The stairs are difficult building structure, which should be characterized by high reliability, safety, durability, aesthetics and comfort. A concrete staircase meets all of the above standards. It is better to entrust the production of concrete stairs to professionals. When carrying out work, you need to make the correct calculations, create a unique project and follow all stages of the step-by-step instructions.
Such a staircase is often installed in permanent or street buildings made of concrete and brick, its service life is more than 50 years, and subsequent cosmetic repairs updates the design and extends the service life to 100 years.
Advantages of concrete stairs
Compared to wooden structure The laying of a concrete staircase is carried out during the construction of a private house. This is one of the details of the object that enhances the structural strength. Other advantages of the structure include:
- reliability, strength, long term services;
- moisture resistance, minimal risk of fire;
- the possibility of laying together with the building, which ensures savings;
- use of corrosion-resistant steel reinforcement;
- possibility of finishing with any building material;
- resistance to negative external factors and increased use.
Choosing the type of staircase
Before the start construction work you should decide on the type of construction, the shape of the stairs, and select suitable building materials high quality. You should not save much on purchasing raw materials, since their quality can greatly affect the reliability and durability of the finished product. The staircase cannot be used immediately after pouring the steps, since the concrete will take up to 4 weeks to gain strength. Only after this can the formwork be removed. You also need to decide in advance on the location of the structure and the method of opening the doors.
By design, monolithic staircases are divided into straight (one- and two-flight), spiral (or screw). For screw versions with winder steps aesthetic appearance, they are more in demand among consumers, but require formwork with a radial shape, therefore they are most often made to order.
An elementary option is direct interfloor staircase with one flight, located between two walls. In this case, there will be no end parts of the structure, and the formwork is fastened to the walls. It is more difficult to make a semicircular or monolithic structure resting on one wall. To design the free end, you need to add one side part to the structure. You can choose a marching system where there are no supports on the walls (the load-bearing elements are the lower and upper floor), the formwork is assembled with side elements.
But there is not always enough space to build a single-flight version, so preference is given to a two-flight version with winder steps or platforms between the flights.
Concrete stairs can also be monolithic, combined, prefabricated from factory-made flights, or type-set.
The first type is performed on site using the technology of pouring concrete mortar into the formwork, and can be installed anywhere (on the porch, street or basement).
Classic version fully monolithic design The second option is a metal structure complex shape(frame) with concrete steps. Each step is cast using formwork and reinforcing mesh, and is used as a building material marble chips and granite crushed stone. The dried surface is polished.
Prefabricated marches of factory production are used mainly in apartment buildings, however, if desired and a small crane is available, this option can also take place. The main advantage is the price, the disadvantage is the limitation of standard sizes.
Stacked types consist of a concrete beam (stringer) and individual steps, which are rectangular, triangular, corner and with a groove. Reinforced concrete types are made in the factory according to specified dimensions and have a standard shape.
Staircases on steel stringers Calculation of stairs
Before starting construction work, you need to measure the space, make a diagram, drawing or project of the planned structure with a preliminary calculation of all elements and indicating the required dimensions. The drawing is developed reflecting design parameters, number of steps, height and width. As a rule, the height of the steps is 15-18 cm, and the minimum span width is 80-90 cm. You also need to take into account the thickness of the finishing material, know the building codes, carry out the work in stages, and do not forget about the presence of fences and embedded elements.
Climbing angle
The first parameter is the angle of inclination (lift), the value of which affects the length and height of the structure. So, with the same height, a product with a tilt angle of 25° will be longer than analogues with indicators of 35° and 45°.
The construction of a staircase structure with an angle of 45 degrees (span projection 3 meters) will require 2.35 times less building materials than for a product with an angle of 25° (span projection 6.4 m).
Optimal slope range 24 – 37 degrees
According to the manual, you need to select the elevation angle based on suitable sizes march, complexity of the structure and its comfort.
Step sizes
Having decided on the angle of inclination and height, the work of designing concrete stairs includes breaking them down into steps. The optimal step size for calculation is 27-30 cm in width and 16-20 cm in height. If you make higher steps, it will be more difficult for both the elderly and people who are accustomed to a standard step to move along them. Very low steps of less than 15 cm will also be uncomfortable for an adult, but for children this is the best option.
