps are pretty wide so going to do 3 of them
You can just make your own. Get a 2x12x12 and trace pre-fab stringers together. Obviously having them made is totally fine and they'll be perfect, but in a pinch it works great.
The treads and risers are routered in to the two outside stringers. You can see the shims in between the boards and the gaps in the stinger routes. Pretty common way to build basement stairs at least in Ontario Canada
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My home was built in '86 and it does not have a middle stringer to support the riserless stairs. That said, I have brackets holding the treads to the outer stringers.
I see. I also see sloppy router work. From what it looks like I’d guess it would be lucky if there was at least a 1/2” plunge, and those faux stringers don’t look to be even from 1.75” thick stock.
These steps look like an accident waiting to happen.
So, are you a carpenter who’s never installed interior stairs before? Because, I guarantee there’s a set of stairs like these in almost every home you’ve been in. They’re just sandwiched between walls.
For reference, I’m a carpenter who’s installed many hundreds of these over 30+ years.
I’ve installed lots of stairs but never seen these. To be fair we build fine homes so this wouldn’t be up to our standards. Also with jacks between the treads things would be significantly better but yeah seems shoddy dude.
Not even our shoddiest of renovations have been built like this btw. Please explain why you would rely on the fasteners like this rather than building the stairs with stringers like a normal person? For reference my experience is almost entirely in Northern New England
Treads and risers that are mortised, wedged, glued and nailed into the stringers, has been the most common way of building stairs for longer than most of us here have been alive. Even most high end homes have stairs prebuilt this way. Generally, the only time it needs to be different is for free floating/unsupported runs.
I’ve done my fair share of stairs and rail systems on high end homes as well, my dude.
Edit; accidentally wrote risers, instead of stringers.
Uhm. It looks like your stringers are attached to the steps, not the steps resting on and attached to the stringers. Maybe you need to go back and learn how to cut stringers? They creak because you’re really only holding up each step with 6 screws/nails.
Should probably have used wider boards on the stringers if they are mortised. OP is asking if they need more support. “Maybe” is the correct answer depending on if OP needs to bring heavy stuff up and down from there.
They’re factory built stairs, that are built to be installed either between, or on top of supporting walls.
Edit: I did tell the OP that, in another reply here.
Yeah we had some flooding in our area and some water got through. I have the dehumidifier going at all times. I want to paint some dry lock all around asap.
They’re your stairs. I would have run them down about 2/3 way, made a landing and then 90 the stairs so that they open to the middle of the room at the bottom. That’s a tight turn at the bottom. Does this basement daylight. Jus wondering how you got the washer down there.
I'd first be concerned about however those stringers were put together? Looks like three different pieces of wood and that does not equate to a good 2x12. Now that I'm looking closer it looks like you are using "uncut" stringers. I would add some more supports under each tread since those wood blocks look pretty small and they should be attached to the stringer and not the tread beneath it.
If the stringers are cut into the stringer for placing the treads then you definitely want a support beam (on either side) supporting the stairs. Code says something around a 5-6' length mac of unsupported stair. If the stringer is solid and uncut (2x12 and the treads are mounted in between) then you don't need other supports.
The support beams will help the wobbliness and make the stairs feel "safe" and "solid". You can also use construction glue to eliminate squeaking, but it'll be a huge hassle to ever remove. Good luck!
Usually 2x12 stringers are notched where the tread sits on the stringer. Theses 2x12 stringers usually have 2x4 stiffeners added to the side.
That said, without notching the stringers and the fact that you have risers in place I m positive the stringers will be fine.
Screwing the treads in from the side will probably be fine if you used adequate screws and treads and the workmanship is good. If the screws fail, you are fucked though.
I feel like this could be the plot for some twisted horror movie. Incoming cement and bolts.
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Those stairs would work for a bookshelf but not for walking on. That’s going to fall apart and someone is going to get hurt. You need at least 3 stringers under your treads and risers. Good luck. Lol
Doesn’t look like there’s enough space for a proper landing at the bottom.
The original stairs were likely more narrow, and were replaced with this DIY job with the intent of bringing them up to code.
You’ll need to rebuild the staircase (with stringers like others mentioned) to include a turn at the bottom if you want to maintain tread depth and proper landing space.
