How long is stairway

All staircases have one more riser than they do treads because you have to step up to get to the first tread. In my example above for the 8-foot-high wall home, this means you will have 13 treads for a total length of inches or 10 feet 10 inches. If the stairs end at a wall, you must also figure in a minimum three-foot landing or clear floor area at the bottom of the steps. For an eight-foot wall height, figure on a foot-long footprint for a straight staircase.

Once again this is not equally divisible by 7. Multiply the 15 needed treads by 10 inches and you get inches or 12 feet 6 inches. Add to this the three-foot clear area and you end up with 15 feet 6 inches for a straight staircase in a house with nine-foot-tall interior walls. You can minimize the footprint by installing an L-shaped stairway if needed. The absolute minimum footprint for the stairway would be a circular staircase. Sign up to my newsletter to receive expert advice for your home!

You can choose a rise anywhere between these mandates, but the popular belief is that a rise of about seven inches results in the most comfortable stride.

Once you determine the rise for your stairs, you can determine how many stairs you will need in total. The run refers to the depth, or flat portion, of each stair. Most state codes mandate that the stair run be no less than nine inches but inches is accepted as the most comfortable run for a flight of stairs. While not all features are optional, all of them are additions to your staircase and will require extra ground space to accommodate.

Many state codes require a banister to be installed on any staircase that has more than four steps. The space your banister will take up depends on the style of the banister you choose. The standard banister will measure between inches and inches tall. Simpler banisters will be minimal in width, while more ornate banisters might be bulkier.

It would be beneficial to choose your projected banister and get its measurements before installing your staircase so you can be sure that you have the proper space for the one you choose.

Unless you have particularly tall ceilings, you will likely not need to install a landing in your staircase at home. However, you can incorporate a landing for aesthetic reasons. Again, the dimensions of your proposed landing will need to be included in the space you dedicate to your staircase, and more complex landings will require more space.

If anyone in your home has mobility needs, you may want to consider accommodations that could be built into your staircase. A stairlift, for example, can be built onto a banister installed against the wall. The location of your staircase will also impact the amount of space you will need. Alternatively, you might be able to manage it as a day trip.

Officially called the Cuilcagh Legnabrocky Trail, this is a great half-day hike and is all the more accessible thanks to the addition of a boardwalk in As helpful as it is though, the purpose of the boardwalk was not to make things easier for us walkers! It is one of the most intact blanket bogs in Western Europe and is an area of enormous environmental value. A boardwalk was first put in place to allow rangers to access the bog and help restore the damaged peatland.

It was later extended, allowing walkers access to Cuilagh mountain while protecting the delicate blanket bog from erosion. The trail is in Fermanagh and takes you to just below the summit of Cuilcagh Mountain. Cuilcagh is the highest peak in both Fermanagh and neighbouring Cavan.

The Stairway to Heaven is rated as difficult, mainly due to the actual stairway part! The final climb certainly knocks the wind out of you but the steps and handrail make it somewhat easier. The spectacular views provide the perfect excuse for plenty of stops along the way too. We were lucky enough to get a good day for the trail but like any mountainous area the weather here can change rapidly, so be prepared. We saw quite a few people who seemed to be dressed for the photos, rather than a mountain walk.

Bring some snacks and plenty of water too. Though the climb at the end is steep, the majority of the walk is not overly strenuous. For the most part, the trail weaves through farmland and is pretty moderate going. There are some gradual inclines but nothing too tough. We started from the first carpark and a fter reaching the second car park about 1km in more on this below!

With all that effort comes reward though and as you climb the scenery only get better. I was a bit confused about this before visiting.