The entrance staircase is a very common attribute of a private house. It may consist of several steps or be tall; in any case, it performs important functions, including decorative ones. By the appearance of the facade of the building, by the entrance to the house, you can already tell a lot about the owner of the room, his wealth and taste.
What staircase options are there for a private home? What technical requirements exist for such buildings? Is it possible to install a ready-made structure? What skills do you need to have to build such a staircase yourself, with your own hands? You can find answers to all these questions in this article.
Timeless classics in design
Recognizable features of any design in the classical style are severity, exquisite consistency, and harmonious moderation in decor. Usually, the porch in a house built in a classical style is equipped not only with a canopy, but also complemented by beautiful decorative columns, classic railings with soft-shaped balusters.
A classic design option for a porch with an open decorative canopy
In the classic style, decor is quite acceptable, and home owners often like to work on it themselves, which, as a rule, gives the home a unique look and home comfort. It should be remembered that the classic style gravitates towards symmetry and correctness, the clarity of all lines.
It is better to make the canopy over the porch high, and the staircase itself wide and not very steep. Beautiful railings with forged metal elements are always appropriate, the style of which should be repeated in the decorative decoration of the gate.
Country style porch
The style of coziness and rustic, simple charm is timeless, and it doesn't matter which country inspires you. A beautiful wooden staircase will ideally suit almost any country style, American, English or French.
Finishing in this style is accepted only with natural materials; concrete or polycarbonate will have to be abandoned; natural wood and rough stone will do.
Successful layout of a wooden porch attached to a stone house
Decorating a porch in country style is not so easy; there are many features and nuances in this direction of construction
Porch decorated in Russian style
In Rus', for a long time, the front entrance to a hut was not just beautiful, but downright elegant. The best craftsmen worked on the design of the porch; it was decorated with complex carved ornaments and patterns, balusters and pillars of the most complex shapes. Today, the “Russian style” in porch decoration is very popular.
In this case, handmade work is not only appropriate, but also desirable, and if you know how to work with wood and can make an openwork porch with your own hands, then using your talents here is simply necessary.
Russian style architecture is very beautiful and elegant
The peculiarity of the “Russian” porch in the classic design is that it is not covered with colored paint; transparent varnish is usually used, since the texture of the living tree should be noticeable. The use of stain and light tinting of wood is allowed. There are no other strict canons in finishing styles; everything depends on the imagination and skill of the author.
Finnish porch
Like almost any trend born in the Nordic countries, this Scandinavian style should demonstrate simplicity, but at the same time reliability and absolute strength.
- When decorating a porch in the Finnish style, you need to adhere to strict moderation and exquisite conciseness. If your small house is finished with siding, then a Finnish porch is the ideal choice.
- The porch (preferably wooden) should be carefully painted in any shade of white, railings and wide steps are required. For decor, simple marine-themed motifs are quite appropriate.
Finnish style house with a small cute porch
A canopy over the porch will protect the front entrance from snow and rain
Durable and beautiful stone porch design
French charm in the design of the porch
The French style involves a large number of different decorations, for example, in the form of forged ornate grilles on the railings; the same grilles decorate the front door, which should have a small glass “window” in the middle.
Porch in high-tech style
The steps should be wide, as this style loves a lot of free empty space.
The black and white color palette is complemented by a metallic sheen. It's great to decorate the railings with shiny elements made of perforated metal, similar to factory blanks. A metal-plastic door will fit this porch perfectly. As a decoration, it is good to use “industrial” type lamps with white or cold neon light, which are usually installed in each step of the porch.
Porch with canopy
Canopy over the porch Source 7lestnic.com
A successful composition with a semicircular canopy made of polycarbonate. The roof is installed on a metal frame. There is a small area with fences on the porch. The floor and steps are lined with imitation granite. This design of the porch repeats the features of the basement around the entire house.
Forged handrails Source www.houzz.ru
House area with steps and metal canopy. Metal with forged elements was used as a frame. To achieve greater effect, some parts are painted golden. On the roof of the porch there is a metal sheet painted with waterproof and fade-resistant paint. A small platform and a six-step staircase complement the overall design of the house.
This design looks very rich. It repeats the features of the main roof of the house, although it is made of bitumen shingles. The visor has a sloping shape with reinforcement at the edges. It is attached to a metal frame and additionally doweled to the walls of the house. This approach guarantees the strength of the heavy structure.
Porch canopy Source classpic.ru
Porch with railings and steps
White railings Source www.houzz.ru
Porch with plastic railings. It is considered one of the fragile options, but with proper use it can last a long time. The steps are made on a metal frame without additional reinforcement. Fence posts are installed at intervals of 1-1.5 meters. The balusters have a thin design.
Porch made of metal and paving slabs Source of stairs-atlant.rf
Pass-through porch with two steps on both sides. The central part of the site is fenced with forged metal railings. A metal frame serves as the base for the risers. It is installed directly on the paving slabs laid in the yard.
Accurate forging Source zen.yandex.ru
Gorgeous wide porch with double-sided steps. Artificial wood (special outdoor laminate) was used as flooring. The design includes metal railings with wooden handrails. The porch design has an aged effect.
Style
Any entrance to the house is a wide field for experiments in decoration, be it three steps or a full-fledged wide staircase. How to decorate a porch in different styles – we’ll look at it in this section.
A country style entrance will look best in a wooden version, and the material should look as if it has never been machined
It is important to leave the natural curves of the tree trunks on the fence or railing, and, of course, there should be no nicks or roughness on them that could leave splinters and injure someone who will move along the stairs
A porch decorated with Greek-style columns can look very interesting, especially in warm climates. It is best to plant antique portals with flowers and evergreen shrubs (cypress, thuja, laurel). Stone clinker tiles on a low porch with a spacious area will be an ideal addition to the composition, as will a gable canopy supported by columns.
The colonial style of the entrance lobby with deliberately roughly processed stone will beautifully complement a house made of a similar material. This porch looks especially original near a house with a multi-pitched roof or a round roof. The house becomes like a fortress or a castle, and the entrance group organically complements the composition. This style is neither luxurious nor pretentious, but it looks truly impressive and solid.