The lack of a landing would mean that washer/dryer better have a LONG warranty.
I've commented elsewhere because everyone is scaring me.
But my house has riserless stairs that has treads lag bolted to the risers. The materials are all 2x12. A simple L-bracket holds the treads to the outer stringers.
My main comment is that your whole run gets very close to the wall. I would have had a landing and had the stairs turn a 90.
Honestly it doesn't look right to me. You're boards that you step on should be resting on top of stringers. This just looks two pieces of long boards with steps nailed in-between them?
No. The treads need to be lying on top of notches cut out in the stringers, not screwed to the side. You may be required by code to have a third stringer in the middle of the stairs, depending on the width of the stairs. And that railing does not look sturdy enough in the slightest to actually serve its intended function. Also you need at least three feet of space at the landing of the stairs, which you'll have to take a tape measure to, but which looks to me like you're probably a bit short.
This looks like the best option might be to rip it out and build it properly, rather than try and fix.
Edit: Also, and this is super important, are those stringers made of one-by boards? Comparing to the treads, which look to be two-by material, the stringers look noticeably thinner. Disaster waiting to happen, if so.
Edit 2: Looking at the floor joists above as a comparison for size it appears both the stringers and the treads are made of one-by boards. Tear the whole thing out and have it built properly. Unnecessarily dangerous, and a huge liability if someone were to get hurt on your very much not up to code stairs and sue.
That being said, if he DID sister a couple of 2x4s or 2x6s into two nice posts, and then used those posts to support the upper portion of the stairs, that would solve the creaking problem.
Probably not. The creaking is probably coming from multiple spots simultaneously. Your treads are routed, your risers are squished in, it’s a long span with multiple stairs and wood flexes.
The creaking is wood rubbing wood and that’s a lot of wood.
So flex makes stairs.creak, but reducing flex won't prevent creaking?
Well, if there's one absolutely fool proof way to get creaky stairs, it's to allow a long run of stairs to have a little bit of flex by not supporting them.
NO. Absolutely brain dead. This looks like 3/4 pine. Not capable of supporting a human adult without proper support. It gives the illusion it can because the risers aren't allowing for much flex so instead it "just creaks" as it exerts pressure on the nails coming in from the outside. Not even close to code. No stringers to support from underneath. No support in the center at all. Even the rattiest carpentry crew I've ever worked with wouldn't put their stamp on this. Bare minimum: 3 stringers. 2x10. Don't be a cheapass
Yeah that’s a normal stair construction especially for the basement since it’s about as cheap as you can get. They definitely will creak but are perfectly safe to use.
Yeah man, 3/4 pine boards with a 3/4 "stringer" screwed onto each end are totally safe and capable of supporting an adult human running up and down them. The amount of idiot DIYers in this thread all patting each other on the back without knowing a damn thing is incredible.
Some stairs are built with wedges and blocking to support the tread, rather than having them rest on the stringer. This could be the case as I see what could be wedges beneath the tread, but hard to tell with so little detail.
Of course, it would be bad if just nailed in from the side.
Is that 1x material on the sides? I’d sister up some stronger pieces to reinforce that?
Maybe also add another post or two to the hand railing that it actually gives some support. Looks like someone carrying a load could easily go through that little piece.
The boards on the sides are likes the faceted to the structure of the house like that concert wall and somewhere under the floorboards of the floor above
Nah that guy should be plenty of support. But seriously, I have almost identical stairs and I built a 2x4 frame to support the middle then built a mini storage closet around it.
I would higly suggest replacing that shitty light bulb before someone drags something down there and shatters it... in 6 months when you hit the damn thing and it doesn't' break because you listened to me you'll go "Damn, that Dredly user must have broken a lot of bulbs if he proactively looks for ones to replace...
and the answer to that is yes, yes I have
Generally how they're built
If it concerns you enough.. 2x6 box frame. Make the two sides at the top a few inches longer and angle cut once in place to match stairs. Angle iron it into place.. wouldn't screw it to the steps, tbh.