You can select the parameters of the steps using the formula: 2H+L = 60-64 cm, where H is the riser (step height), L is the tread (width). To calculate, you can take the above indicators: 2*18+30=66 cm.
Stair width
As a rule, the width of the stairs is country house depends on the free space or space between the walls where it will be placed. It should not be narrower than 80 cm, since when climbing to the second floor along a narrow staircase (or descending from it), a person will feel like in a tunnel. It will also be inconvenient to carry any objects. Therefore, the optimal size would be 90-120 cm.
It is imperative to build a safe and secure fence, especially when elderly people and children live in the house. If the fence is located on the steps, it will slightly reduce the effective width of the flight, keep this in mind when calculating.
Online calculator for calculation
For your convenience, you can make all calculations using a convenient one.
Formwork assembly
After completing the calculations, you need to build the formwork yourself. For construction you will need the following materials:
- moisture-resistant plywood 1.2-1.8 cm thick, edged boards 3 cm thick for the bottom of the formwork, edging and risers;
- sheets of moisture-resistant plywood (0.6-0.9 cm each) for the manufacture of curved zones;
- support beams 10x10 cm or boards 15-17 cm wide and 5 cm thick for supports;
- beams 10x10 cm for mounting boards or plywood sheets;
- metal corners;
- fastenings (wood screws) 3.5 mm;
- concrete, trowel for leveling mortar, trowel, device for smoothing the edges of concrete structures.
To ensure that the concrete surface remains smooth after hardening, you need to grind those in contact with the mortar. wooden parts formwork. When using smooth plywood, no leveling procedures are required.
1 – timber for fastening formwork elements; 2 – tension beam; 3 – winder stage formwork; 4 – end formwork. The formwork must be assembled using the following steps:
- The lower part is made of large boards and plywood sheets. They are tightly fastened together with bars from the outside. The bottom of the structure is supported by beams or boards, and the pitch of the supports must correspond to the pitch of the steps. The parts are secured with self-tapping screws, which are convenient to unscrew during dismantling;
- On the sides they place a flange made of edged boards or plywood, reinforcing it from the outside with boards;
- install riser bars to the flange or wall with metal corners;
- joints in parts are sealed with a mortar of cement and sand or leveled with a plane or grinding machine.
Layout of formwork elements The thicker the beams, the higher the structural strength. The weight of a reinforced concrete structure will be large, which must be taken into account during the construction process. You can add additional rigidity using transverse bars.
Reinforcement
For a small staircase in a cottage, the reinforcement can be made with a mesh, which is tied from reinforcement measuring 1-1.2 cm at a distance of 15-20 cm (the size of the mesh cells will be 15x20 cm). The rods are connected with wire.
Large products must be made from a reinforcement frame, including several meshes mounted with vertical rods or welding. The distance between the grids is 2-3 cm.
The frame is the skeleton of the structure where the frozen concrete mortar, therefore its horizontal rods need to be fixed in the wall, in pre-drilled holes. The mesh or frame is laid in the lower area of the formwork 2-3 centimeters from the bottom (the reinforcement can be raised using stands, bricks or stones). In the area where the railings are located, you need to place plugs or metal plates.
Pouring concrete
During concreting, a grade of concrete not lower than M200 (from class B15) is used. The solution is mixed in a concrete mixer or ordered from RBU and must contain following components: 10 parts cement, 30 parts crushed stone fraction 10-20 mm, 20 parts sand and 7 parts water. If the composition is dense, you can add 3 parts of water.
Now you need to fill the composition correctly:
- the lower steps are performed first;
- the solution is compacted to give strength and density. To do this, you can use reinforcement, which is used to pierce the concrete in several areas. professionals recommend using more reliable way– a construction vibrator that squeezes concrete through the formwork;
- giving correct form steps, smoothing with a trowel;
- pouring the remaining elements and the porch;
- covering the solution with a film to protect it from cracks and early hardening. You can also regularly moisten the outer surface of the flooded area with water.
Removing formwork
Concrete gains strength within 4 weeks. After 7 days, you need to remove the boards from the steps and sides. The freed surfaces are leveled grinder or a grinder with a circle for processing concrete. After 21 days, the supporting beams from the lower area of the structure are removed. And only on the 28th day can the remaining formwork be completely removed.
