Placing a Custom Staircase
In addition to the Insert Steps feature, Architect 3D gives you the option of easily drawing custom staircases. Straight staircases and curved staircases are drawn using the ceiling height, unless you specify a different height on the Properties pane in the right sidebar before drawing the staircase.
The center line defines the direction and shape of the staircase, while the staircase height value defines the distance to the top of the staircase.
To create an opening for the stairway in the upper floor, see “Creating a Deck Cutout”. After you’ve drawn your staircase, you can apply different colors and materials to the steps, railing spindles, posts, and handrails.
You can draw the followings types of staircases:
- Straight Stairway
- Curved Stairway
| Below are some references that may be useful as you design |
|---|
| Deck Staircase Properties 2D Editing Methods Reshaping and Resizing 2D Objects Customizing Staircase Framing Properties Applying Paint Colors Applying Building Materials |
Straight Stairway
You can draw a staircase along a straight line or add multiple points to create an L-shaped or U-shaped staircase with landings. Either way, the number of steps depends on the overall height of the staircase.
Note : After a staircase if drawn you can reverse the direction by right-clicking the center line and choosing Reverse Staircase Direction.
To draw a straight staircase
1 Choose the Straight Stairway button 
from the Deck Tools group.
2 Click to set the start point and drag in the direction you want the stairs to rise, then click again to set the next point.
3 Continue to click points and drag to define the shape of the staircase and then right-click to place.
Curved Stairway
Curved staircases are a single segment that curve in the direction you draw. The number of steps depends on the overall height of the staircase.
Note : After a staircase if drawn you can reverse the direction by right-clicking the center line and choosing Reverse Staircase Direction.
To draw a curved stairway
1 Choose the Curved Stairway button 
from the Deck Tools group.
2 Click to set the start point and drag to set the curve in the direction you want the stairs to rise, then click and again to set the end point and place the staircase.
(optional) Hold down the Shift key while drawing to constrain stairs to a perfect arc.