An entrance lobby designed in a Mediterranean style will look best near a house in warm climates. The descent down the wide white marble steps directly to the sea or pool is truly chic. Columns and amphora pots with southern flowers and plants planted in them will add sophistication to the composition.
Russian style is, first of all, beautifully crafted wood. Neither brick, nor stone, nor especially plastic are inappropriate in it. Only wood, if possible, carved. There are several ways to decorate buildings in the Russian style - this includes a log hut and a princely mansion. Railings with balusters, a carved fence, a canopy with an openwork pattern - these are all integral components of this style.
Scandinavian style is the complete opposite of pretentious Russian. There are no unnecessary details, while all the requirements of convenience and comfort are met. The apparent simplicity of this style hides the thoughtful organization of all the little things. As a rule, white stone or tiles are used, the fence posts are also stone or concrete.
The Provence style is perfectly supported by a wooden staircase with carvings. It is recommended to paint it white, it is good if the paint cracks a little.
Forged elements will look great in the chalet style: a lantern, fence caps, railings and posts.
How to make an outdoor staircase out of metal
When installing a metal staircase in front of the entrance to the house, it is also necessary to fill the foundation. Only this design does not require a foundation hole 100 or 120 cm deep. It will be enough to dig a hole 70-80 cm deep. Otherwise, the foundation is prepared in exactly the same way as for a concrete staircase: a layer of sand, a small layer of crushed stone and the concrete solution itself . After pouring, the distance to the ground surface should be at least 20 cm, this will then allow the metal channel to be laid.
Wrought iron outdoor staircase
Metal entrance stairs to the second floor have the following installation order:
- The channel used for the base of the structure is installed on the foundation and filled with mortar. Only that part should remain on the surface to which the entire ladder will subsequently be welded or bolted.
- The base of the stairs must be reinforced with standard metal bracing. Spacers can also be welded between the steps, which allows you to significantly strengthen the structure and make it almost monolithic.
- You can secure the base of the stairs and the channel using identical metal corners, which are connected by welding.
- The upper part of the ladder is attached to a place located 5-7 cm below the threshold in private houses. The fastening method is as follows: drill a couple of holes in the wall and insert reinforcement into it, onto the edge of which metal plates must be welded. The end of the ladder is connected to these plates by a weld. The reinforcement in the wall can be further strengthened with mortar.
Metal staircase and metal porch
After completion of work in the house, all welds of the structure on the second floor must be carefully sanded; excess drops of metal can be removed with a grinder. After sanding, they begin to clean the frame and then paint it. Metal sheets 3-5 mm thick are used as steps, which are attached to the frame with bolts.
How to decorate the porch of a house
Various types of decorations are often practiced near the local area. Typically, owners try to decorate the porch of their house in the following ways:
- perennial plants and ornamental flowers;
- hanging temporary pots with indoor plants;
- hanging temporary pots with indoor plants;
- climbing plantings;
- decorative nets and handicrafts;
- themed hand-made for the holiday.
Torn stone in facingSource www.facade-project.ru Illumination of stepsSource olestnicah.ru
Beautiful design for a large porch Source domsmam.com
Often, if space allows, small armchairs and mesh chairs are installed. In autumn, the porch is decorated with the harvest.
Calculation of a wooden staircase - calculate the dimensions
One of the parameters for calculating a wooden staircase is the total height, we already have it. Using it, we will be able to determine the number of steps required for our design.
We will make an external staircase on wooden stringers. Let's say the height is 2700 mm. The generally accepted step height, convenient for moving along a flight of stairs, ranges from 160 to 200 mm. Let's take the average value of 180 mm and divide by the height 2700 mm . We get the number of steps – 15.
The calculation of external stairs for the porch of a house is carried out in exactly the same way, only the dimensions will be smaller. The same goes for the street stairs to the attic or attic.
The next step is to determine the total length. Since the staircase is located on the street, we do not have strict restrictions on dimensions. Let's take a comfortable tread depth - 250 mm. Now we multiply 250 mm by 15 (the number of steps), and we get a length of 3750 mm .
Now we determine the length of the flight of stairs. To do this we will have to use the Pythagorean theorem. The required quantity (hypotenuse) is equal to the square root taken from the sum of the squares of the legs of a right triangle. Our legs are the height and length of the structure. Having made simple calculations, we obtain the length of the flight of stairs (stringer) - 4620 mm .
Video: calculation of a wooden staircase to climb to the second floor from the street
The video explains in detail how to calculate a staircase, regardless of whether it is the entrance steps for the porch of a house, or an external staircase to the attic of a summer house, or an internal product.
Porch in Post-Soviet style
The shortage of building materials, small plots of land and the complete decline of the institution of private construction led to the emergence of the so-called Post-Soviet architectural style. If we look at it using the example of a porch, we can easily highlight two main points.
- Modest dimensions dictated by the available space.
- And a minimal amount of decor.
During the time of the leaders of the proletariat, the artistic component was completely sacrificed for the sake of functionality. The porch was supposed to, first of all, protect its owners from bad weather, perhaps shelter a couple of bags of potatoes, and with the rest, whatever happens. Our examples will confirm this better than any words.
Manufacturing
Designs that are difficult to manufacture with many decorative elements are best left to professionals. Only they will be able to correctly calculate the loads and design a staircase that is in harmony with the facade of the house and the area adjacent to it.
Advice. You can buy a ready-made staircase or assemble it from individual elements. There are many of these on sale now, they are selected according to your size and assembled like a construction set.
Modular design with metal frame and wooden steps
But a do-it-yourself country staircase to the second floor is a task feasible for every person who has first-hand knowledge of hand and electric woodworking tools. Even beginners can easily manage simple staircases on stringers or bowstrings.
Preparatory activities
First of all, you need to decide on the installation location, its shape and size. The latter will be needed to perform basic calculations: determining the angle of inclination, number and size of steps.
Look at the following illustration:
Staircase drawing for calculations
- h is the height from the ground level or platform to the entrance to the second floor;
- i is the length of the future staircase in plan;
- d – step width;
- v – riser height.
The width of the step is selected in the range of 30-35 cm, maybe a little less or more. The first two values should already be known to you if you have decided on the platform for the stairs.
- First, we determine the number of steps, for which we divide the total length i by d.
