2026

Stairs, Stairs, Stairs

First in 2024, we added the stairs from the basement to the main floor. This was huge because we could go back and forth from the basement where we were living to the main floor without going out in the sometimes rain and deep snow, making our living area larger.

2026

Stairs, Stairs, Stairs

Then in 2025, we added the stairs from the main floor to the loft level once the loft floor was finished. Giving us access to the loft without going up an extention ladder.

Now, in 2026 we are about to build stairs to the last and final level.

And that is to the cupola room. Now in this picture there was no first-floor framing, no loft, no loft rooms framed, and no cupola floor. Just a multiple level scaffolding and a long climb.

But that has changed, and we are about to embark on building the last access to the last floor.

Uh, hey guys, these stairs don't go anywhere. what's up with that?

By the end of New Years Day, Dan had the first section of stairs completed.

And the landing sheated.

Next, it's time to build the cupola floor. Correctly locating where the master joist goes is the first step. It is parallel to the cupola wall above.

The master joist determines the edge of the staircase, and the rest of the joists are measured off of it.

To get the other joists in place, they have to go up and over any joists already in place.

Once all the joists (except for the ones that will box in the stair opening) are in place, sheathing can begin.

The inch and an eighth plywood also had to go straight up past the joists then laid flat.

Very little room to move it around and mark the edges without hitting the ceiling of the dome.

My red rubble road was drying to a color lighter than I wanted, so I applied another coat of colorant to it.

Once I put up more chicken wire on the top section, masked the wagon wheel, and the gray rock, I began the red rock road.

Making progress. The red rubble takes less time to put up than I thought it would.

Ready to go back to the gray rock.

But it didn't stick around long and soon we were back to warmer days and it all melted away.

In the first week of January, we finally got some snow. Over about 6 days we got about 20 inches of snow.

But Remi tangled with a coyote, so I will be caring for her for a while and put the gray rock on hold.

After getting the cupola floor installed, we went up and looked out the windows.

Oh bummer! We misjudged the floor height. We wanted the windows low enough to see out of comfortably while sitting, but we went a little too high on the floor. Making the windows too low.

And then compounding the error, we thought for sure we had decided on 2x12 joists, when in fact I had drawn 2x8 joists. I guess that's what happens when a period of time goes by between drawing and building and you don't double check.

First, they pulled, cut, and ground off the nails (ring shank nails don't give up easy) and cut off a strip of plywood.

Dan decided he couldn't live with the results and so began the lowering of the cupola floor project.

Next, they put up two beams across the underside of the floor.

They added braced support posts beneath the beams with jacks secured at the top of the posts. And strapped the beams to the joists for good measure.

The beams can't go through the wall, or they will be in the way of the lowering. So, a removable cleat is added above the beams. (red arrow)

Then all the wall studs are cut most of the way through from the inside of the pentagon room.

Using a Sawzall, the studs are cut off from the back side.

Once the studs are cut a new top plate is added and corner support blocks are temporarily put in place.

To lower it safely and to keep it from tipping they went around and around replacing the corner support blocks with shorter and shorter blocks.

It was down!

Until finally..........

And we are very happy with the result! It's perfect when we are sitting, and acceptable when we are standing.

Now onto the last ! As soon as they are complete, I will post a panoramic view from the cupola!

stairs

BACK TO HOME PAGE