 | Mike Davied is the owner & operator of Mikes Repair & Fabrication LLC located in Frontenac, KS. He has been repairing equipment for 40 years and has ran his own business for 20 years. For more information or to contact Mike please call 620-235-0061. |
Farm Industry
2013-03-01 14:19:09
What to consider in stair repair
A-Well thanks for the nice words. Since your barn is a keeper we'll address your stairs. First find a good contractor in your area; I know several that can help you. Next, let's work on what will work best for you. Stairs, just like any other part of a building need to be built for the long haul as you will use them MANY times in their life and yours. Safety first!!!
Stairs should be safe, user friendly, and economical, not to mention have a long life. My favorite stair will have the following list of user friendly attributes, (1) a 6 inch rise for each foot of run, in other words a 6/12 pitch depending on their use. (2) the stair for any industrial or farm use would be made of steel, primed & painted to resist rust. (3) I'm a fan of expanded metal for the treads as there is no slipping & dirt just falls through , it also lets You see through the treads so light is less of a problem early or late in the day. Keep in mind that wood & concrete are also very good stair products in the right environment, depending on the need at the time. (4) A solid hand rail is very important with a mid rail so you are protected in the event you stumble. (5) Keep in mind that if straight stairs aren't an option a landing can be devised to give a turning place to align with the next row of stairs. (6) If within the limits of a governing body, building codes will prevail. Most areas with building codes will help you to find what you need for almost any building situation. (7) Outside stairs, or inside stairs for industrial, or farm use, (unlike residential stairs) need to be functional. It is not so much about looking pretty, so look for the things that you need to fit the FUNCTION. Look for things such as wide steps for lugging things up and down, lower rise also for hauling, big landings, solid handrails, materials that do not need cleaning, user friendly entry and exit locations. Most of all look for a stair that fits the use you have in mind.
As always, keep safety first. NO amount of CHEAP will pay for a hospital stay or a broken bone. I like my customers sunny side up, NOT hurt. Thank You for this question & thanks to the Q&A times in allowing me to answer you. Always happy to help.
