Built the loft staircase from scratch out of dimensional pine — three generations on the same project. My dad showed me half of what I know about this kind of joinery, and my son helped me cut and chisel mortises into the stringers so the treads sit in the wood, not on cleats. Sanded, stained, varnished, and hung a black pipe handrail off the log wall. Steeper than code allows for a primary stair, but this is loft access, so it works.
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During Stair stringer going in with the tongue-and-groove ceiling above. Loft stair early on.
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During Rough framing for the staircase against the log wall. Floor protected with kraft paper.
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During Layout marks on the stringer. Framing square, red pencil — every cut mapped before I started.
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During Chiseling out a tread notch by hand. Can't get a router in there cleanly with the angles.
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During Mortise for a tread. Saw kerfs first, then chisel out the waste.
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During Three generations on the same project — my son and me chiseling laminated beams that my dad helped cut to size. He got the easy part.
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During Sanding the stringers on sawhorses with the orbital. Finer grit each pass.
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During Pine stringers bolted to the log wall. Treads go in next.
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During My son next to the built-in shelving I was framing in alongside the stair.
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After Stairs in. Pine treads and stringers set against the log wall.
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After Loft stair done from a different angle. Open run, no risers.
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My dad's maker's mark — Stewart Hammond — burned into the wood. He showed me half of what I know.
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During Treads varnished. Drying overnight before any traffic on them.
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During Steep loft stair against the painted log wall before the railings and stain went on. Tight footprint, no room for a wider stair.
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After Stair with the black pipe handrail mounted. Cheap, strong, looks right against the pine.
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