Stair modification complete! Why didn't I do this a long time ago?

John Pollman

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1,332
Location
Rochester Hills, MI
Finished up building a new step for my family room last night. Just had to wait for the poly to dry and it was ready to go. I installed it this morning.

I have one step down from my kitchen area to the family room. It's only one step, but it was almost 9" high and very difficult for me to manage with my health issues. I've fallen numerous times going up and down. I decided it was time to make this a safer transition. I had a half sheet of 3/4 Oak ply left from a project and because it's an Oak floor in the family room, I decided to put it to use. Now I've got two 4-1/2" steps instead of one 9". I don't have any trouble going up and down now. The grab bar is nice because I can use it for stability when going up and down the step to the laundry room/garage area. I LOVE IT and wish I'd done it a LONG time ago.

Step1.jpgStep2.jpgstep3.jpgstep4.jpg
 
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Great idea John! I like the fact that you made the step a good contrasting color. House builders in this neck of the woods try to avoid single step floor levels, instead prefer a two step. This is to increase the depth perception with the two steps. Their experience is that a one step difference in floor levels can cause people, especially those not familiar with the dual level floors, and those that carry the same floor finish to both levels, i.e. carpeting, to miss-step & fall. What you did completely avoids that & makes it much safer with the contrast.

I particularly like the edge trimming. Well done!
 
Thanks guys!

I couldn't have just a box and needed an overhang. Being that it's made of plywood, I had to have something to trim it out. I made the basic frame of the step. The left end and back are up against the wall and step so one layer was fine there. On the front and right edge, I cut a piece of 3/4 ply and then glued and pinned it to the inside of that portion of the frame. When I cut the top piece for the step, I ran it flush with the back and left side. But I cut it 3/4" short of the front and right side. I glued and used my pneumatic brad gun to attach the ply to the frame. Once it was attached, I mitered two pieced of 1x2 for the front and right edge. I put biscuits along those pieces and then glued and nailed them in place. That gave me a 3/4" overhang and with the glue and brads, it's very strong. I then used a chamfer bit to put a small bevel on the edge to break the sharp corner and give it a nicer profile.
 
I wish I could, but the doors make it impossible. I use that step all the time. That door leads to the basement. There's another door directly across from the basement door that leads to the laundry room. Then about six feet straight out from that step is the garage access door. I've been having a hard time with stairs for a long time. I have to normally put my hand on that corner to brace myself when going up and down. The grab bar is a much safer alternative to just leaning my hand on the wall.
 
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