- Then we divide the height h by the resulting value and get the height of the riser v. If it is 12-18 cm, the staircase will be comfortable. If not, increase the length of the landing or slightly change the width of the steps.
All that remains is to prepare the tool and material based on the calculations performed. The choice of wood is yours.
Hardwood is denser and stronger, but difficult to process. Conifers are moisture resistant and easy to process, but their wood is more friable. Accordingly, the service life is lower.
Please also note that the color and pattern of different types of wood differ
Note! Glued laminated timber for external stairs is not the best option. Solid wood is better.
- For bowstrings or stringers, you will need two boards at least 30 cm wide and 40-50 mm thick. Determine the length according to the drawing.
- Boards for steps must be at least 40 mm thick.
You also need to prepare fasteners, wood glue and tie bolts. These are long metal spokes with nuts and threads at the ends. They are needed to tie the support beams together.
Note! The wood must be dry, without traces of rot, deep cracks or other defects. All parts must be sanded and treated with antibacterial compounds before assembly.
Manufacturing options
If you need detailed instructions for making your own, you will find it in one of the articles on this site. (insert link to article 29 here) here we will briefly talk about options for fastening steps in the simplest designs.
| Image | Description |
| Installation of steps in bowstring grooves, options with and without risers | Fastening into grooves cut into the bowstring is the most labor-intensive option. But the ladder turns out to be reliable and neat, with hidden attachment points. Before installation, the ends of the steps are lubricated with glue and then secured with self-tapping screws on the outside of the strings. |
| Installation on bars or crimps | It is much easier to sew the steps to wooden blocks secured to the inside of the bowstring. But this is the most unreliable option, since the metal fasteners become loose over time. Therefore, instead of bars, it is better to use wooden triangles - hammers, they have a larger area for fixation. |
| Installation on stringers | Mounting on stringers is also considered very reliable, since each step rests on a horizontal surface. |
Bowstrings and stringers must be made carefully so that all holes and cuts line up exactly.
After securing the steps, the supports are tightened together with tightening bolts. Then the finished staircase is installed in place. The next stage is the installation of fences and the mandatory treatment of the entire structure with varnish, paint or other protective coating. It must be applied in at least three layers.
Option for manufacturing a metal staircase:
For a wooden house
A wooden house is characterized by comfort and complete safety for the human body. The most used materials for constructing a porch to a wooden house are timber and boards.
Tip: If you want to insulate it, you will additionally need siding. To make the extension look cozy, you can use clapboard.
You cannot ignore the presence of railings if the entrance has several steps. This element is not only practical, but also perfectly decorates the decoration. Our advice is to spend a little time decorating the railings with carvings.
A wooden house is characterized by comfort and complete safety for the human body
Wood is an inexpensive but whimsical material. Be sure to cover it with paint or varnish to avoid rotting and deformation. It is also recommended to coat the material with a special composition against various beetles. If this technology is followed, the structure will last for decades.
Using logs is a creative process. Here you need to adhere to the basic rule - we compact the site before construction. The rest is in the hands of the owner.
The porch and the house are one ensemble, but you shouldn’t limit your imagination when decorating. Want to make it sophisticated? Add some lanterns, hanging flower pots, paintings.
Using logs is a creative process
If you like luxury and aristocracy, then your option is artistic forging, sculptures near the entrance, a small fountain. An artificial fireplace will look great, adding warmth and comfort to a family vacation in the fresh air.
You need to choose a wooden table and chairs. Chandeliers and sconces should be made in a minimalist style. Excessive modernity is of no use here. In addition, additional decor is possible in the form of colored pillows on chairs, tablecloths, and matching curtains.
This option can accommodate, for example, garden furniture
Crafts from fir cones (large, painted) for the New Year (175+ Photos) Beautiful toys for the holiday!
Materials for making a porch
The porch must be strong enough to be guaranteed to withstand vertical and horizontal loads that occur when people gather on it and massive furniture is installed. The reliability of a structure is determined by a well-designed geometry and the material used.
To make a beautiful and reliable extension, you can use the following types of metal:
Several types of metal can be used in the manufacture of a porch. To create a frame and platform, it is better to take black iron, and for railings and canopies - non-ferrous metal and forging. This technique will give the design lightness and unique flavor.
Various materials and technologies are used to manufacture stepped structures. The most common are stairs on a metal frame, wooden and concrete products. The first, as already mentioned, are noisy and require additional protection and the involvement of specialists. Making a wooden staircase yourself is also quite difficult; besides, wood is susceptible to various aggressive influences, so it does not last long. Concrete structures are massive and require time to shrink and availability of free space.
Construction of a metal porch
In order to build a porch correctly, the construction process should be divided into several stages. Thanks to this, you can easily calculate the design parameters and the required amount of materials.
Calculations
Using the standardized dimensions of the porch in public buildings, first determine the number of steps: Nkr=Nts+Npr+Np-20 mm
Where: Nkr - porch height; Hts - height of the base; Npr - ceiling height; Нп - floor height.
The number of steps is determined by the formula: Nst=Hcr/hst
Where: Hkr is the height of the porch; Nst — number of steps; hst - the height of one step (according to standards from 0.12-0.15m).
In order to determine the slope of the ramp, it is necessary to divide its rise by its length. The resulting ratio should not exceed the standardized value of 1:20.
Materials
In order to properly build a porch, after calculations it is worth purchasing the required amount of materials. To build a metal porch, you need the materials presented in the table.
| Material | Purpose |
| Rolled metal | For frame and construction of steps |
| For a sand cushion under the foundation |
| For arranging the foundation |
| Armature | For foundation reinforcement |
| Suitable for arranging formwork |
| For pouring the foundation |
| For fastening structural elements |
| Hammer and nails | Necessary for securing boards. It is also worth stocking up on screws and self-tapping screws |
| Primer and paint | For processing metal structures |
At the same time, the price of materials should not play a key role
First of all, you should pay attention to quality
Foundation
Constructing a metal porch with a platform is quite simple, but just like other types of porches, it needs a foundation. It is necessary for two reasons.
The first is that in public buildings there is a large flow of visitors, and, consequently, loads on the metal structure. Secondly, the porch is equipped not only with a staircase, but also with a ramp.