Finish lining
A DIY concrete staircase can have different options finishing: wood, laminate, tiles, carpet, acrylic stone or porcelain stoneware. Any material must be laid on a level base. After dismantling the formwork, uneven areas may remain on the site, which are recommended to be removed by sanding and plastering. The end parts are usually finished with plaster and painted. After this, the steps are covered with one of the materials.
The surface can be covered with tiles, artificial or natural stone with a rough surface. The material is laid on cement mortar or tile adhesive. Using the same technology, mosaics are laid, made from small elements original compositions.
Photo instructions for installing clinker steps The finishing can be done with wood panels that are resistant to abrasion. For this purpose, larch is selected and exotic breeds, past antiseptic treatment.
Installation wood paneling larch Great option processing is a laminate that is abrasion resistant, easy to install and durable.
If children or elderly people live in the house, then you can choose carpet, available in different colors.
The final stage is finishing with carpet To save money, you can simply paint the steps quality paint on concrete.
Painting – cheap, but in its own way interesting option In any case, the appearance of the staircase is associated with the taste preferences and financial capabilities of the owner.
Project development;
- Formwork assembly;
- Installation of reinforcement frame;
- Concreting;
- Plaster;
- Installation of steps
- Installation of railings and handrails;
- Final putty and painting.
Project development occurs after measurements at the site, preliminary calculations, taking into account all preferences.
The most labor-intensive process is formwork assembly. The complexity of this work depends on the geometry and shape of the staircase. Most simple option is a staircase located between two walls. In this case, the formwork elements are attached directly to the walls. A single-flight monolithic staircase of rectangular cross-section is relatively simple to construct. To make it, supports are placed under the end surface of the formwork. Simple geometry A single-flight staircase can be diversified with beautiful decoration, exquisite railings and lower steps of unusual shape.
To install the formwork of double-flight stairs, support columns are built or a reinforced concrete crown is attached to the wall. Spiral-shaped staircases are considered the most expressive and beautiful. The formwork for their installation consists of a large number of panels irregular shape, which form curved surfaces. The manufacture of a complex reinforcement frame is required.
For supports and racks of formwork use wooden boards and plywood. Smooth and beautiful surface the stairs are achieved by subsequent putty. The formwork elements are fastened together with self-tapping screws; the use of nails is undesirable. The ends of the formwork are attached to the walls using wooden beam and steel corners 2mm thick.
Reinforcement
For reinforcement simple stairs Bar reinforcement is excellent. The staircase is reinforced with two longitudinal reinforcement frames, the upper and lower ones, interconnected by transverse reinforcements. A rod with a diameter of 10 mm is used as longitudinal reinforcement, a rod with a diameter of 8 mm is used as transverse reinforcement, the distance between them is on average 15 - 17 cm. Monolithic concrete landings of stairs are reinforced both from above and from below, and the upper reinforcement of the landings continues in the stairs.
To fasten monolithic stairs to the wall, reinforced concrete crowns are used, which are formed with recesses measuring 10*10 cm. The reinforcing mesh is secured by spot welding or viscous annealed wire using a hook.
Concreting monolithic stairs
Concreting one flight of stairs is carried out in one step, starting from the lower steps. The concrete must contain granite crushed stone of a fraction of 5-20 mm. The concrete grade should be no less than B15. An important point in the construction of monolithic stairs is the method of compacting the concrete, since in the case of poor quality work, the strength of the structure decreases noticeably. It is best to use an electric construction vibrator for this process.
The optimal composition of concrete is a mixture of cement, sand, crushed stone and plasticizer in a ratio of 1:2:4. Remove the formwork and remove the supports no earlier than after 2-3 weeks of hardening at room temperature. Concrete must gain at least 80% strength.
Plaster. After the formwork is removed, you can begin plastering. First, the entire surface is covered with primer (such as concrete contact), then with the help of plaster and putty, an almost ideal finishing surface is achieved, ready for painting.
Installation of steps. The steps can be different:
1.Artificial or natural stone, pceramic cast. Manufacturing andlaying stone on the surface requires a lot of experience and it is better to entrust this to professionals.
2. Wooden step. For styling wooden steps must be carried out preparatory work: finally level the surface of the step, if required, and install plywood. Then, steps, risers, plinths, pillars, balusters are made according to the pattern and installed in place. At this stage, manufacturing accuracy is important.
