When building the house with several floors, one can’t do without safe and reliable construction, connecting them to each other. In this case, a good solution will be a hand-made monolithic staircase, which will fit harmoniously into any interior, and its price will be relatively low. If you have certain construction skills, necessary instruments, and desire – you will succeed following the detailed recommendations of experienced builders.

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How to begin the construction?

To start with, you have to choose the type and design of the staircase. All the houses (carcass, brick, or wooden) are built in different styles. It must be taken into account when choosing the type of the inter-floor staircase. Of course, wrought iron staircases in classic style look very beautiful, as well as chromium/glass stairs. However, they are quire traumatic and expensive. Monolithic reinforced concrete structures are much stronger and more durable than metal or wooden carcass models, while the diversity of finishing and designs is almost unlimited.

While the industrial concrete stairs usually have a simple structure and consist of straight flights, an internal staircase can be winding, bent, L-shaped, etc.

In houses, the most comfortable solution is a straight double-flight staircase with one landing. It is easier to work with than the winding model and doesn’t take much space. If the staircase is situated between the walls, you can make the markings right on them. In all other cases, you will need a full formwork. Then you should calculate the width and height of steps.

One stair flight contains 3-16 steps, while the optimal height and width of one step is 15 and 28 cm.

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Detailed drawing will help you not to get confused and calculate the number of raw materials. If you find it difficult to make a correct and skillful sketch, you can find the photos on the Internet and download them. Here you can also find the formula for calculating the materials.


Stock up on the materials and instruments

You will need the following materials and instruments:

  1. Concrete. For the internal staircase, you should choose light and porous materials, given that the staircase will rely on bearing slabs and put additional load on them. You will also need sand and water and a concrete mixer to mix the solution. For the backfilling, you can use such materials, as rubble, gravel, sand, or their combination.
  2. Plywood and formwork boards.
  3. Armature and metal angles to reinforce the structure.
  4. Grinder, perforator, and sanding machine.
  5. Square, rule, nylon threads, laser, or any other level.

In this case, not the price but the quality of materials should play a crucial role, as we are talking about the health and safety of your loved ones.

Monolithic concrete staircases should always be built directly on the building site and mounted not after the finishing works (as, for example, wooden stairs), but simultaneously with the construction of a house.

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Stepwise instruction on the installation of the staircase

Following is an algorithm of building works.

  1. Formwork. This is the most important and difficult point of the entire process. For the support stand, you should use the square beam. The thicker it is, the more secure the structure will be. Start the installation of the formwork with the landing. After that, mount the formwork for the steps.
  2. Knit of iron reinforcement – frame. This will require the reinforcement with a diameter of no less than 12 mm. All horizontal elements should be mounted directly into the wall. Then they should be connected to each other with wire and hooks.
  3. Reinforcing cage can be sheathed with plywood and boards. In conclusion, you have to make a flange on the formwork. It will act as a limiter when filling the concrete solution and basis for the steps. Metal squares will make the whole structure of formwork more durable.
  4. The quality of formwork will define the final appearance of the staircase and its operational characteristics. Therefore, you should take a close look at the finished formwork and smooth all the irregularities, joints, etc. using putty and plane.
  5. Now you can proceed to the filling of steps using any of the above-mentioned materials. The main thing is to tamp it properly, filling up the sand until the flat surface without apertures forms. For a better effect, you should water the backfill in the places where the air has left. The material will shrink, and you will be able to cure the defects at once.
  6. It is desirable to coat the steps with a hydro isolator to prevent concrete from the contact with backfilling.
  7. Pouring of concrete starts with the first two steps. It should be stuck with iron bars to remove the air inside. Then the concrete should be vibrated, squeezed through the formwork and leveled with a trowel, and so until the end.
  8. In a week, you can remove the formwork of the steps, and in two weeks – the formwork of the staircase itself. The ready structure must be polished with a special machine – all that’s left is to finish the staircase to your taste.

That’s all – your staircase is ready! Don’t forget to take a photo to remember – you have something to be proud of, as you have coped with all works on your own and saved enough money.

As you can see, it is not that complicated. If you’ve already built the monolithic concrete stairs and have photos with the results, share your personal experience, comments, and tips. Someone will find it useful, and we consider it very interesting.