Other Special Railings & Stairs

Partial railings can be created by specifying the stairs as winders and increasing the Max Tread Contraction on the Style tab of the Staircase Specification dialog.

The Max Tread Contraction defines the largest distance that any section of the stair system is allowed to move inward when the stairs are turned into winders. If any point on the edge of the stairs would have to move inward more than this defined amount in order to locate the surface of the wall, the stairs do not contract and snap to that wall.

To create a partial stair railing

Create a staircase and draw an Interior Wall

against, but not underneath, the stairs.

Select the stairs and click the Auto Stairwell

edit button to create a stairwell.

On the General tab of the Staircase Specification dialog, check Winders.

On the Style tab, define the Max Tread Contraction (for Winder). If the interior wall is 4" thick, setting this value to 4" should be sufficient.

On the Style tab, increase the Stringer Bottom value to enclose the area under the stairs with railings. The best value depends on the design of your stairs.

On the Newels/Balusters tab, remove the check from either Right or Left Railing at Wall, depending on the position of the stairs and wall in your plan.

Click the Object Snaps

toggle button to temporarily turn off Object Snaps. See "Object Snaps".

Select the stairs and use the side edit handle to move the edge of the stairs to approximately the middle of the wall.

You may need to Zoom

in on the stairs and wall to move the stair edge.

Solid Railings

To create a solid rail along a staircase, create the solid rail against, but not underneath, the stairs. The solid railing recognizes the adjacent stairs and climbs alongside them. See "Railing Tab".

If any balusters show beyond the railing, eliminate them by unchecking Left railing or Right railing on the Style tab of the Staircase Specification dialog.

Concrete Stairs

To make a solid concrete staircase:

On the Style tab of the Staircase Specification dialog, set the Tread Overhang to zero.

Set the Tread Thickness to zero.

Remove any check from Open Risers.

On the Materials tab, set the Tread and the Riser/Trim materials to Concrete.

Steel Stringer

To make a steel stringer with concrete treads:

On the Style tab of the Staircase Specification dialog, set the Tread Thickness to 2 inches or more.

Select the Single Stringer check box.

On the Materials tab, set the Tread material to Concrete and the Riser/Trim material to steel.

Masonry Stairs

To make a set of masonry stairs:

Set the Tread Overhang to zero.

Set the Tread Thickness to the thickness of the masonry material.

On the Materials tab, set the Tread material to the masonry material and the Riser/Trim material to concrete.