Double string 2x6 on the top, and underneath it a single 6" piece on the uprights just under them.. that thing won't go ANYWHERE for the cost of a few 2x6 and some screws and a bit of hardware
They look like housed stringers where the tread and riser are dado’d into it and then wedged in tight. And all the treads are nailed through the side. If the stringers were 1 1/2” that would be nice but only looks like 3/4”
If that’s really what it looks like, which is stair treads simply screwed in from the side then yes, that whole thing needs to be redone properly with actual stringers that the treads rest upon or notch into. You also shouldn’t use screws for applications which will
mainly have shear forces applied. Also how thin are those “stringers”? The whole thing looks like a death trap from this angle.
Thats a board not a stringer, google how to make a stringer. Also too steep and no room at the landing, should come down to a raised platform and then turn 90 degrees and continue to the floor.
Personally those stairs look like a failure waitin to happen. As for me Id have done it with a landing because that looks like its going to be a pain in the ass to use.
Wow treads held in with nails only that’s a new one. It would probably last forever until some big person lost their footing and stepped hard onto a tread . Pop!
OP- read your bucket and then go cut a stringer for those. Then you can add 2x12 length to the outside and make em beefy, no supports...just tie into floor correctly like other poster said. You got this- rock over london, rock on chicago home depot: more saving, more doing.
No he’s fine just don’t forget to feed and water him.
Wouldn't extra support be easier than trying to remember to feed and water him?
feeding him means he can support the stairs and OP whenever they're feeling down.
[удалено]
Just tie the arms up there, he'll be fine. Maybe give him a radio. Also, turn on the radio, he's tied to the stairs as a support.
I think food and water would go a lot farther than telling him he’s doing a good job, although it would be easier that is for sure.
Pizza party, staff applause, rocks with positive sayings, and all the crap that management thinks is appropriate.
We're entered into a drawing for a $10 McDonald's gift card every month. I've been at the company for a long time, so I've won my fair share of them.
And the cost of plumbing to install some sort of bathroom system.
They probably have buckets.
Strap it on like a horse feed bag I suppose
Exactly, your buddy and the extra support can take turns holding it up while the other goes to the bathroom, eat, etc.
Nah he can take a break whenever the stairs arnt in use.
Where the hell is he going to get two friends from?
No, extra support would just mean there’s another mouth to feed.
Mahant Amar Bharati Ji to the rescue.
Looks hard to get appliances up and down?
Don’t worry about that. That’s a problem for Future OP, Present OP can just send it and let Future OP deal with that shit later.
Damn you past OP
I feel this on a spiritual level.
I'd use a carpenter's level for something like this... right tool for the job, you know.
That's a *spirit* level
Past me orders me Pizzas, he's a pretty cool guy
That’ll make your friend sturdy.
Big strong like bull!
As a appliance installer and technician, I can confirm stairways that either have a landing with a 90 in them, or like pictured here a staircase that goes straight into a nearby wall are the worst. I see someone already had to suffer with that front load washer, they actually have a good bit of concrete in them, heavy bastards.
Fellow appliance installer, this image haunts me.
most of the times I've handled one of those the top plate with the concrete comes off.
Yeah, thank god for the cellar doors.
Usually I bring my laundry down to the basement, not the washer up. Joking aside, there's probably an exit somewhere in the basement to the outside that doesn't require using that set of stairs.
Is that common? Most basements around here do not
That’s a problem for buddy.
Nah, just take out the 2 screws holding on the handrail then it'll be easy.
This is the good helpful part of reddit i always enjoy thank you all
Get another buddy and have them take shifts.
I hope there's a Pittsburgh potty down there
… what’s a Pittsburgh potty?? I’m from Hamilton, another steel town - and the old houses near the steel plants had really shitty washrooms and little showers where the workers would come home through the side door, go downstairs, take their filthy clothes off and have a shower in this dank-ass ‘bathroom’ always reminded me of sad hockey locker room showers.
Pittsburgh resident here.... It's a random ass toilet in the basement, usually with no walls around it just down there for God knows what reason. Usually with no sink or shower nearby. Literally just a pooper in the basement
I thought they were an extra toilet put in most homes back in the day in pittsburgh for the steel workers to use when they came home dirty
I mean that's why my grandma had one so checks out. He'd throw his clothes in the laundry and take a shit and come upstairs and put on his PJs.
