The Curious World of Misconstructed Staircases: A Builder’s Perspective

The Weird and the Uncomfortable

Have you ever encountered staircases that seemed oddly placed or built incorrectly? Well, I have—only one, but it was enough to stick in my mind. It was a precast concrete stairway with just one step short. The builders installed it without advising the prospective owners of this minor flaw. Consequently, people often stumbled or misstepped not realizing the treads were not level. Such discrepancies can make each step feel off and uncomfortable, especially if the ratio of tread width to riser height is out of proportion.

One of the most egregious issues in staircases is the #8216;court house steps#8217; or those with extraordinarily high risers, often 3 inches to 4 inches. These might seem like a minor complaint initially, but they can make each climb up and down a feat of balancing. Beyond these structures, there are more extreme examples that genuinely challenge the basic principles of staircase design.

The Strangest Example: Stairs Leading to Nowhere

One of the weirdest examples of a misconstructed staircase comes to mind from another country. The stairs led straight up and abruptly ended into a solid wall. This wall didn’t appear to have ever been home to a door or any sort of opening. Instances like these, where something isn’t compliant with current standards, can lead to peculiar outcomes.

Steep Staircases and Incorrect Landings

Incorrect and wrong are not just subjective terms for a builder. Sometimes staircases are built improperly, often due to a lack of proper training or experience. For instance, there was a staircase that was too steep, with a landing halfway up instead of a proper landing. A landing must be at least 36 inches long and at least as wide as the stairs, whichever is the smaller dimension. In this case, the landing was only 26 inches, leaving ample room for missteps, especially when maneuvering large furniture. Imagine climbing up to three bedrooms with just a 26-inch landing!

Code Compliance vs. Practicality

While some misconstructed staircases are purely due to ignorance, others have historical roots. For example, many older homes had “servants’ stairs” in the kitchen area, leading to their quarters. These were narrow and tight but functional. However, they wouldn’t pass today’s building codes. It speaks to the balance between history and modern safety standards.

Codes and Inspectors: The Protectors

Building codes exist for good reason, and there are inspectors to ensure they are followed. These codes are designed to protect people from structures that might be built by those who lack knowledge or training. Lack of proper standards can lead to dangerous and nonsensical staircases, like those in stories of misconstructed historic mansions. For instance, the Winchester family mansion was rumored to be haunted, leading them to believe they had to keep building their house non-stop. While these stories are intriguing, they encapsulate the challenges and sometimes bizarre creations of stairs that might pass inspection due to historical context.

Conclusion

The examples above reveal the fascinating and often bizarre world of misconstructed staircases. Whether due to ignorance, historical context, or a lack of proper training, these staircases can range from merely uncomfortable to genuinely dangerous. Building codes and inspectors exist to ensure that such issues are addressed, and that modern safety standards are upheld. For builders and homeowners, understanding these standards and the importance of compliance is essential to ensure both safety and comfort.