Spiral staircase

[skitter12]

I am signed up for the May class! Woohoo!!!! My older sister and her husband are traveling to Vegas Memorial Day weekend, so I can tag along with them!

Been planning this a long time, doodling with plans, even using a designer program to lay out a 32x32 2-story cabin. I'd like to hear if anyone thinks this is possible: in my plans I have 3 RPSLs, one on each end and one in the middle. Around the middle RPSL, I was thing it would be beautiful to build a spiral staircase around it leading to the 2nd floor; half is open to the 1st floor, other is bathroom and bedroom.
Thanks ya'll!

David

[John W]

Sounds cool to me!

[rocklock]

Yes. This is very similar to mine in size... We thought that we would build a spiral stair case like our neighbor, but it became too involved. You can buy the steel very inexpensively - do a Google search. Using the center RPSL will look very cool. You may want to communicate with your county to get their take one your plans before you start building. I have seen stairs that just use wood and joinery... Way to complicated for me. I would use steel braces with hardwood steps with a bolt through the log.
Just remember there is a lot more stuff than just the steps...
good luck - take plenty of pictures

[loghousenut]

David, Yer gonna fit right in here.

[eagle]

sure David, I was thinking the same about the top half: bedroom bathroom only but in front of the bathroom a loft sitting area looking forward over the lower part. That way we can fly a little RC helicopter around! I know, still a kid....

[Steve Vaughan]

I was planning on using my center RPSL as the center post for a spiral staircase to the loft in my cabin, but after watching the two videos below, I have decided to move the staircase out of the center of my cabin and off to the one side. This will allow me to manufacture my staircase in my woodshop under controlled conditions, if I use my RPSL, I would end up eyeballing way too much of it. This also helps to open up my floor plan somewhat. The first video linked below shows how this guy builds the staircase, I have no intention of buying any of his tools or ordering his stuff, but there are other ways to skin that cat. He gives a lot of very good fundamental advice. The second video link is on how to make the handrail that ties the whole thing together. I have spoken with the guy in the videos on the phone and he was quite helpful and gave me some tips on how to maximize my results. I will gladly share. Check out the links below. He has a lot of other videos, to view search "Tenonizer" on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11Pj4v6ov1A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoKmv-CoFlE

[spiralsands]

I can understand that a spiral staircase can be romantic and visually appealing as well as save space but can you move furniture up it or will you have to build a conventional staircase for that?

[rreidnauer]

The real challenge is actually a geometry problem. If you have a girder tied to that RPSL, it pretty much limits you to a half turn around. And that's hardly enough for a minimum 9 foot elevation difference between floors.

[travman]

Thanks for posting the links, Steve. Great viewing while at "work" today. ;) I'm with you though. Would like to do a wide tread around a second log like they did on the video, but maybe using planks instead of half logs. What do you think? Two pieces of all-thread all the way through each plank and the log?

[edkemper]

I'd like to build with a pull down stair. The second floor isn't going to be living space, at least initially.

[skitter12]

All good stuff! Thanks!

Had a scare this past week: my leasers (purchase option) on my old home and land said they were splitting up and moving out, leaving me hanging to make notes on a home I didn't live in. I thought "great, I just paid for my class, now won't be able to afford to go to the class!!!" Well, they called back and plan to stay together and remain in the house. Whew! I actually have money set aside in case of emergencies but dang!
All is well, Vegas, here I come!

[loghousenut]

Hurry up and get to class before they sober up.

[skitter12]

Definitely! lol!
btw, Rocklock and loghousenut, you guys are my heroes! When I was researching log cabins a few years ago, couldn't decide which way to go, log kit or have a company build it for me. But I kept thinking, "there has to be a better way!" I stumbled onto a web site LHOTI and began reading. Good stuff. Then saw where Skip Ellsworth's method received a lot of negative criticism. Which made me research Skip and his method, which led me to this site, which led me to take the course. Without you guy's putting all the information out there for me to make an informed decision, I'd still be looking at cheap log home kits!!!!!

[skitter12]

great advice Rock, you rock!

[travman]

Saw this short video on Youtube the other day. I think I've probably watched it at least 20 times since then. The time and patience it must have taken I'm sure is more than most could endure, but it's a pretty amazing set of stairs. Might even wrap around that center RPSL, do ya think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY6Lw9ahoqw

[skitter12]

wow that is outstanding! I video posted earlier is more suited to my skills, though!

[Basil]

rreidnauer I was thinking exactly the same thing

[magicbus]

skitter
thanks for posting the vids. i am trying to figure out a way to put my stairs in what would be the corner of the dining area of the stock 30x30. i like the spiral, i want the spiral, but as its taken me seven years to half finish my shed, i am thinking i might have the spiral staircase done sometime in 2021. then i could build my house around it! the second vid gave me an idea that might work though - the 180 turn. we ll see. are you moving forward with plans for a spiral around the rpsl? i would like to see that. i hope that you enjoyed the class and are faring well!

[Mrs. Len]

Len did all the welding on a beautiful steel spiral staircase on a high end waterfront home. The sides were rolled in Seattle, and Len did all the welding of the treads, balusters, railings, etc... While he wanted one, I showed him an alternative he liked even better, as it was much more space efficient. The stairway curls neatly in one corner, leading up the side of the adjoining wall to the catwalk which stretches across to the loft level. This creates a nook, which can be turned into a sweet cozy reading spot. He can build that from steel or wood. We prefer the latter and have some trees with some great curves to work with.

[magicbus]

mrs len,
that sounds awesome - i would surely like to see a pic or two if you have any. i have changed my floor plan four times today, but i'd sure like to see how a spiral could be utilized and if it could be a space saver in a smaller plan.

[Mrs. Len]

mrs len,
that sounds awesome - i would surely like to see a pic or two if you have any. i have changed my floor plan four times today, but i'd sure like to see how a spiral could be utilized and if it could be a space saver in a smaller plan.

I didn't see exactly what we have planned, but here is a pic to give you an idea as it looks closer than any other examples I found. Now, in our case, we will be building our staircase against the wall, as it meets a 90 degree corner, not rounded like you see here.

http://www.designma.com/jalbum/interiors/slides/b30.jpg

[magicbus]

thanks for the pic mrs. len. that staircase certainly is a work of art.