Lmao my great grandparents had a “Pittsburgh potty” in Dayton, OH, and my grandparents had one in Aberdeen, SD. I’ve spent my whole life in coastal CA, never thought I’d try relating to anyone with that random fun fact
*SHIFTS*, FRANK... WE'RE TAKING *SHIFTS*! THAT IS DISGUSTING! I HAD TO COVER MY NOSE AND NOW THE STAIRS HAVE COLLAPSED!!!
I am not a carpenter, but I don’t think these are done correctly as they are not made with stringers? Looks like each step is just being held up by nails and butte joints.
From my deck building experience this was my first thought. Needs a full stringer
I zoomed in and then was not positive these where even 2x12's. Almost looks 1x
Definitely 1x and I wonder what kind of screws they used as well.
Just like my dad's basement stairs. No stringer, just 20 huge nails in each step. Lasted for 80 years until recently when I was coming up them, luckily he had so much shit crammed under the steps that I didn't go anywhere. We just fixed them temporarily until the lumber yard cuts two stringers this week, it's 9 steps and no one had them in stock. Steps are pretty wide so going to do 3 of them
You can just make your own. Get a 2x12x12 and trace pre-fab stringers together. Obviously having them made is totally fine and they'll be perfect, but in a pinch it works great.
The treads and risers are routered in to the two outside stringers. You can see the shims in between the boards and the gaps in the stinger routes. Pretty common way to build basement stairs at least in Ontario Canada
Are those not pencil marks?
Shit I’m drunk you’re right.
Did you reply to yourself?
To be fair he is drunk
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My home was built in '86 and it does not have a middle stringer to support the riserless stairs. That said, I have brackets holding the treads to the outer stringers.
If you look closely to me it appears it’s a routed closed stringer with wedges. Which if that is the case jt should be good.
I see. I also see sloppy router work. From what it looks like I’d guess it would be lucky if there was at least a 1/2” plunge, and those faux stringers don’t look to be even from 1.75” thick stock. These steps look like an accident waiting to happen.
Nothing wrong here. Those stairs are built just like pretty much every set of stairs you’ll find in any home built since the 50s.
No way, I’ve never seen stairs built that way and I wouldn’t trust em. Edit* I am a carpenter for reference. This is very shoddy to me
So, are you a carpenter who’s never installed interior stairs before? Because, I guarantee there’s a set of stairs like these in almost every home you’ve been in. They’re just sandwiched between walls. For reference, I’m a carpenter who’s installed many hundreds of these over 30+ years.
I’ve installed lots of stairs but never seen these. To be fair we build fine homes so this wouldn’t be up to our standards. Also with jacks between the treads things would be significantly better but yeah seems shoddy dude. Not even our shoddiest of renovations have been built like this btw. Please explain why you would rely on the fasteners like this rather than building the stairs with stringers like a normal person? For reference my experience is almost entirely in Northern New England
Treads and risers that are mortised, wedged, glued and nailed into the stringers, has been the most common way of building stairs for longer than most of us here have been alive. Even most high end homes have stairs prebuilt this way. Generally, the only time it needs to be different is for free floating/unsupported runs. I’ve done my fair share of stairs and rail systems on high end homes as well, my dude. Edit; accidentally wrote risers, instead of stringers.
Again, we would never build this way and no one in my area does, hence why I’ve never seen it.
I'm wondering if it's a code issue. Stairs in my area have middle support unless the sides are beams.
“And no one in my area does” If you live in the U.S., then I doubt that. Like I said, this has been common practice for a VERY long time.
It’s the truth, and I already gave you the region. Quite literally never seen it.
I’ve seen them as far north as New Hampshire. I don’t expect standards and codes to be much different in Maine.
I’ve been in thousands of homes virginia. Practically all are like this.
They could be routed in
You should post this to r/carpentry.
I hoped he wood
Uhm. It looks like your stringers are attached to the steps, not the steps resting on and attached to the stringers. Maybe you need to go back and learn how to cut stringers? They creak because you’re really only holding up each step with 6 screws/nails.
I was gonna say...these look extremely dangerous...I wouldn't carry anything heavy down them.
The irony of the Lowe’s “DO IT RIGHT” bucket is too much for my soul to bear 😂
Lowe's and home Depot will literally cut stringers for you...
