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J.B.
Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject: Too many stairs!!! |
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I have a problem keeping me from my possible dream home. The house sits right behind the capitol building of Frankfort, KY, with an awesome view. The house is very unique (english tudor style) and, unlike most of the homes in the area, needs absolutely no work done. Everything is perfect...except the only way in is up a steep set of stone stairs extending about one story high. The garage is street level, and everything must be carried up the steps. This one problem forced the original owners (through whom I have met and confirmed the problem) to sell, and the current owners have had the home on the market for over a year now. In fact, the current owners have dropped the price over $30,000 over the year and are now listing it at the same price they bought it for several years ago.
Long story short I hate to see this beautiful house sit dormant because of this over-abundance of stairs. Does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking possibly an elevator or something could be retrofitted into the garage. Anyone have any experience with something like this? or just have a similar problem? Thanks. |
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lekizz
millennium club
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 1073
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:39 am Post subject: |
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Stairs, eh? That must be a bit of a shock to find, in a country where things seem to spread outwards rather than upwards 
I agree, it must be a sad day when elderly or immobile owners have to sell up but, if you are fit enough to 'do' stairs yourself, maybe you should accept the stairs as part of the house's character. A nice bespoke handrail might add a nice touch. |
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J.B.
Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:49 am Post subject: |
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| It's not the everyday walking issue; it's the groceries, furniture, and everything else carried in and out on a regular basis. I don't mind at all walking up a flight of stairs to get somewhere, but what about that washer and dryer, or the couch or new bed? How about the twenty trips up and down carrying heavy loads of groceries, or bags for a trip? I am just wondering if there is a solution to make tasks like these a little easier. |
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lekizz
millennium club
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 1073
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:23 am Post subject: |
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Is there any possibility of creating level(ish) access from another direction/side of the building?
To be honest, IMO you should choose a different house if you find stairs a problem. Or find some big strong friends. Or buy your furniture/groceries from stores that deliver. I expect an elevator big enough to take a washing machine or sofa would destroy the building, unless it is a verrry big house. |
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nanrehvasconez
Joined: 25 Feb 2008
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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| People pay money to use an STEP-MASTER every day at the gym. You do not move furniture every day, you can install a washer-dryer in the main floor, the claiming of one flight of stairs is nothing compared with the pleasure of a great view and location. Buy the house and enjoy it. |
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SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1712
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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Break the problem into its components, and an answer emerges:
1 Everyday coming and going -- do the walking. Good exercise ! And it might discourage salesmen and Jehovah's Witnesses.
2 Everyday purchases (groceries, other "shopping") -- dumbwaiter from garage. These are available and in use everywhere.
3 Large movables (furniture, etc) -- let the movers handle it. They do it all the time.
Thanks for the interesting question ! SDR |
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J.B.
Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:48 am Post subject: |
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| Hmm... Dumbwaiter just might work. Good call SDR. Thanks for the suggestions. |
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mx2
millennium club
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1968
Location: Miami, Florida
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| Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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Apparently it seems to be a serious enough problems if all the previous and current owners have addressed it and this potential buyer has made an issue of it...I would not assume it's just a walk in the park as many here are downplaying the request for options. I imagine the worse case scenario...perhaps the risers are greater than 7" and the treads less than 9" and if the total rise is ten feet, lets' say, without any intermediate landing...that could be one helluva haul to do just to walk to your mailbox, fun and games aside.
I was just reviewing a magazine that modified an old saltbox house that had an odd entrance up some stairs on one side of the house to the upper floor "main level" of public space, while the ground floor was bedrooms and a garage. At any rate, their solution was to build an addition on the other side of the house that included a new master bedroom over a three car garage. The interesting twist is they created a space between the old and new house, built up the grade to this divide and created a new entrance to the upper floor that was far less steep ( a few steps).
