How To Build Stairs with a Landing

If you’ve ever tackled a staircase project with a steep climb, you probably realized that adding a landing can break up that ascent, making stairs safer and more inviting

This guide will walk you through the process and answer some of your burning questions about crafting stairs with a landing, from learning the codes to calculating steps and adding handrails.

What Is a Staircase Landing

Wondering what is a stair landing?

You can picture a staircase landing as a little platform that breaks up a lengthy stretch of stairs, providing you with a breather on your climb up. It’s the perfect spot to pause, switch directions, or simply catch your breath, often using a “U” or “L” shaped twist.

You’ll primarily find these landing breaks between floors or at the start or end of steep climbs in homes or on decks with serious height gaps, often near a door or gate for easy access.

Whether you’re going for a deck stair landing or an inside stairwell landing, building codes are crucial when deploying them, so let’s learn more.

Stair Landing Requirements: IBC, ADA, OSHA

Now that we know what is stair landing, we should understand that they must meet building codes like IBC, ADA, and OSHA to ensure safety:

Those are the ADA, IBC, and OSHA stair landing code requirements, so, if you’re wondering how to build landing for stairs, learning the codes is your first step.

Residential Stair Landing Codes

As you begin crafting a staircase with a landing in your home, residential codes step in to make sure each climb feels secure and safe.

The International Residential Code (IRC), which often syncs up with wider guidelines like the IBC, lays down straightforward rules for home landings, tackling things like rise limits and sizes to ensure your stairs are both strong and a breeze to use.

Here are the IRC guidelines for stair landing platforms:

• The vertical rise must be capped at 151 inches between landings to prevent overly steep climbs.
• The landing width, a key part of the stair landing dimensions, must be matched to the stairs, ensuring at least 36 inches for safe footing.
• The minimum stair landing dimensions include at least 36 inches in the direction of travel, providing ample space to pause.
• The landing surface should be perfectly leveled with a slope under 1:48 to avoid tripping hazards.
• Continuous handrails must be equipped across landings if the stairs change direction, supporting every turn.

We strongly recommend following the code for the stair landing to ensure security and a smooth walking surface for the climbers. To learn how to build landing for stairs, however, there is much more to go through, so let’s continue with one of the most important questions…

How Many Stairs Do You Need Before a Landing

If you’re wondering how many steps before a landing, based on codes like the IRC, you’ll need a landing after about 20 stairs.

How to Calculate Stair Steps with a Landing?

Figuring out your stair steps with a landing is easy when you break it into chunks, so let’s use a 120-inch height from floor to upper level as an example.

1. Measure the Step Rise: You should begin by measuring the full height from the floor to your upper level; in our example, that’s 120 inches from the floor.
2. Set the Landing Height: Place the landing halfway for balance, splitting the rise into two equal runs of 60 inches each, top and bottom.
3. Pick a Step Height: Go with a comfy 7.5-inch step height, common in homes, to keep climbs easy and safe for everyone using the stairs.
4. Calculate the Steps: Next, you must divide each 60-inch run by the 7.5-inch step height, giving 8 steps per run, so 16 steps total.
5. Find the Landing Span: Finally, you’ll need to multiply the 8 steps by a 10.5-inch stair landing tread depth, providing you with an 84-inch horizontal span from base to landing.

You now know how to build a staircase with a landing, and exactly how many stairs are needed before a landing, so let’s move on with other important details!

How to Attach Stair Stringers to a Landing

Attaching stair stringers to a landing is all about creating a rock-solid connection that keeps your staircase steady. You should start by positioning the landing frame — use pressure-treated 2x4s for durability, especially for outdoor decks. Then you’ll need to level it precisely where your stairs will meet, like at a 60-inch midpoint for a 120-inch rise.

When ready, fasten the lower stringers to the landing edge with metal joist hangers, screwing them tight to the frame and stringer ends. For the upper stringers, notch their tops to rest flush on the landing, then bolt them down, aligning the top step with the landing height.

How to Install Stair Nose on Landing

Installing stair nose on your landing gives it a polished look while preventing potential slips.

To install a stair nosing on a landing, you’ll need to measure the landing’s exposed edge, for example, 36 inches wide, and cut a stair nose strip. The material you should use would be vinyl or hardwood, and match that length, ensuring it overhangs slightly for a clean look.

Smooth out the landing edge with sandpaper, then spread a thin line of construction glue on the stair nose’s underside, pushing it down hard to stick. Now, pop in a few finishing nails through pre-drilled holes, sinking them for a clean look.

Quick Tip: To enhance the gripping surface, consider a stair landing rug!

How to Choose the Best Stair Handrails for Your Stairwell

Finding the perfect handrails for your stairs is all about blending safety with your home’s charm. Go for tough materials like stainless steel for a modern, polished feel, or opt for wood to bring in a timeless warmth — make sure they feel solid when you grab them.

Also, double-check local rules on height and spacing, especially for accessibility, and select a finish that matches your style. Whether you’re learning how to build a deck stair landing, or in-house landing, handrails are a must, so it pays to review your options thoroughly.

Where to Buy the Best Railings for Your Staircase

You now know how to make a stair landing and how the stair landing key infrastructure works!

If you’re looking for top-notch stair railings, BuyRailings has you covered with a stunning range of handrails. You have the complete freedom of choosing anything from modern stainless steel to elegant brass, which will ultimately match your style.

Our easy-to-install handrail kits are perfect for strength and security, so don’t hesitate to check them out and find the railings that suit your stairs best.