Installation of handrails. The handrail can be made of wood or forged, from stainless steel, glass or any combination. It is most often installed on a step, with its upper mounting. With side mounting, it is attached directly to the body of the concrete staircase.
Side handrail mount
Upper handrail mount
Modern private houses, with rare exceptions, are built on two or three floors. According to this format private house, is equipped with two or three staircases - an entrance staircase and one or two interfloor structures.
The best, simplest, inexpensive and at the same time durable option is a concrete staircase, which can be made on your own without the involvement of expensive hired labor.
Construction stages
IN general case, the work on constructing a concrete staircase consists of the following main stages:
- Determination of the type of staircase: single-flight, two-flight, spiral.
- Design calculation: number and dimensions of steps, width and length of the structure.
- Production and assembly of formwork.
- Installation of reinforcing belt.
- Pouring concrete.
- Dismantling of formwork.
- Finishing concrete stairs with wood, artistic forging, ceramic tiles, mosaics or other available materials.
Two marching and spiral staircase made of concrete - this is a rather difficult project to implement with your own hands. The flights of two flights of stairs are erected at an angle of 90 degrees, with an intermediate platform, winder steps and other features.
A spiral staircase requires a complex special calculation of the spiral line and the subsequent manufacture and correct installation of curved formwork. Therefore, it is better to trust the construction of these types of stairs to experienced professional builders. Within the framework of this article, an option will be considered - a single-flight concrete staircase to the second floor, which you can make with your own hands without experience or special education.
Calculation of the design of a single-flight concrete staircase
The angle of inclination of the flight and the dimensions of the steps should be determined in each specific case, depending on the size of the room. Standard, commonly used tilt angles are 25, 35 and 45 degrees. The most preferable option is the march inclination angle - 45 degrees. In this case, the stairs in a concrete house are not only safe and convenient for climbing, but also optimal in terms of the cost of building materials.
Having determined the height and angle of inclination of the march, determine the height and width of the steps. The best option: riser height 160-200 mm, tread width 270-300 mm. The width of the march is also taken individually in each specific case.
If the stairs are located between two walls, the width of the structure is taken to be the distance between the walls. If the march on one side is adjacent to the wall, and the other side “hangs” in the air, the minimum width of the structure is 800-900 millimeters.
It is highly advisable to create a drawing or sketch of the future staircase, for correct calculation and installation of formwork parts.
Important point! When accepting a particular step height, do not forget about the possible finishing, the thickness of which can significantly change this size. For example, finishing with wood will raise the height of the step by at least 20-25 millimeters.
Formwork for concrete stairs
Assembly and installation is a very important stage of construction, on which the durability of the staircase depends. Even a small mistake and relying on the Russian “maybe” can lead to the destruction of the formwork during pouring or hardening of concrete with all the ensuing consequences. In general, the following materials will be required to assemble the formwork:
- Waterproof plywood with a thickness of 12-18 millimeters, or edged planed boards with a thickness of 25-30 millimeters on boards to form the steps, side and bottom parts of the structure.
- Beam 100x100 millimeters for supporting the lower panels (bottom) of the formwork and connecting sheets of plywood or boards.
- Steel corner and wood screws with a diameter of 3.5-4.5 mm for assembling panels.
The surfaces of the formwork facing the concrete must be perfectly smooth. Get desired result can be done in several ways: by sanding, covering with plastic film or using laminated plywood.
In general, the formwork assembly technology consists of the following steps:
- Installation of the lower part, made of panels assembled from sheets of plywood or boards. Possible combined option: plywood + boards. The lower part is laid at the calculated angle of inclination on supporting bars. The pitch and number of bars coincides with the pitch and number of steps. The formwork elements are fastened using self-tapping screws rather than traditional nails. After the concrete has hardened, it will be much easier to disassemble the formwork assembled with self-tapping screws than a structure assembled with nails.
- The next step is the installation of the side part (if one side of the staircase is adjacent to the wall) or in two parts if one side of the staircase is “hanging in the air”. The side parts are assembled from plywood or boards, and on the outside they are reinforced with a belt made of timber.
- Formation of risers. In accordance with the estimated number and dimensions of risers, they are formed with boards or plywood secured to the side parts or wall using steel corners.
- Final stage of installation. To make it easier to finish a poured concrete staircase with one material or another, all joints facing the concrete should be thoroughly cleaned and smoothed using an angle grinder and putty cement-sand mortar. The formwork is ready for installation of the reinforcing belt.