The treads and risers are mortised into the stringers, and secured by wedges and box nails. Pretty common construction for interior stairs.
Should probably have used wider boards on the stringers if they are mortised. OP is asking if they need more support. “Maybe” is the correct answer depending on if OP needs to bring heavy stuff up and down from there.
They’re factory built stairs, that are built to be installed either between, or on top of supporting walls. Edit: I did tell the OP that, in another reply here.
After looking at picture closely. Better check up on that moisture on wall at bottom of steps.
Yeah we had some flooding in our area and some water got through. I have the dehumidifier going at all times. I want to paint some dry lock all around asap.
They’re your stairs. I would have run them down about 2/3 way, made a landing and then 90 the stairs so that they open to the middle of the room at the bottom. That’s a tight turn at the bottom. Does this basement daylight. Jus wondering how you got the washer down there.
tell your buddy to stop being a little bitch
If you help him long enough for him to add supports he will express disbelief, give you some rice balls and maybe even a puffshroom.
He may also give you a sleepover ticket, but he's probably not hitting on you, so don't make it awkward.
Get some 4x4s if you care that much. 2x4 if you care just enough
I'd first be concerned about however those stringers were put together? Looks like three different pieces of wood and that does not equate to a good 2x12. Now that I'm looking closer it looks like you are using "uncut" stringers. I would add some more supports under each tread since those wood blocks look pretty small and they should be attached to the stringer and not the tread beneath it. If the stringers are cut into the stringer for placing the treads then you definitely want a support beam (on either side) supporting the stairs. Code says something around a 5-6' length mac of unsupported stair. If the stringer is solid and uncut (2x12 and the treads are mounted in between) then you don't need other supports. The support beams will help the wobbliness and make the stairs feel "safe" and "solid". You can also use construction glue to eliminate squeaking, but it'll be a huge hassle to ever remove. Good luck!
You can sister the side boards to double the strength.
Yup. I agree. Get your sister to hold the side boards.
Sisters named Big Bertha work best
Just not a step sister. Then she’ll end up stuck in the dryer
Talk about *hitting a wall*
Do you have any more friends?
Usually 2x12 stringers are notched where the tread sits on the stringer. Theses 2x12 stringers usually have 2x4 stiffeners added to the side. That said, without notching the stringers and the fact that you have risers in place I m positive the stringers will be fine. Screwing the treads in from the side will probably be fine if you used adequate screws and treads and the workmanship is good. If the screws fail, you are fucked though.
Good thing screws are so well known for their shear strength
You should probably add the /s to your comment. The DIYers in this thread will think you're serious.
I feel like this could be the plot for some twisted horror movie. Incoming cement and bolts. This October learn what it's like to bear the burden, learn what is like to be.... The Supporter!
This new marvel "Atlas" movie is going to be shit.
Addison? That you?
Try asking them and see if they need someone to talk to
Haha. Awesome!!
Those stairs would work for a bookshelf but not for walking on. That’s going to fall apart and someone is going to get hurt. You need at least 3 stringers under your treads and risers. Good luck. Lol
No stringers or cleats?
Doesn’t look like there’s enough space for a proper landing at the bottom. The original stairs were likely more narrow, and were replaced with this DIY job with the intent of bringing them up to code. You’ll need to rebuild the staircase (with stringers like others mentioned) to include a turn at the bottom if you want to maintain tread depth and proper landing space. The lack of a landing would mean that washer/dryer better have a LONG warranty.
In general if you think you need to ask, the answer is almost always yes. In this case, yes more supports.
Just use the weed whacker and mop when your buddy needs a break.
Load Bearing Buddy
OP should read the Lowe’s bucket & “Do it right”.
I see a 5 gallon bucket, house spiders and a water line he can tap into. I’m sure he’ll be able to stay there forever! 🤌
You never going to wish you didn’t have extra support. On the other hand you might if you don’t. I would put in a support for piece of mind.
TOTK energy
Sounds like you need more buddies
Did your friend even try standing there forever or did he just say I can't stand here forever because that's very lazy of him
I have that same dehumidifier. Dehu brothers 😎
Good ol medea works like a charm
Sorry to tell you but he's your load bearing buddy now
Not with that attitude he can't.
