Merging Stair Sections

Any combination of straight or curved stair sections can be merged to create a single stair section. The resulting stair section is made up of subsections and, if there are no landings, functions as a single unit.

Stair subsections must be created in the same direction if they are to be merged. Multiple stairs drawn in the UP direction may be merged, and multiple stairs drawn DOWN may be merged, but combinations of UP and DOWN stairs do not merge.

To merge stair sections

Position the sections so they are in the desired relationship to each other.

Select either stair section so that its edit handles display.

Click the Extend handle on the end to be merged and drag it to the point where the two stairs are to meet.

A staircase consisting of merged subsections resembles a single stair section in floor plan view. The UP (or DN) arrows join, becoming a single direction arrow.

When a subsection is clicked, the entire staircase is selected. Most of the edit handles display within the boundaries of the selected subsection. See "Using the Mouse".

Subsections can be joined into a single stair section without being aligned. If the stair sections are parallel, the selected section moves so that it joins properly with the other.

It is possible to merge stair sections that are not parallel, but they may not merge properly if they are not precisely aligned.

The recommended method for joining stair sections at different angles are to use curved stairs and create winders. See "Winders" and "Curved Stairs".

Locked Tread Width

When dragging an Extend handle to lengthen or shorten a stair section with Lock Tread Width selected on the General tab of the Staircase Specification dialog, the length expands or contracts one tread at a time. If Lock Tread Width is checked, it can be difficult to merge the section to another section or landing. If this is a problem, you can temporarily uncheck Lock Tread Width, then after the stairs are merged the tread width can be locked again. See "General Tab".

Curved Subsections

Stair subsections attached at both ends by other sections do not have a free end that can be dragged into a curve. In this situation, change the middle sub-section to a curve using the Change Line/Arc edit button.

If the selected stair section is straight, this tool makes it curved, and vice versa.

To curve an enclosed stair subsection

Draw three straight stair sections and connect them end to end.

Select the middle subsection.

Click the Change Line/Arc edit button. The center section turns into a curved stair section.

If the curved section does not flow smoothly into the straight sections, you may need to make it tangent to its neighboring stair. See "Using Make Arc Tangent".