Installation and knitting of the reinforcing belt
In order for a concrete staircase in a private house to be strong and durable, its structure should be strengthened. In this case, you get monolithic durable concrete that will last as long as the building of the house lasts.
A span of several steps can be reinforced with a mesh of reinforcement with a diameter of 10-12 millimeters laid along the bottom of the formwork at a height of at least 20-30 mm from the surface of the formwork facing the concrete.
To set a gap of 20-30 mm, use pieces of brick or special plastic stands. The pitch of the longitudinal and transverse rods is taken such that cells of 50x50 millimeters are obtained. The reinforcement is tied into a single unit with soft steel or copper “knitting” wire with a diameter of 0.7 to 1 millimeter.
To reinforce large-scale stairs, several longitudinal and vertical reinforcing meshes are used, which must be attached to the wall in one way or another. For example, using drilled holes into which pins of the appropriate diameter are driven.
Pouring concrete stairs
To fill the structure, heavy concrete grade M200 is used. Concrete is prepared either independently according to the following recipe - 1 kg of cement TsEM I 32.5N PC (M400), 2.8 kg of sifted washed quarry sand, 4.4 kg of granite crushed stone with a particle fraction of at least 10-20 mm, 10 milliliters liquid soap(plasticizer), water 0.7 liters, or place an order for the finished material by contacting the nearest concrete plant. The first option has half the cost, and the second option is of higher quality in terms of the composition of components and more efficient in terms of construction time. Filling stages:
- Filling the formwork with concrete begins from the lower steps. Initially, 2-3 steps are filled, after which the concrete is compacted by uniformly bayoneting a piece of reinforcement over the entire area of the poured structure.
- Using a trowel and spatula, the steps are given their final look - the plane of the treads is smoothed, achieving horizontality.
- The entire structure is poured, after which the treads are tamped and smoothed as in the previous case.
- The resulting structure is carefully covered with plastic wrap for 5-7 days. In hot weather, the film is moistened with water several times a day.
Dismantling of formwork
There is no need to rush through this stage of construction. After 5-7 days, carefully remove the side panels and riser formwork. If the concrete is still very wet and “live”, dismantling work should be stopped and wait a few more days.
Most best option– wait from 20 to 28 days (if the ambient air temperature is in the range from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius and above). This billing period time during which concrete gains 70-80% of brand strength.
Finishing concrete stairs
immediately after removing the formwork, all surfaces of the stairs are thoroughly cleaned with angle grinders equipped with the appropriate tools: Baumesser Beton diamond cutters, Long diamond discs for grinding concrete, BOSCH diamond discs for grinding concrete and other similar tools.
Then everything depends on the imagination and personal preferences of the developer. To finish the surface of the stairs you can use: valuable wood, porcelain stoneware, ceramic floor tiles, or natural stone. The side surface and bottom can simply be plastered and covered water-based paint.
Readers of the article may be interested in the question of how to build entrance staircase into a concrete house. Street stairs made of concrete are calculated and built , almost similar to the stairs to the second floor inside the house. The difference between the technology is the absence of lower support for the span and the need to build a foundation with a depth corresponding to the depth of the foundation of the house.
Now, knowing how to make a concrete staircase with your own hands, you can calculate it, purchase the necessary building materials and build this structure without the involvement of expensive hired labor from specialists.
In private housing construction, a concrete staircase becomes the main type of access to front door with a high base, on the upper floors. Compliance with design and manufacturing requirements will ensure safety in use, strength and durability of the structure.
Monolithic concrete stairs have considerable weight. Floors and walls bear additional load on the staircase structural elements until the concrete polymerizes. As a result, the concrete staircase turns into one of the structural rigidity elements of the building. An ascent angle steeper than 45 0 is impractical. 30 0 is accepted as optimal. If the climb is too steep, it will be difficult, and the descent from the stairs will become dangerous.
Requirements for the size of steps and treads:
- Depth – 27–30 cm;
- Height – 15–20 cm;
- Width – 1–1.2 m.
The staircase elements are monolithic with the floors and the adjacent wall during the construction process. The release of reinforcement and embedded elements from the floors and load-bearing walls is planned at the project stage. Street stairs the lower part rests on the foundation.