Formwork with reinforcement
To begin with, a pit is dug out and its walls are leveled. Formwork boards are installed. The bottom of the excavation is covered with sand and crushed stone, creating a cushion for the foundation. The depth of the pit should not be less than 30-40 cm, the thickness of the pillow is 10 cm.
Reinforcement is installed on the bars, which are subsequently filled with concrete. While the foundation is hardening, it is necessary to begin installing supports for the porch, steps, and a ramp made of rolled metal.
Metal porch design
Stairs and landing
The stringer and platform supports are fixed to the foundation. The upper part of the stringer is secured by welding to the base of the platform. It is necessary to mark the location of the steps.
Fasteners for them are created from corners measuring 50x50 mm, which are welded in the shape of the letter “L” to the stringer. The shelves are connected to each other by the same corner of the corresponding length. The metal filling of the platform and steps is welded to the frame.
After you have completed the porch area with your own hands, you can begin building the railings. To begin with, supports are constructed from square pipes. Smaller pipes are welded to supports at the bottom and top.
Finished metal porch
It is quite difficult to construct a ramp with your own hands, so the best solution would be to purchase a ready-made structure. All that remains to be done is to properly weld it to the platform and supports.
Metal ramp
The final stage is treating the metal structure with a primer and then painting it.
The video in this article: “Do it yourself platform for a porch” will help you study in detail the step-by-step construction of a metal porch.
Sequence of installation of an external concrete staircase
As mentioned above, the most common option is an external staircase to the house, made of concrete or brick. Concrete is a durable material that is not affected by temperature changes or precipitation. You should know that for the installation of an external staircase of this design, grade 400 cement can be used.
Original and unusual design
Drawing up a drawing
Each job, especially the construction of an external staircase to the second floor, begins with a preliminary placement of the project on paper, with all the actual dimensions and structural elements. Basic rules that must be taken into account when designing an external staircase:
Correct calculation of concrete stairs
- The design of the entrance staircase to the house must be made strictly perpendicular to the entrance doors.
- The porch cannot be poured at the same level as the floor in the house. It should be lowered by at least 5 cm.
- The sides of the stairs should not coincide with the entrance opening. They should be expanded by 10-15 cm in each direction.
- When pouring steps, you should remember that their number should be odd. This will help make the steps as comfortable as possible both when ascending and when descending from the porch.
- The height of one step should not exceed 20 cm. Some owners of private houses make them smaller, which leads to too long stairs.
- A step inclination of 3 degrees will create the correct position of the plane for draining rainwater or conveniently cleaning snow. If you make the slope large, it will be too clearly felt when walking up the stairs.
Foundation
When planning to pour the entrance staircase into the house, you should remember that its weight will be quite significant. Therefore, an appropriate foundation is required that can support the entire structure. Depending on the depth of freezing in the region, the depth of the foundation itself varies from 50 to 120 cm. The sequence of creating a foundation for an external staircase is as follows:
- Preparing the pit. The hole needs to be dug a little larger than the entire structure, since the foundation is the base and cannot be narrower than the staircase itself.
- After the hole is dug, a layer of sand up to 15 cm thick must be poured onto its bottom and leveled over the entire surface. A layer of crushed stone is poured onto the sand, also no more than 15 cm.
- You can start pouring concrete or laying bricks. Mortar proportions: 4 buckets of sand, 1.5 buckets of cement, the amount of water varies depending on the quality of the concrete - it should not be too liquid, but it should not be made thick enough.
Preparatory work before pouring the foundation
Having a concrete mixer will greatly simplify the process of pouring the foundation. After the base is ready, it should be covered with an ordinary polyethylene film - this will prevent the appearance of cracks that may occur as the concrete dries. If the film is not at hand, then the solution should be watered every 1.5–2 hours.
Installation of formwork and pouring steps
Correct installation of formwork will greatly simplify the process of pouring steps for the entrance staircase into a wooden house, but for this you should stock up on such building materials as boards, a building level, plastic film, self-tapping screws (nails should not be used, since they are much more difficult to get out of the formwork), and a screwdriver .
Pouring steps and laying bricks
First, you need to mark the top point of the future staircase; to do this, just put 5-7 cm down from the threshold of the front door and make a corresponding mark with a marker. Now, using boards, you should make 2 halves of one formwork, the height of which should be equal to the distance from the ground to the same mark on the wall, at the bottom of the front door.
Next, a plastic film should be secured to the inside of the step formwork, otherwise the solution will be absorbed into the boards, and removing them later will be quite problematic. A good option is to treat the boards with machine oil. After the above procedures, the formwork can be installed and secured from the outside with boards.
For the inside of the formwork, it is necessary to prepare a frame made of reinforcement. The reinforcement (with a cross-section of at least 10 mm) is knitted or welded into a frame that matches the shape of the staircase. You can make it a little lower than the plane of the steps. After pouring the mortar, the reinforcement should not remain above the concrete level. Once the structure is ready and installed inside the formwork, you can begin pouring concrete.
It should be remembered that the formwork can be removed after 24 hours, but the structure must be allowed to mature for at least 15 days. Only with this option will the solution finally set and, together with the reinforcement frame, turn into a single whole.
Finishing work
15 days after pouring the foundation, you can begin any type of finishing work on the entrance staircase to a private house. For finishing concrete stairs, tiles designed for use in outdoor environments are ideal. Even with properly constructed formwork, the concrete staircase will have some unevenness, which will be hidden by a sufficient amount of glue or special mastic.
Staircase ready for finishing
When laying tiles on entrance stairs, you should also not forget about the seams, which should be equal and neat. To ensure the correct location of the seam, use plastic fasteners specially designed for this purpose.
Arrangement of concrete steps
The work should begin with a sketch of the future design and calculation of the need for materials to implement the idea. One cubic meter of concrete solution, as a rule, consists of 330-340 kg of cement, 0.4-0.5 cubic meters of sand, about 0.9 cubic meters of crushed stone and up to 180 liters of water. A preliminary calculation is made from these parameters.
One of the simplest ways to fill formwork with concreteSource 1beton.info
The work of installing concrete steps also begins with creating a foundation. Concrete is much heavier than wood, so the base must be appropriate. A hole is dug with the required width to a depth of 60 cm. Sand is poured into it, and on top there is a layer of crushed stone or broken brick. Compacting is done so that there is a free space of 30 cm in depth. Next will be the construction of the formwork.
