Staircase with bottom winders

[sainty]

Ok, heres the problem. I've just finished machining parts for a staircase with bottom winders. Next job is obviously to fit it, but the problem is how. It's too big too assemble on the workshop and transport to site. I don't see how i can break down the assembly into separate sections. It cant be assembled in place as it would be too awkward because of the bounding walls that make the bottom winders necessary.

So how am I going to do it? What do you guys do?

rgds

Sainty

[jfc]

Normally assemble the straight part in the workshop and fit the winders on site . I have seen others send the winders as a set and let the straight part get fixed on site but i do wonder why they do that .
If its a tough one i flat pack the lot and assemble on site but thats a real pain in the ar*e .

[tusses]

I had an offer of a free oak staircase if I removed it.

It had obviously been built in situ.

it had 2 turns, built into a tight hallway.

the wall side had been made with glue blocks and screws to hold the treads and risers to the stringers. The room side was traditional staircase joinery with the grooved and wedged stringers. stringers and rails were mortised to the newel posts and the stringers were pegged.

It had that much bloody glue on it I couldn't get it out in one peice

I now have plenty of oak treads and spindles I can use for other projects !

[sainty]

Thoughts of scrambling about on the floor covered in glue and wedges followed by a quick call to the plasterer and decorator have entered my mind.

I'm not even certain that I can assemble the straight flight in the workshop and get it in situ on site. It might work if I can get it above the opening and drop it in. If I can do it that way I would have to attached the return wall stringer too. Maybe that's the answer, prop it up a couple of feet above its final resting place and finish the construction from there to allow clamping and fixing. Then just drop it in and go and have a cuppa. Luvvly jubbly.

rgds

Sainty

[jonnyd]

Hi I have had to do quite a few staircases like the one you describe. I would usually build up the bottom winders first in situ and then lift the bottom section up by about the height of the joists and then slide the top straight section into place and then carefully lower the staircase into position a car trolley jack or two is usefull for delicate positioning as well as a few extra pairs of hands.

For Fixing treads in on site i usually use a couple of pocket holes underneath the tread and some meaty screws to pull the treads to the housing and then wedge it up as normal if it is in a confined space.

Jon