Timber Spiral Staircase

wallmaxx

I am designing a home where the HO asked the builder for a log timber spiral staircase. As the designer / framer I will be searching the net to learn all I can...but if any of you know of anyone that does this...I'd appreciate any input.

The HOs are basically looking for a big log for the center pole, with the steps sticking out of it. I've never seen or built a true spiral (center pole type) stairs...so it will probably be a subbed out thing.

Thanks

Mike

loneframer

Give it a shot. YOU CAN DO IT! I'd love a shot at that, or at least a set of hands for the stair guy.

neolitic

Will it do a full 360º?
¾ turn...?

I've seen a couple of these
that were more or less made
like a wagon wheel.
Sort of mortise and tenon.

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reveivl

How big can the central log be? The bigger the better.

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Cole

Hey Mike, you may want to ask here.

http://www.tfguild.org/forums/ubbthreads.php

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wallmaxx

It hasn't been determined...I was thinking 24" dia. min. and 42 inch wide treads.

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MALCO.New.York

Steel reinforced, as Neo said, M & T.

I can not see this being done PROPERLY for less than 15k +.

If they "Can Dream It", they can afford it!!!

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wallmaxx

I was telling the GC to budget $30K for it. I have no idea...but if it is a one of a kind and it takes custom engineering - best to shoot high and let the HO decide if they REALLY want it.

MALCO.New.York

That is REALLY more like what I was thinkin', but being From "The Land of Rape and Honey", I am often reserved to speak lower prices than what I know fly here!!!!

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basswood

Here you go (pic from stair****.com):

I shouldn't be that bad to build those. I would through-mortise and project the tenon out the other side just a bit and chamfer the ends of the tenon.

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Cole

Beautiful.

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basswood

Cole,

I just found this:

http://www.logstairs.com/custom_wood_stairs.htm

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Cole

Stunning! Speechless!

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neolitic

Maybe Kingfisher would have
some ideas for you.......

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wallmaxx

That's it.

a freakin' tree in the house. I don't feel that I am skilled enough yet to do it to that level. I will pass on the info to the builder and see...I want it done right.

MALCO.New.York

Looks likevsomething that Escher would have liked!!!!!!!!!

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Mud Master

Mike, I think you are selling yourself VERY short. I/we do alot of rough carpentry work (wood framing, blocking, Stair carriages, etc..), mostly commercial production. I have about 8 guys I trust to do custom work, the rest are absolutely wonderful at pumping out quality production framing. However, aside from that, the limit to their "custom" ability does not go much farther than stick built roofs (which I personally love),vaulted/cathedral/coffered ceilings. Not putting my employees down, as they are great at what they do. I have them because that's what I need them to do. If I did more custom work, I would seek out more guys like YOU!.

That was the point of my previous paragraph, I know a good production guy when I see one, and I know a good custom guy when I see one. Me personally, I can frame a spec house or a standard tenant space with my eyes closed. But would I attempt that staircase??..Hell no. Seeing your project pictures, your website, and the priceless, insurmountable advice you give on this forum, I would venture to say nothing is out of your realm. If the trade was full of guys like you, we would not be in the situation we are today, because the level of quality would be way to high for anybody to accept the hack-level work that goes up by illegals.

I would bet my salary that with a little thinking, some time on CAD, and some trouble-shooting, you could make that staircase a masterpiece .

I wouldn't pass this one up...you want it done right?? Than it needs to be done by a craftsman like you!!

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KennMacMoragh

I remember seeing something like that in Whidbey Island, Washington. Not a staircase, but he had trees for columns, with one right in the middle of the living room.

Something like that I would do for myself, but if it was for someone else I would be a bit leery. I wouldn't sub that out though, unless you know someone who specializes in tree staircases.

neolitic

What Mud Master said.
You have time before this happens
I assume?
Do some research, some mock ups,
find the right log......
With log work and custom
spirals, it's mostly about planning
and layout.
You already have a head start in both.

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reveivl

There's no reason you can't do that. Might not have time to oversee the rest of the job, though.

If the post you're using is really convoluted or out of round or tapered, then wrap a veneer around it so you effectively turn it into a perfect column. Do your lay out on that, cut through to the post, transfer your lines, notch and set the treads.

That picture posted by Basswood, I presume has threaded rod pulling the treads into the post to tighten up the treads, or there are steel supports mounted that the treads are then attached to and hidden by the angled pieces below each tread,

Gorgeous.

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