For a two-flight staircase, you will have to build an intermediate platform with stationary intermediate supports.
Monolithic connections will strengthen the structure of the house
Formwork assembly and reinforcement
The next step in construction is the construction of formwork. Concrete stairs require a strong frame for pouring. The base is made of moisture-resistant plywood with reinforcement at the bottom with boards to prevent the formwork from deflecting.
Vertical supports are installed with support on shoes to prevent shifting. The racks are made from boards 50–60 mm thick coniferous species. On the wall side, the base rests on metal brackets. The side board is attached to reinforced corners to provide rigidity to the structure.
Before pouring concrete, care should be taken to eliminate laitance leaks and adhesion. concrete mixture on the formwork. The joints and cracks of the joints are sealed with sealant. The surface of the formwork is treated with compounds that prevent sticking.
As one of the means, formwork coating is used plastic film with tension. This will lead to a reduction in the subsequent finishing of the stairs. Reducing the cost and reducing the amount of finishing work is laid down at the stage of preparatory work.
When pouring concrete, concrete stairs do not experience serious dynamic loads. Therefore, it is advisable to assemble the formwork using self-tapping screws. The screed will leave fewer gaps between the parts; after dismantling, the structural elements can be reused.
The basis for the strength of a concrete staircase is at least double reinforcement mesh. Steel period and fiberglass ø 12–14 mm are used. Grid pitch 100–200 mm. The lattice is fastened with knitting wire or tightened with plastic clamps. Vertical bars at the edges will replace the upturned ends of the excess length crossbars. A distance between the gratings of 5–10 cm will provide sufficient bending resistance.
A clear example of reinforcement and hardening
Plastic supports under the lower part of the lattice hold the structure above the formwork. Holes are drilled in the wall into which crossbars are inserted to prevent the reinforced frame from shifting. The ends of the formwork reinforcement are not allowed to touch.
Reinforcement of each flight of stairs is carried out separately, but before pouring the part metal frame tied together by overlapping and adding rods. The frame is connected with special care to the reinforcement outlets from the floor slabs.
Completes the assembly of the formwork monolithic staircase installation of level dividing risers that determine the depth of the step. Fastening to the wall and board is carried out with reinforced corners or vertical bars.
We are waiting for concrete
Difficulties with concrete
We refuse to buy ready-made ones. We purchase crushed granite stone of 15–30 mm fraction. If it is not planned to finish the stairs with other materials, marble chips are added. Large is required river sand. Quarry is not suitable - clay inclusions will reduce the strength. Cement grade 400 will do.
Mixing proportion:
- Cement – 1;
- Sand – 1.3;
- Crushed stone – 2.6.
The monolithic staircase will be reinforced with polypropylene fiber in the concrete mixture. The fibers are evenly distributed in the solution. Concrete acquires remarkable qualities:
- No shrinkage is felt;
- Internal stresses are smoothed out;
- Strengthening the product;
Adding plasticizers will speed up the setting of concrete. The concrete staircase formwork is filled from below in 2-3 steps with a gradual rise upward. Preliminary compaction of the mass is carried out by bayoneting.
Tamping does not give the same result that we can achieve using an electric vibrator. Vibration results in an even distribution of gravel filling. Air bubbles in the thickness of the concrete and shells in areas adjacent to the formwork will disappear. Manual compaction will reduce the strength of the product by 10–12%
Vibration causes the mass to slide along the concrete stairs. The steps are filled without pouring cement laitance under the edge of the riser formwork. Filling the cavity signals the transition to the next level. Avoid underfilling the formwork.
Filling proceeds without stopping, regardless of the amount of work. A delay of 2 hours will lead to layering of the monolith. The planned strength is lost. The joint is comparable to a crack running the entire depth of the stairs. The embedded elements for fastening the balusters are installed into the filled steps according to the template.
After 1–1.5 hours, as the concrete sets, the steps of the stairs are smoothed with a float or trowel. It is recommended to trim the mass along the formwork and blunt the right angles to avoid chipping.
Bringing beauty
Decoration and finishing
The concrete staircase was built with our own hands. We waited until the ladder under the shelter gained the necessary strength. There is room for imagination. Ceramic tiles, natural wood and imitations, carpet - available materials finishing is not with honor.