Barring spending the money for such a dramatic modification to the house, or assuming there is no room for such a project, there are ways to make a staircase more user-friendly. If there is room to elongate it, I would re-build it, perhaps as a switchback with far shorter risers (6" to 7" maybe) and longer treads (12") and midway up provide a landing (transition that allows you to catch your breath)...nice comfortable handrails at both sides (34" above the nose of tread), and if it were landscaped nicely or shaded (if its hot) make the long trip more enjoyable.
If an elevator is needed, there are machine-room-less elevators available that do not need a piston nor much of overhead clearance. Probably run you somewhere near $20k.
I do not know if there is a lower space...but another dramatic change could be to find a way to make the public spaces downstairs and bedrooms upstairs...up the stairs, but inside.
Without seeing pictures and/or floor plans, I have no other suggestions that come to mind. Best of luck...
mx2.5
_________________
*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building. |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 555
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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A photo would be great.
What you are describing sounds a lot like some of the houses in the older sections of Cincinnati.
The garage is at street level - detached from the house - and the house is up the hill. A typical situation when the garage was built after the house, simply because there were no cars when the house was built.
Or is the garage attached to the house. Then the dumbwaiter idea will work.
| lekizz wrote: | | Stairs, eh? That must be a bit of a shock to find, in a country where things seem to spread outwards rather than upwards |
Lekizz (I see the winky icon - thought I would still address your comment) - while densities in the US don't rival what you might find in some areas of England and Europe - that is not always the case, particularly in urbanized areas of the US. In fact, Europe and England are fast approaching the same densities and sprawl as the US..... well-documented in the book "Sprawl: A Concise History." London has experienced sprawl since the 17th C when wealthy bankers began to build country houses and commute into the city using a horse and coach driven by a servant. You might enjoy the book - quite the mythbuster. Also makes you question your definition of sprawl. IE- How is it that a neo-traditional housing development constructed well out into the country is not considered sprawl? If it is not connected to the existing city is it not sprawl? Would Versailles be considered sprawl? |
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SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1712
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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San Francisco is full of these houses; this slightly tired example, built in 1901, retains its original configuration (the freshly primed work at the bottom is my recent contribution). A steep climb to what the British, at least, call the First Floor -- and an earthquake-vulnerable "soft story" below. Thank heaven it almost touches its neighbors!
Hidden by the tree is the second entrance door, with another steep climb to the two-story unit above.
SDR |
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mx2
millennium club
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1968
Location: Miami, Florida
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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If the area is dense then of course...that's the nature of the neighborhood and should not be an issue except an issue of convenience in which case a lift or elevator would be advisable.
But if it's a less congested area, I was thinking more in lines as this (as the first photo I found online that even hints at my example):
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/03/01/pavilion2306_narrowweb__300x450,0.jpg
mx2.5
_________________
*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building. |
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SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1712
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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The-e-ere ya go. Isn't that just all right (as they used to say). . .
When it could equally be a rear-garden border passage (?) or the entrance to an old Bungalow (which I guess it is) -- or both -- it looks fine. If only US codes would still permit anything to be projected just a little aloft, without a baby-proof handrail/parapet/ on either side. . .
SDR |
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mx2
millennium club
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1968
Location: Miami, Florida
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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Less than 30 inches in change of levels does not require a guardrail. In other words if you grade up to the stairs, you're alright. But if you can fall off and drop more than 30 inches, you get sued...and more importantly, someone will get hurt. Handrails are required though...to one side. But in residential...uhhhh...don't ask don't tell? There is more leniency towards Residential...
mx2.5
_________________
*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building. |
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SDR
millennium club
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Posts: 1712
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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As I thought, and have seen. The more blatant absence of stair rails in continental residential work makes me think that the laws must be quite different.
And in Holland *you* decide whether to wear a helmet, not your fellow citizens.
Thanks for the superior visual example. Any more ?
SDR |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 555
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 4:47 am Post subject: |
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I was looking for a photo of a typical Cincinnati house. There are a few like SDR shows in San Francisco, but in Cincy the garage is typically detached and the house up-the-hill.
Not having a photo of the house in Frankfurt, KY - I am guessing it is more like the Cincinnati condition than the SF condition.
Well until we see a photo.......... |
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