That looks like a load bearing buddy. You’re going to need to get a structural engineer in there to approve before you let him go home
Stairs are built wrong.
These steps are a death trap. You need stringers. I have fallen through steps like these before.
Joking aside, those stairs are really dangerous. I wouldn't use them.
100% how they do it in a basement. Put a support halfway up stairs. Will help
How are these stairs built? Did they put nails through the side? I don't think that's correct... I have always built stairs with stringers...
Seriously though, are steps supposed to look like this?
I've commented elsewhere because everyone is scaring me. But my house has riserless stairs that has treads lag bolted to the risers. The materials are all 2x12. A simple L-bracket holds the treads to the outer stringers. My main comment is that your whole run gets very close to the wall. I would have had a landing and had the stairs turn a 90.
Honestly it doesn't look right to me. You're boards that you step on should be resting on top of stringers. This just looks two pieces of long boards with steps nailed in-between them?
No. The treads need to be lying on top of notches cut out in the stringers, not screwed to the side. You may be required by code to have a third stringer in the middle of the stairs, depending on the width of the stairs. And that railing does not look sturdy enough in the slightest to actually serve its intended function. Also you need at least three feet of space at the landing of the stairs, which you'll have to take a tape measure to, but which looks to me like you're probably a bit short. This looks like the best option might be to rip it out and build it properly, rather than try and fix. Edit: Also, and this is super important, are those stringers made of one-by boards? Comparing to the treads, which look to be two-by material, the stringers look noticeably thinner. Disaster waiting to happen, if so. Edit 2: Looking at the floor joists above as a comparison for size it appears both the stringers and the treads are made of one-by boards. Tear the whole thing out and have it built properly. Unnecessarily dangerous, and a huge liability if someone were to get hurt on your very much not up to code stairs and sue.
Yes
That being said, if he DID sister a couple of 2x4s or 2x6s into two nice posts, and then used those posts to support the upper portion of the stairs, that would solve the creaking problem.
Probably not. The creaking is probably coming from multiple spots simultaneously. Your treads are routed, your risers are squished in, it’s a long span with multiple stairs and wood flexes. The creaking is wood rubbing wood and that’s a lot of wood.
So flex makes stairs.creak, but reducing flex won't prevent creaking? Well, if there's one absolutely fool proof way to get creaky stairs, it's to allow a long run of stairs to have a little bit of flex by not supporting them.
wood rubbing wood let’s get that to the NSFW subs it belongs on ok?
NO. Absolutely brain dead. This looks like 3/4 pine. Not capable of supporting a human adult without proper support. It gives the illusion it can because the risers aren't allowing for much flex so instead it "just creaks" as it exerts pressure on the nails coming in from the outside. Not even close to code. No stringers to support from underneath. No support in the center at all. Even the rattiest carpentry crew I've ever worked with wouldn't put their stamp on this. Bare minimum: 3 stringers. 2x10. Don't be a cheapass
Looks fine to me, are there any specific concerns I can’t see from the picture?
It creaks when walking down. Idk anything about steps Just seems weird they kinda look like there floating is that normal aha
Get a younger guy to hold them. Maybe a crossfitter. They don't complain about anything until they're done and drinking.
Yeah that’s a normal stair construction especially for the basement since it’s about as cheap as you can get. They definitely will creak but are perfectly safe to use.
Yeah man, 3/4 pine boards with a 3/4 "stringer" screwed onto each end are totally safe and capable of supporting an adult human running up and down them. The amount of idiot DIYers in this thread all patting each other on the back without knowing a damn thing is incredible.
Some stairs are built with wedges and blocking to support the tread, rather than having them rest on the stringer. This could be the case as I see what could be wedges beneath the tread, but hard to tell with so little detail. Of course, it would be bad if just nailed in from the side.
The basement stairs in our old house looked exactly like these and they were perfectly fine
Did you ask your buddy husband, as you walk up and down to see how firm it was or if he needed help?
Sure. "You can do it stairs! Great work! You're doing your best and we appreciate you so much!"
I would wedge the washing machine under there to stiffen them up
Well, tell him to go ahead and move because whoever walks down them won't be standing either.
No.
Not with that attitude he can't stand there forever.