What if you surprise yourself and your family with the beauty of concrete? There will be more work, but the rough concrete staircase will turn into a work of art. Want to try it? We'll have to go back to kneading and pouring. Adding pigments to a concrete mixer will turn the gray mass into a colored one.
Buying white or light cement will allow you to diversify your palette in addition to rich colors pastel colors. The steps will turn from faceless attacks into decoration. But the work of polishing the steps of the concrete stairs will be added.
Imprinted into unhardened top layer treads, fragments of multi-colored glass, flat pebbles, even shavings after metalworking with ordered pretentious ornaments or the chaos of inconsistency in the arrangement of waste decorative elements will amaze.
Self-deception or desire for traditionalism?
Below is an example of how a staircase made of ordinary ready-mixed concrete without finishing already attracts attention. Enterprises willingly accept orders for the production of concrete products. You hand over a sketch on a piece of paper, and you get an improved version of the idea.
The developer's gain is obvious:
- No cracks or internal stresses in the product after the steaming chamber;
- Reduced labor intensity - installation and embedding take several hours;
- Time saving - no need to wait for concrete to polymerize;
- No chipping guarantee;
- Does not require processing.
It is uneconomical to do this with your own hands.
Concrete stairs without wet processes
And this is possible. In a home where there is mostly wood around, moisture evaporation is the enemy. We order the frame modular or welded. And we cast the steps in a multi-seat mold ourselves in the garage or at the dacha.
The only peculiarity of such an amateur activity is that the front side will be at the bottom. Patterns and ornaments will appear upside down. But there will be no restrictions on imagination in any form.
The photo below shows a composition on a concrete surface made of broken bottle glass. The battle was poured into the mold, leveled and poured cement mixture. The fine chintz pattern is colorful and it wouldn’t hurt to dilute it with several solid bottle bottoms for a logical completion of the composition.
The industry cannot do this, only a craftsman
The thickness of homemade and purchased tread after processing does not exceed 50 mm. The weight is small, so the frame can be lightened. There is no need to prepare a powerful one. Installation does not require the use of lifting devices and powerful fasteners.
Lightweight format for lifting into the attic
Brief summary
Street and interfloor concrete stairs are similar in manufacturing technology. There would be a desire free time the required amount of money. The design features of screw and curved ones were not considered due to the fact that each configuration needs to be devoted to a separate article, and not several general words.
Video
Stair frame
Concrete staircase (rough = two flights + platform) with formwork made from forest residues.
Almost any modern building be built with interfloor passages or porch steps. Based on the strength characteristics of the material, monolithic concrete stairs are most often poured. Similar structures can have different shapes and carry different physical activity and be located both inside the building and outside.
In our article we will tell you what you should pay attention to when installing a staircase from monolithic concrete, how not to make mistakes with calculations during the design process, what shape of steps should be preferred in different conditions, and also describe the stages of the structure.
Concrete stairs vary depending on:
- the method of their manufacture,
- span structures,
- places of the march.
Manufacturing method
During construction, factory-made ready-made march structures can be used or the formwork can be poured directly on site. Factory designs guarantee the strength of the building element.
If the method is chosen self-made flight of stairs in place, you should pay close attention to mixing the solution and following the pouring technology.
Marching stairs
This is the most common type of design. Their advantages include simplicity in design and safety in operation.
A transition can consist of one or more marches and be connected in various ways:
Marching concrete monolithic stairs usually rest on the wall of the building on at least one side, so the reinforcement of such steps is mounted against the load-bearing part of the building.
Screw designs
Construction technology
Work on the installation of a flight of stairs includes several stages:
- choice of design type,
- calculation and design,
- installation of formwork panels,
- reinforcement of the future span,
- pouring concrete mortar.
In addition, it must be taken into account that a reinforced concrete monolithic staircase requires mandatory decorative treatment, which will simultaneously perform a protective function. Concrete has a porous structure, so in direct contact with the external environment, untreated elements will begin to deteriorate over time.
Construction type
If you decide to install monolithic concrete stairs in a private house, you should start with careful calculations and drawing up projects. Concrete pouring, being the most budget-friendly, does not forgive mistakes.
If a mistake is made during the design, correcting inaccuracies and shortcomings during the construction process will entail quite a significant costs. Everything will have to be redone, starting with the formwork panels. At the same time, it is practically impossible to reuse the material.
