How to Design Porch Stairs
- 1). Measure the house facade and porch area. Transfer dimensions to graph paper. Use the drawing to determine the basic shape of the steps and handrail areas. Experiment with a handrail on one side of the steps, for example, to see how this looks from the curb. Draw the porch steps with handrails on both sides that harmonize with railings across the front of the porch, as another choice.
- 2). Figure out the exact width of the stairs. Plan to make the porch steps precisely 48 inches wide or 72 inches wide, for example. Take into consideration any border landscaping you plan to incorporate. Design a walkway to the steps from the front curb with a border 24 inches wide on each side, as one choice. Use mulch and small bushes in the walkway border areas. Create the width of the stairs to fit well with the overall porch, plus the walkway space.
- 3). Determine the size of each individual step. Walk up some steps that each rise 7 inches in height with a 10-inch tread space to support your foot from toe to heel, for example. The porch steps need to feel very comfortable, so design and build them after you've navigated similar steps that support your body just right as you ascend and descend them. Use exact dimensions, so you know you can easily walk up the steps with a bag of groceries or come down the steps with a child in your arms.
- 4). Figure out construction materials. Build the steps from pressure-treated lumber or solid concrete, for example, depending on porch materials. Construct the steps from lumber if you want the steps to look open from the front. Leave the steps open, so you can view areas under the porch crawlspace easily. Plan to use concrete steps covered with bricks if the foundation of your home is brick. Use high-quality cut stones or upscale masonry products if your house is a two-story colonial design.
- 5). Blend beauty with practicality. Install a set of stairs in a circular fashion using concrete and bricks, for example, but make sure the handrail is adequate. Design an iron handrail coming down the center, as one choice. Plan to install a small handrail on each side if there are only two or three steps. Incorporate a much larger handrail system, for safety reasons, if there are many steps coming down from the porch.
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