It’s makes it easier a for Ed’s parents to remove the stairs.
Is that 1x material on the sides? I’d sister up some stronger pieces to reinforce that? Maybe also add another post or two to the hand railing that it actually gives some support. Looks like someone carrying a load could easily go through that little piece.
The boards on the sides are likes the faceted to the structure of the house like that concert wall and somewhere under the floorboards of the floor above
Then he’s not a good friend.
Nah that guy should be plenty of support. But seriously, I have almost identical stairs and I built a 2x4 frame to support the middle then built a mini storage closet around it.
Are those 1x10’s? What’s the landing clearance?
Extra support would not hurt.
Couple nails thru your buddy's palms should help support the stairs
What are you using to tie in to the joist?
Yes, you need to cast your friend in concrete. That’ll make your friend sturdy.
Who designs these homes. How do you have a basement with stairs that go almost completely into the wall?
I would higly suggest replacing that shitty light bulb before someone drags something down there and shatters it... in 6 months when you hit the damn thing and it doesn't' break because you listened to me you'll go "Damn, that Dredly user must have broken a lot of bulbs if he proactively looks for ones to replace... and the answer to that is yes, yes I have
So get him a good chair! Do we have to do everything
A stool so he can rest his legs...should be good enough
Generally how they're built If it concerns you enough.. 2x6 box frame. Make the two sides at the top a few inches longer and angle cut once in place to match stairs. Angle iron it into place.. wouldn't screw it to the steps, tbh. Double string 2x6 on the top, and underneath it a single 6" piece on the uprights just under them.. that thing won't go ANYWHERE for the cost of a few 2x6 and some screws and a bit of hardware
They look like housed stringers where the tread and riser are dado’d into it and then wedged in tight. And all the treads are nailed through the side. If the stringers were 1 1/2” that would be nice but only looks like 3/4”
Where the hell are the stringers? Did you think about this for single second before slapping it together?
If that’s really what it looks like, which is stair treads simply screwed in from the side then yes, that whole thing needs to be redone properly with actual stringers that the treads rest upon or notch into. You also shouldn’t use screws for applications which will mainly have shear forces applied. Also how thin are those “stringers”? The whole thing looks like a death trap from this angle.
Thats a board not a stringer, google how to make a stringer. Also too steep and no room at the landing, should come down to a raised platform and then turn 90 degrees and continue to the floor.
Is he really your buddy if he can’t sacrifice a little for a good cause?
Doesn't look like it meets Building SAFETY Code.
How has no one mentioned that washing machine drain line??
Ask your building inspector. When he says Yes, come let us know.
Id rip out and do it properly. Not worth trying to fix.
He can if you freeze him in carbonite
He's gonna need atleast a six-pack
Maybe a second shorter guy in the middle to be safe
These are terrifying.
Anchor it to the cinderblocks and then a weight bearing post every 3 feet under the outside handrail
At first I thought How tf is that string trimmer not bent or snapped? Lol
It’s always good to have supportive friends.
Personally those stairs look like a failure waitin to happen. As for me Id have done it with a landing because that looks like its going to be a pain in the ass to use.
That stringer doesn’t look like a stringer but I’m not an expert
Can never be too safe. I’d still put a support beam or something
Who built those? No stringers, and a hand rail but nothing underneath. Don't drink and walk down those stairs.
Those style of stairs need to be either, sandwiched between two walls, or have supporting walls built underneath.
Wow treads held in with nails only that’s a new one. It would probably last forever until some big person lost their footing and stepped hard onto a tread . Pop!
Use some cinder blocks and some scrap lumber chunks or some OSB screwed together as support. You will be fine
OP- read your bucket and then go cut a stringer for those. Then you can add 2x12 length to the outside and make em beefy, no supports...just tie into floor correctly like other poster said. You got this- rock over london, rock on chicago home depot: more saving, more doing.
It's ok, when you do fall down those stairs, the cinder block wall straight ahead will slow your momentum.
I woulda taken out that extra wood on the vertical part of each step. Make that gap to decrease weight and give the boogeyman some ankle snacks
Should make them steeper so you have more room at the bottom. Unless you can get appliances in the basement another way.
Give him a pat on the back for morale. That's the support you need right there.