Installing a kit stair: diy?

[saveasteading]

Our joiner is off to do work more to his liking. No falling out, it is just that he has been  great at 'big and new,' and doesn't want the fiddly stuff.

 

Our family and friend team has therefore been installing stud, to create a box in a box, and cross-walls.

Very impressive so far for beginners.  (They have had a year now of getting to know all the trades so far, and  done  a lot of the work)

The attention to detail to form an airtight box would not otherwise have been so good. Plus they have the luxury of stopping to think, or have a conference call.

As a result we are also retaining more height and width in the roof rooms, and paying attention to acoustics through walls.

 

They will keep asking around for another joiner (there are 2 stairs, then more stud, and kitchens,)

 

But, just in case, how easy or difficult or easy is it to install a stair, made by one of the specialists?

My feeling is that it is easy enough.

The thing is that I have supervised dozens of stairs (timber, steel, concrete) but never been hands on, apart from decisions to overcome issues.

If it looks easy then.....either it is easy, or they are skilled at it.

 

Up til now I have been able to give crash courses, but stairs are, wait for it, on a different level.

 

 

The stairs will be riser, spiral, riser so pretty standard, made of pine, and the openings are already formed. All fixings to timber.

Not ordered yet.

 

 

[LA3222]

I installed both sets of my stairs having never done them before. Took me a day to get the main stairs in (kite winder) and then a couple more doors mincing to get the rail and spindles etc done.

 

Took me a week of mincing to do my spiral staircase.

[SteamyTea]

I am sure if you got stuck, posted up the problem, with pictures, within a few hours you would have 5 right answers.

Just do it.

If all goes Pete Tong, call the manufacturers and ask them, just make sure they know what you do for a living.

[nod]

I did our previous build stairs 

I’m certainly no joiner 

But the trick is to get them measured by the people who are making them 

 

[Jonny]

I just installed a stairbox staircase, straight run, quarter landing, winder, straight run. Took about 4 hours to install (no spindles or handrails yet -tbc) would have been quicker but the staircase was quite a tight fit in the space! Solid and no issues really whilst fitting

[Gone West]

Our kit contained what seemed to be a million bits and took ages to fit, but we liked it when it was done. I live in a bungalow now.

 

 

[saveasteading]

Update. Thanks for the encouragement, which I passed on to the team.

 

Joiner has agreed to fit the 2 stairs and the kitchen units, when they arrive.   Also that some fiddly elements that  he was ignoring are now removed from his scope.

He has fitted the final external door, so the weather is now all on the outside. (there should be  ceremony)

The home team is getting on well with the studs and plaster-boarding, and will continue so to do.

Considering that their first experience is in forming bulkheads and lining to a roof space, the finish is great and it can only get easier. (I just see daily pics + get the occasional query)

It is too slow on a big project,  but much faster than nothing happening.

 

BTW   Back-referring to a fairly recent discussion on acoustics.:

The joiner had never heard of resilient bar, therefore it can't be any good. This despite being to college and working 12 ish years.

We are using resilient bar on 2 partition walls which separate bedrooms from activity rooms. 

 

From now the other subbies being used are /  will be:

Plumber

Elec

Plaster

 

The in house work will be

Stud, insulation and plasterboard.

Decoration

Tiling, floor and wall

Doors.....giving it  a try anyway. there are 25 so they should get good at it. That will be a future query.