Arrangement of formwork
Its task is to hold concrete in a certain shape and protect it from spreading when hardening. There are special kits for sale for these purposes, but usually in everyday life they use boards or plywood, from which blanks of the required size are cut to fit the size of the porch.
In addition, to separate the steps from each other, stiffening ribs are created, placed on the sides. The formwork is placed around the perimeter and supported by special pegs driven into the ground.
Materials and tools
A do-it-yourself metal staircase can be made from a round or profile pipe, a profiled corner, a channel, or beams. You will also need reinforcement to strengthen the structure, cement, sand, crushed stone and wood to lay the foundation, as well as wooden boards for the steps. Primer and paint will be needed to protect the product.
- welding machine;
- self-tapping screws;
- anchor bolts;
- nails;
- wrench;
- screwdriver
Although an iron porch weighs less than a concrete one, it also requires a foundation.
You may also be interested in material about the types of steps for street stairs.
Video description
The entire process of creating a concrete porch is shown in detail in this video:
Step reinforcement process
Simultaneously with the formwork, a reinforcing layer consisting of reinforcing rods is laid. Essentially, a frame is tied together in the shape of a porch made of rods and fastened with wire or a metal mesh with a cell size of 10x10 cm. The resulting structure is placed in the middle of the formwork, as a guarantor of the future strength of the structure.
Working with solution
Concreting is the simplest stage. In fact, the finished solution is simply poured into molds. The main thing is to do this immediately along the entire span, without significant breaks. Filling is done from bottom to top, with uniform distribution using a vibrating nozzle and subsequent compaction.
Upon completion of work, you should expect the product to harden. It is recommended to keep the formwork for several days (preferably a week), and in the next few weeks use the structure as carefully as possible, without overloading. A month later, when the strength test has already been passed, you can worry about the cladding.
Ready-made concrete steps for the porchSource gidlestnic.ru
Advantages of ready-made porch steps
Speaking of other advantages, it is worth noting the presence of high strength characteristics - besides these, only granite can boast of the brand strength of M1200 products. Firmly fixed and treated with water-repellent compounds, the steps do not allow moisture to pass through, so they last a long time. The steps are able to withstand 500 or more freeze-thaw cycles and are not afraid of abrasion and other mechanical damage.
This ideal picture can be completed by pointing out the presence of anti-slip properties of the steps, which have a pronounced structure with a relief pattern. Ready-made steps for the porch, produced by , do not slip in any weather, and the R13 anti-slip rating allows them to be used when constructing ramps for people with limited mobility. Practice shows that wheelchair users can move without danger to life at an angle of 35 degrees or more.
You can buy a ready-made concrete porch at an attractive price by contacting the office, calling or through the website. If you think that the prices are too high, remember that our products last for decades, while competitors do not withstand the load and require frequent replacement.
Video about how to make concrete staircase cladding with your own hands, and how professional installers cope with it:
Briefly about the main thing
Having decided to acquire a porch in front of the house, you should familiarize yourself in advance with how to make wooden or concrete steps. In fact, there is nothing complicated about it. The main thing is to take care of the right amount of building materials and the necessary tools. All this is prepared according to the chosen design with the appropriate dimensions.
In general, it is advisable to start construction with a project or drawing of the future porch. It should be understood that working with wood will be much easier, but the performance characteristics of wood products are much lower
It is also important to make correct calculations for the future porch and choose the optimal size of steps. After all, they will be used for many years
You need to be prepared that, regardless of the choice of material for the steps, you will need to create a reliable foundation.
Advantages of metal as a building material
In addition to strength and durability, iron steps and platforms have the following number of advantages:
Of course, there are also disadvantages:
- Corrosion is the main enemy of metal, but if you follow the processing time and prevent the spread of damage, the frame will remain almost eternal.
- Price. The popularity of wooden stairs is determined by their cost.
However, metal welded stairs for the home are popular with owners of country houses and cottages who value style and rigor.
Types of structures
Before starting independent work or purchasing a ready-made structure, owners must decide on their choice, because there are a lot of staircase options. So:
- Popular is a simple model without a canopy or handrails, consisting of two beams, with frames welded onto them for inserting steps, and a rectangular or square platform. In this case, the advantage of such a staircase is its cost - only corners are used for the frame, and the steps can be made from anything - wood, tile.
A special feature will be the number of steps - such a staircase should be wide and have no more than three elements. This is confirmed by the rules of SNiP.
The list of available options is far from complete. You can add bolted or spiral staircases here. The first are a structure whose steps are recessed into the wall.
This is what we will talk about.
The exterior of a home is no less important than its interior, so you need to carefully consider all the design elements of the exterior of the building. The central part of any home is the porch. Most often, this design also includes a staircase, which can be made of a variety of materials. Today we will figure out how to make a staircase for a porch made of metal with your own hands.
Purpose of the porch
A porch for public buildings is primarily a necessity, not a method of architectural expression.
Depending on the height of the base in the building, and many other factors, the porch has the following functions:
- Using steps, it equalizes the height of the foundation and the level of the entrance area. Thanks to this, the entrance to the building is convenient for visitors.
- Compliance with proportions and slopes provides protection from atmospheric phenomena.
- The porch forms a platform that provides a place for relaxation or storage of equipment.
- A fully insulated porch often plays the role of a vestibule and also provides heat and sound insulation.
Covered porch protecting the entrance from precipitation
Despite the fact that the external attractiveness of the design does not play a key role in operation, it should not be forgotten. A porch that does not lay claim to the laurels of an architectural masterpiece, but is designed according to all standards, will pass inspection by the authorities.
Visitors evaluate the status of an establishment by its appearance, the main part of which is the porch. Therefore, self-respecting companies, shops, or salons strive to choose the most suitable style and design of the entrance group.
Stylistic harmony of the porch and facade
Sizing
The possible dimensions of the stairs are determined by GOST, but the material of the porch does not significantly influence the choice of its parameters.
The step consists of two elements: horizontal (tread) and vertical (riser). The first is the surface on which the foot steps, the second determines the height of the step.
