Egress

Bed & Breakfast / Short Term Rental Host Forum

Help Support Bed & Breakfast / Short Term Rental Host Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

JBloggs

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Messages
17,744
Reaction score
9
I know you will say contact the building dept etc., but you don't understand where I live and what we have to deal with here so I am doing the usual "background inquiry" here with all of you who are so wise.
We have one room upstairs that has it's own stairway from outside. The stairway needs to be replaced, it was built incorrectly, as most things in this home/B&B. They didn't even concrete the posts so they were on shifting sand, so to speak. We have since reinforced with concrete etc etc. But it is in the elements and needs to be replaced.
So, my question is this. We would PREFER to remove this stairway altogether, as we are going to build a private deck there for that room. To sit outside. Not exit or enter from outside.
Without all the gory details, of someone sneaking a dog into the room (more than one someone) and anyone having access to that room, locking themselves out of that room, we have no idea how they can do it, but they do, a theft of the tv in that room and more.
Q: If YOU HAVE GUEST ROOMS UPSTAIRS - do you have a secondary exit, stair way? Or do you have a rope ladder that is sufficient?
Let me see if I can find a photo from the outside on this. Yes, it is nice to have that outside egress. Our other rooms have a ladder or porch roof to climb out onto, so me thinks it will be fine building a DECK only.
Photo: (This is NOT really a place to stand and have coffee at the moment, at all, it is only a passway into that room, the photo is deceiving, AND the house is not leaning, again, not correcting it just sharing it here.)
I appreciate your replies!
Sierra_Stairs_Web.jpg
 
IF I am reading this correctly, you want to make a deck or another term for it, a balcony for this room that is also entered from the hall inside the house. Even in WV, this would meet requirements because it is an immediate exit from the house in case of emergency. (You could even go so far as to put a "seat" in it that is the storage area for a folding ladder to hook over the railing for escape route) The balcony would give more safety than in hotels with windows that do not open and the door to the hall is the only way out.
I have access to a first floor roof from all rooms on the second floor and those windows are always on larch unless the $%^&* guests have dicked around with the latches which happens more often than I like - yes they have one set on latch and the other on lock which is why I set them in the first place. The front windows are large and have 2 latches. The bathroom and Harris windows are smaller with just one latch - but I have had my fat butt through both so I know it is possible - freaking kids who get the safety lock on doors and are (first one) too young to undo it or (second) a brat making a point to his Mother (I was sleeping).
 
Deck for coffee, exterior spiral stairs for egress. Small sign noting your $500 pet cleaning fee.
 
Deck for coffee, exterior spiral stairs for egress. Small sign noting your $500 pet cleaning fee..
The "box"" with folding ladder would be a LOT less expensive than the spiral staircase and still look good.
 
Deck for coffee, exterior spiral stairs for egress. