ᐅ Staircase Issue

Hello,

our shell construction is complete.
The stair builder measured the floor-to-floor height on site.
I received the step dimensions for the planned staircase:
16 steps, tread depth 25.7 cm (10 inches), riser height 18.7 cm (7.4 inches).

Obviously, this is not ideal.
The stair builder said that they often install steps with these dimensions and that people manage well with them. I trust him enough to believe he’s not just giving me unrealistic promises.

My options to create more space for the staircase are very limited.
I would have to accept significant disadvantages for that, and at best, I might gain about 15 cm (6 inches) in length—possibly only 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inches).

Now I’d like to get your opinion: Will the staircase be uncomfortably steep enough to cause me ongoing stress? Or will I hardly notice it in daily life after a couple of weeks and be well advised to just accept it as it is at this late stage?

Best regards

willWohnen

Our staircase in the new building has 15 risers with a rise/run of 18.86cm (7.4 inches) / 26cm (10.2 inches). Since it is a concrete staircase, it is already installed and we have walked on it many times. For us, it is neither problematic nor uncomfortable.

Why should the staircase be uncomfortable? How do you imagine the ideal steps?
We also have about 18/26cm (7 inches/10 inches) – these are quite normal average dimensions.

Hello,
thank you for your information.

I had read about these calculation rules—the safety rule, comfort rule, and step measurement rule... All three rules would be met by a stair riser height of 17cm (7 inches) and tread depth of 29cm (11.5 inches). That would supposedly be the most comfortable staircase.
This is quite different from our measurements. However, I have since calculated that such an optimal staircase would require much more space and is obviously rarely built in residential houses. Intuitively, a tread depth of 25.7cm (10 inches) seemed small to me... Even our current 1970s staircase in the apartment building offers more space for the foot.
If you’ve had good experiences with similar values, then my stair builder is probably right in saying that these rules are usually not strictly followed in practice (or at least the comfort rule is not).
That reassures me a bit.
Let’s see if others here view the measurements more negatively.

Thanks + regards

willWohnen

I remembered the guideline: 19/26... not higher/not lower!
It’s pretty close anyway 🙂

Hello, the topic is actually covered in the regulations; although there are tolerances, the legal dimensions are fixed. Is the staircase a main staircase or a secondary staircase?