What is important when calculating
The rest can be calculated taking into account the material (structural and finishing), the degree of inclination of the flight, depending on the level of the door threshold.
Riser height
Whatever the construction conditions, the porch area should be built just above the edge of the plinth. Within this distance, the number of steps and their height are calculated.
The specific option is determined depending on the person’s height. But even when there are tall people in the family, it is not always wise to focus only on them.
Walking on high steps will be inconvenient for children and older people. It is also inconvenient to move through two steps.
The calculation should be made so that their number is odd - the person must finish moving along the ladder from the same foot with which he started.
Convenience formulas: tread depth and proportions
The width of the step is the depth of the tread.
For ease of walking, the staircase must have at least three steps, and the width of the flight must allow two people to pass each other (90-100 cm).
There are other formulas derived experimentally.
The options seem to be different, but with proper calculation, the size of the step will fit into all three formulas.
Changing the height of the porch platform relative to the ground surface at your discretion is problematic, but leveling the slope of the entrance staircase by changing its length is quite possible. The main thing is that there is a place for this in the local area.
To clearly see how to make a staircase for a porch, you need a drawing that will indicate the outgoing data for the extension
Characteristics
All extensions differ from each other in size, shape, style, and location to the main building. So, a small vestibule with a simple appearance, without frills, will suit a small garden house. A medium-sized concrete structure will suit a house of standard sizes, and it can be given any shape, be it rectangular, square, trapezoidal, round or asymmetrical.
But do not forget that the appearance of the porch is selected individually, in accordance with the overall design of the facade. Square and rectangular extensions are clearer and add rigor, neatness, and consistency to the house, while round extensions add softness, comfort, and romance.
The porch can be partially or completely covered. Each option is slightly different in design and technical characteristics. Thus, a completely enclosed extension in all its characteristics resembles a small room. This design has a floor, walls, ceiling, and entrance doors leading to a closed platform. A completely enclosed porch of a private house is more practical, but it is more complex in design.
The semi-closed version has special pillars for support. In addition, railings can be used for greater convenience. With a semi-closed design, doors are not necessary.
There are many options for how to build a vestibule, veranda or balcony, as well as building materials. Some people like a more environmentally friendly option and their choice falls on timber or boards, others prefer brick combined with glass, while others are crazy about pillars with forged elements.
Requirements for stairs
Modern developers have a number of increased requirements for street stairs:
- strength and durability;
- resistance to physical and climatic stress;
- safety and convenience;
- variability and attractive design.
Find out how to choose a porch design for a private house here.
Strength, durability and durability are closely interrelated; they depend on the material and proper care of the finished staircase.
Today, there are many ways to extend the life of both metal and wooden structures, as well as prevent the destruction of concrete.
Physical safety lies in the correct approach to the size and configuration of steps.
To make the ascent and descent quick and comfortable, it is advisable not to make steps that are too narrow (less than 25 cm) or too high (above 25 cm).
The inclination also matters - it is optimal to take an angle of 30-35 degrees. The presence of a fence and comfortable railings will only be a plus. You can also install automatic staircase lighting.
External attractiveness and compliance with the architectural appearance of the house are another important criterion.
In order not to constantly illuminate the entire yard at night, install local lighting with a timer or motion sensor.
What projects of log baths look like is detailed in the description of this article.
What projects of two-story baths look like is indicated in the article.This article contains drawings and projects of frame baths: https://2gazon.ru/postroiki/bani/kak-gramotno-realizovat-proekt-karkasnoj-sovety-rekomendacii.html
The finishing of the porch is done after assembly, and if it is concrete, then after it has gained strength.
Foundation
When decorating the entrance group, it is logical to use the same material from which the house is built. That is, a porch made of wood is suitable for a log or timber house, and a porch made of brick is suitable for a brick house.
When constructing steps and a platform, it is necessary to waterproof the elements of the extension, because otherwise they will suffer from the influence of climatic conditions. In addition, it is necessary to drain the soil; for this, special trenches are dug for drainage and the water is pumped out.
Before finishing the construction of the porch, you need to make sure that the door can be opened even after heavy snowfall. And for this, the platform should be lower than the front door, about 5 cm. If there is no canopy over the entrance area, you can build a platform with a slight slope - up to 5 degrees - to ensure the outflow of water. If there is a canopy or canopy, it is not necessary to arrange a slope.
The larger the house, the more impressive the porch and, accordingly, the foundation for it will be required. It is best to lay it at the stage of building a house at the same time as the general foundation of the house, especially if it is planned to build a veranda or patio on the upper platform.
If you do not make a foundation for the porch, it may sag soon after construction.
There are several options for the foundation for the porch:
- tape;
- pile;
- columnar;
- from slabs.
The most common type of base is tape. It is chosen by both experienced builders and beginners in this matter. It is easy to build, since the technology of the device is simple, and few building materials are required.
The pile type is more difficult to arrange; you will need reinforced concrete piles. Their ends are sharpened to make it more convenient to install them to the desired depth.
Laying a columnar foundation is quick and easy, since the pillars are located close to each other at the corners of the porch and in places where walls intersect.
The most complex and expensive option is a foundation built from slabs. Firstly, this requires a large number of activities: from preparing the pit to laying a reinforced slab on a prepared “bed” of sand and gravel.
The process of laying the foundation must occur simultaneously with the construction of the house. If foundations are laid at different times, they will settle at different rates. Structures can “lead” in different directions, which will lead to the formation of cracks. To avoid this, you need to use high-quality cement.
In order for the structure to last longer, you need to take care of the thermal insulation of both the porch itself and the base underneath it. This is especially true for large, substantial entrance groups
It is equally important to correctly calculate the depth for laying it
In most cases, a foundation under the entrance group is needed. It is unlikely that there is a person who built a house, invested a large amount of time, effort and, to hide it, money into it, who wants to watch how his creation is destroyed only because he was too lazy to put it on a high-quality and reliable foundation.
Types of entrance stairs. Photo
Before starting construction and design work, it is necessary to decide on the type of entrance staircase so that it not only fulfills its intended purpose, but also harmonizes with the overall structure and complements it. The types of input products are distinguished by the material from which they are made and by configuration . An important factor in determining the type of structure is its size. And of course, it is very important to take into account the individual characteristics of the house. The presented photos will be a good example.