Monolithic concrete stairs: the production of structures on site by pouring into formwork should begin with careful measurements of the existing building. If the staircase is installed simultaneously with the entire structure, the first two stages are closely interconnected.
The choice of design option is often limited by its installation location. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account certain requirements for the dimensions of the steps in order to make using the stairs comfortable.
Note! In the limited small space of a residential building, the possibility of forming a spiral staircase should be considered. Reinforced concrete monolithic stairs along stringers are suitable for tight spaces. Visually, this design looks light, without cluttering or weighing down the space.
If the size of the room allows you to place flight of stairs with a comfortable level of slope, preference should be given to simpler, straight spans.
Design
When drawing up a project, you should consider building codes and dimensions designed and adopted taking into account standard loads.
Instructions for designing a reinforced concrete staircase, regardless of the type of structure and its location, involve determining the main dimensions of the structure as a whole and all its elements:
- Slope. This indicator mainly depends on the size of the room. The most convenient for use are steps located at an angle of 30-350. At the same time, the slope of the stairs may be different. But it is necessary to take into account that the steeper the staircase, the more difficult it will be to use. This indicator is especially relevant for premises that will be used by children and the elderly.
- Width of stairs and landing between flights. Even at the design stage, it should be taken into account that for the comfortable passage of one person, this figure must be at least 0.9 m. At the same time, designs with winder steps require a larger width, since not the entire area of the step is suitable for movement, but only its distance from center part.
- The tread or horizontal surface of a step is usually in the range of 25 - 30 cm. When designing and calculating the slope, the net size is taken into account. For a comfortable step, the tread can be increased by providing an overhang. In this case, this indicator should not exceed 30 mm.
- The riser or vertical part of the step should be between 13 and 19 cm.
Note! At the design stage, the number of steps is determined. It is recommended to calculate the size of the steps so that there are an odd number of them in the flight. It is more comfortable to start and finish going down or going up stairs with one foot.
Formwork and reinforcement
Depending on the type of structure, the order of work may vary. Most often, the sequence of events is as follows:
- install the lower formwork panels;
- reinforcement of a monolithic reinforced concrete staircase is laid;
- The formwork of the upper boundaries of the steps is installed.
Shields must be made of moisture-resistant material. It is necessary to fasten the formwork so that it can be easily removed at the end of the work.
Typically, self-tapping screws are used for fastening, which can be easily unscrewed. All structural elements are precisely adjusted to the size of the steps and installed without gaps to prevent leakage.
A staircase made of monolithic reinforced concrete must have volumetric reinforcement. The lower longitudinal and transverse rods should not touch the bottom; there should be a distance of at least 20 mm between the shield and the reinforcement.
The rods are welded or tied together, depending on the type of reinforcement. Structurally, the reinforcement of the stairs should be tied to load-bearing walls buildings. To do this, rods are driven into the walls to a depth of 20 cm with a step equal to the size of the tread.
Note! On at this stage The edges of the steps should be reinforced with reinforcing mesh and embedded metal parts should be installed to secure the railings.
Concrete pouring
A monolithic concrete staircase is poured in one step - this is the basic rule and the key to a long and successful operation designs. At self-filling It’s better to purchase the required quantity ready solution in a specialized organization.
Mixing the solution in the required quantity and pouring it into the formwork at the same time is quite problematic. Concrete is poured from the top step, equalizing the plane of the tread as the pour progresses. When pouring from the bottom step, you will not be able to move up without compromising the integrity of the lower steps.
After the entire volume of the stairs is poured, the concrete is left to dry. It is very important to avoid excessive evaporation of water from the solution. To do this, cover the fill with film, periodically moistening it during the drying process for an average of a week.
After the concrete has gained initial strength, the film is removed and the upper formwork panels are twisted. It is recommended to remove the lower part of the formwork no earlier than after 21 days. By this point, the concrete will gain up to 90% strength. You can learn more about how to build monolithic concrete stairs yourself by watching the video in this article.
Conclusion
When deciding to install marching or spiral reinforced concrete monolithic stairs in your house, you will definitely get a reliable, stable and safe structure as a result. At the same time, the price of such a staircase is the most budget-friendly in comparison with similar structures.
At correct calculation dimensions of the steps and compliance with the pouring technology, the structure will last for many years. And the possibilities of use decorative finishing Almost any material will allow you to create an interior of various styles.
