September 5th, 2014 Built stairway from main floor to basement

I had to support the ceiling joists above the pictured platform before I cut the complete hole in the main floor, including the joists for the stairway installation. This was totally new to me so I had no idea how long to cut the hole in the floor. As you can also see in the picture, the two sets of stairs (Two treads each) coming off both sides of the platform are offset. Next year I will install a different system to support the ceiling joists so these stairs will be centered on the platform. I will be going back to Montana next month and I will help a friend, Nick Daley cut the beams I will use. We will cut them on his homemade portable bandsaw mill. All screws on these stairs were also countersunk and plugged. I will probably seal these using a clearcoat. Both sets of steps will then be finished with a step quality poly sealer.

I will also have to install a header above the platform, and install TGI rails on each side of the floor opening. Then I will be able to install the finish trim around the entire opening to the basement. The hand rails for these steps and the steps to the loft will be completed at a later date.

August 30, 2014 Built stairway to house loft

On August 30th, I finished the stairway to the loft as far as I could go. The last four steps (Log stringers and treads) have been completed. They will not be installed until the hardwood floor is installed on the main floor. All the screws on the platform, stringers and treads were countersunk and sealed with wooden plus, then sanded smooth. All of these steps will be stained a true cedar to match the rest of the logs on the main floor. The two lowest steps you see are temporary steps made from 2 X 12's that will be removed when the permanent ones are installed.