In their form, input structures can be:
- screw;
- straight;
- rotary;
- with smooth, rounded corners;
- with or without a landing;
- with a porch.
Combined solutions have proven themselves well, but here you will have to work hard with technical documentation and combining different types of design. Of course, the price of such a ladder will be slightly higher.
Stylistic orientation
The design of the porch should take into account the existing interior of the building. Most often, there are several styles of porch arrangement.
Classic
The structure is equipped with a gable canopy. Turned railings are used as finishing, and decorative balusters are installed.
Russian
This style is most suitable for wooden houses. They are finished only with wood decorated with carved elements. Sometimes metal inserts are used.
Loft
Modern style using natural stone. The porch is a huge structure with a large number of torches. For finishing, forged furniture is installed. The railings are decorated with pots with indoor climbing plants.
European
The difference between this style and others is the correct shapes and a large number of geometric lines. A small structure in which the steps are finished with stone and the platform with colorful tiles.
Rustic
An excellent decoration for this style would be a carved staircase with wooden railings. The structure made from untreated wood, coated with an antifungal protective compound, looks quite impressive.
Of course, the image of the house depends on the type of porch, its style and design. When choosing a project, it is necessary to take into account the architecture of the building and its style. This will determine how much more attractive your home will look.
Photo of the porch of the house
5+
Wooden porch
Porch option for a wooden house Source newsapp.biz
A small house terrace in the natural design of the porch of a country house. Solid wood was used for its manufacture. The railings and balusters are made of carved parts. There are only two flat steps for lifting. Such beautiful porches are installed on a powerful monolithic foundation.
Small entrance area Source bbuildng.ru
Classic Russian porch of narrow size. Made from painted wood with single sided handrails. There is no riser in this design. Thanks to the powerful frame, the ladder holds securely.
Video
It is rare to find a universal craftsman for making an entrance staircase from any material and any configuration. As a rule, each specialist’s scope of work is limited to a specific type of staircase . Masons lay brick steps or assemble a concrete structure from individual parts, concrete workers perform monolithic pouring, and carpenters work on wooden structures.
And each type of entrance staircase has its own nuances that it is advisable for a homemade master to take into account.
To better understand the topic at hand and avoid common mistakes, we recommend watching the video of the construction of a concrete entrance staircase to a private house:
Photo of a porch in Japan
The historical traditions of home decoration in Japan are ancient, centuries-old solutions, covered with the patina of time. Japanese culture and traditions are radically different from European ones. Firstly, these are color solutions. The black and white design or varnished wood of Japanese porches have a sophisticated and traditional style. Secondly, balance, calm and connectedness are very important.
What types of street stairs are there? What to consider when choosing street stairs
Contents
Introduction
1. Selection of material for the manufacture of street stairs
1.1. Let's first decide on the frame of street stairs
1.2.Types of street staircase frames
1.3. Pros and cons of wooden frames
1.4. Pros and cons of concrete stairs
1.5. Pros and cons of metal frames for street stairs
Introduction
Are you still looking for an outdoor staircase? And you can’t choose exactly what you like due to the wide selection of outdoor stairs?
The choice of outdoor stairs is very wide and contains a wide variety of configurations and different types of materials, ranging from light and small wooden stairs to monolithic concrete structures.
Let's first decide on the frame of street stairs
When making street stairs, the main emphasis should be on choosing the frame of the stairs themselves. For the manufacture of staircase frames, different materials are used. And for this you need to take into account many factors, such as strength, durability, wear resistance, and also take into account weather conditions.
The materials for making the frames of street stairs are: Metal, wood, concrete, stone, brick.
And at the very beginning of your journey, you must decide what material you will choose, which is the best option for you. After all, how long your staircase will serve you depends on the quality of the material.
What you need to rely on when choosing frames for street stairs.
When choosing a frame for street stairs, you need to take into account many factors, as well as understand how this structure will be used, and what service life you expect when choosing a staircase.
Maybe you are looking for a staircase for your country house?
Or do you live in your own private home and want to make yourself an eternal structure that will serve you faithfully?
There can be a lot of factors and wishes. For seasonal use, many come to lighter designs; the main criterion for such stairs is a simple option, value for money.
1.2 Types of street staircase frames
As we have already mentioned, the material of the frames of street stairs is varied.
Let's look at the most basic materials for outdoor stairs:
- Wooden frame
- Concrete frame
- Metal carcass
Each of them has its own uniqueness and each of them has its own applications, they have their own requirements and each of them has its own pros and cons that will help you when choosing an outdoor staircase. Some may suit you better, while others may not fit into your home at all, it's up to you to decide. I will only help by telling and explaining in detail the advantages of these frames and their scope of application.
1.3 Pros and cons of wooden frames
Let's look at wooden stairs and their advantages.
Firstly, wood is considered a high-quality, durable, and most importantly environmentally friendly material and is suitable specifically for wooden houses and structures. Many people choose wooden stairs because they match their wooden home. And it’s also comfortable and pleasant to walk on such stairs; I mean that wood is an environmentally friendly and breathable material.
Secondly, due to its lightness and simplicity in processing and installation, it can be manufactured and installed without great expense and effort.
Thirdly, the variety of shapes and decor will give such a staircase a beautiful look.
Wood, of course, is in itself a high-quality and reliable option for making stairs, but, unfortunately, it is rarely used for outdoor conditions, because wood is difficult to protect from rain, snow and humidity.
Wood is also susceptible to abrasion and over time it is susceptible to rotting if it is not taken care of.
Wood requires a lot of care; you have to treat the wood with various septic tanks, cover it with paints and regularly monitor it. It is also very difficult to protect wood from fire.
Making outdoor stairs from wood is best suited to wooden houses, but harsh climatic conditions will quickly destroy even the highest quality wood! The choice of staircase frames also depends on what material it will be sheathed with. Here the wooden frame is inferior in that it is mainly made only when covering steps made of wood, that is, if you want to cover the stairs with tiles or cover them with WPC (wood-polymer composite) steps, then it would be better to use either a metal frame or concrete frame of stairs.
1.4 Pros and cons of concrete stairs
The main advantage of concrete stairs is their long service life, especially when all norms are provided for when pouring concrete; reinforced concrete is able to cope with enormous loads. But still, like wood, the durability of concrete largely depends on climate and weather conditions.
