How To Look At A House
McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of
site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes
Is 45 degrees too steep for a stair?
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
A stair at a 45-degree angle is not allowed by code due to the maximum riser and minimum tread standards. The maximum riser allowed by the International Residential Code (IRC) is 7-3/4”, but a 7-3/4” tread is smaller than the minimum tread depth of 10”. Conversely, matching a 10” tread to a 10” riser would exceed the 7-3/4” max riser. It’s a no go either way. The angle of a stairs at the maximum allowed by code is approximately 38º.
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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about STAIRS:
• What do home inspectors check when inspecting stairs?
• Is a landing always required at the top and bottom of stairs?
• When is a railing required at stairs?
• What is the building code for the minimum height of stair steps (risers)?
• When is a nosing required on a stair tread?
• What is the building code requirement for receptacle outlets at stairs and stair landings?
• Are open stair risers acceptable?
• What is the steepest residential stair allowed?
• Why is a single step dangerous in a house?
• Do I need stairs at all exit doors from a mobile home?
• The stairs feel too steep. What's the building code?
• What is the longest stair run allowed?
• What is the lighting requirement for stairs?
• A light is required over a stair after how many steps/risers?
• When is safety glass required for windows at stairs and stair landings?
Visit our STAIRS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.
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