But unlike wood, concrete is not affected by moisture, and concrete is also considered a fire-resistant material. Also, another advantage of concrete stairs is the variety of shapes. From it you can make exactly the shape that you like.
At the same time, the concrete base of street stairs also has its disadvantages: Firstly, over time, the covering of the concrete base begins to peel off, that is, when moisture and precipitation enter, the concrete base separates from itself everything that was previously sewn to it. This often happens with tiles, where the tile adhesive peels away from the concrete over time. Many people often get tired of sheathing such stairs every season.
Secondly, a concrete staircase is an expensive pleasure, requiring a lot of time to construct it, especially when you need an outdoor staircase to your dacha for seasonal use. Even if when installing such a staircase you saved on pouring concrete, the concrete structure itself requires full finishing and cladding, which increases the cost of the finished product many times over. Thirdly, a concrete staircase is very heavy, which requires a strong foundation for such a structure and a reliable ceiling, that is, if your house is wooden and there is no reliable foundation for this staircase, then erecting such a structure is very problematic, or rather impossible and not advisable. This staircase is suitable for stone, monolithic, brick and other types of houses with reinforced construction.
Well, fourthly, concrete stairs have a nuance - they need to be completely sheathed and you cannot make an open staircase out of them. A concrete base requires a complete covering of the staircase, that is, not only the steps, but also the risers, and the covering of the sides of the staircase itself. This may also affect your budget when choosing such a staircase.
1.5 Pros and cons of metal frames for street stairs
Now let’s look at the third material for making street stairs - this is a metal frame
For all your wishes and desires, choosing a metal staircase frame will be the best option. Its application is universal and suits all conditions and your wishes. Let's look at why. The most important advantage of a metal frame for outdoor stairs is durability. This is the most important indicator when choosing a staircase frame, since weather conditions are different: exposure to sunlight, precipitation, as well as high humidity and temperature changes. Metal, unlike wood, when properly processed, is 10 times more durable and stronger and does not require much maintenance for the staircase frame.
There is also another big advantage - the metal frame for street stairs is more flexible and is sometimes used in difficult conditions, where it can bypass complex obstacles in its path, such as foundations, etc. buildings and turns by any degrees, if you need to make the staircase entrance from the other side, changing direction.
The metal frame is also used in the manufacture of complex stairs, such as: trapezoid, pyramids, turning (winder) steps, stairs with huge platforms, spiral staircases and many other varieties. This is a great advantage over other materials.
Also, the metal frame of the street staircase fits any cladding. You can sheathe the frame with wood or cover it with stone.
Or cover it with WPC (wood-polymer composite) decking boards, which is most often used for cladding street stairs.
Or maybe you decide to concrete the steps and cover them with tiles? And in this case, a metal staircase frame will be a good option for you.
Also, people often use an all-metal staircase, where the steps are also made of metal; they are made: a) PVL (expanded metal sheet) - excellent, for example, for stores with high traffic. They are also often used for fire escape and escape stairs;
b) lentil sheet (corrugated) - Just like PVL, it is used for frequent use.
At the same time, the metal frame of street stairs is suitable for both full and partial cladding. Let's take a look: Full covering of a metal frame means that the entire metal frame of the staircase is covered: not only the steps, but also the risers, as well as its side parts. Therefore, such a staircase frame is called a “closed type frame,” where the metal is not visible and one gets the impression that the staircase is not made of metal, but of the same material with which it is sheathed.
Partial sheathing of the metal frame of a street staircase - when the staircase is sheathed not completely, but partially: 1) Only steps, where sheathing is installed on the street staircase only on the steps, and everything else remains open - for which such a frame is called - “Open type frame”. In this case, the metal frame is completely visible and it is processed for a fine finish: it is completely sanded, degreased, all joints and irregularities are puttied, then sanded and primed, and only then covered with finishing paint, in the color that suits your taste, having previously selected it with you.
2) Only the steps and risers are sheathed, but the side parts of the staircase are not sheathed. In this case, such a staircase has visible side parts, that is, metal guides (stringers), which are also processed and made beautiful.
Just like all materials for using street stairs, a metal frame also has its disadvantages, although there are not many of them and they are not so significant:
1) The metal frame of street stairs requires a little maintenance over the years, namely tinting, provided that the metal frame is located in the open air. But this is not required often. With such care, the metal frame will serve you faithfully for a long time, and most importantly, it will withstand all the necessary loads.
2) It also happens that when making a metal frame, thin metal is often used, which becomes corroded over the years and the frame becomes vulnerable and can collapse at any time. But this no longer relates to the disadvantage of the metal frame of stairs, but to the manufacturer. If you decide to make the stairs yourself, then pay due attention to the choice of metal for your stairs, since this is the basis and the service life of your future stairs depends on it!
In this example, the staircase frame is assembled from a 40x20 profile pipe, where the metal thickness is 2mm, which is thin for using such a staircase
Summary:
Let's sum it up with you. In all respects, both in terms of type of use and service life, it follows that a metal staircase frame is the most optimal option for using street stairs for any type of building. But it is worth remembering that the metal frames of street stairs are different and their choice is huge, so I suggest you pay due attention when choosing a metal frame. And I, in turn, will share with you the next article, in which I will tell you the criteria for choosing a metal frame for street stairs, and which metal is best suited for the use of its manufacture.
Logs for the porch
Today you can often see houses built from logs in suburban areas. The steps and walls of the porch should be made of similar material.
The diameter of the logs for both the house and the porch must match so as not to disturb the overall appearance of the building.
Bulk foundation
For this type of support under the porch, you must first prepare a pit - a depression in the ground, right in front of the building.
The length of the pit should correspond to the width of the steps, and the depth should be 25 cm. Then the recess is filled with crushed stone and compacted. A flat platform is installed on top of the crushed stone.
Porch aesthetics
It is quite possible to build a porch for your house with your own hands. In addition to purely practical benefits, an originally designed entrance becomes a decoration of the house. You can place the porch as follows:
- built-in, tightly adjacent to the house;
- protruding from the facade of the building.
The projecting entrance is located outside the building and has its own foundation.
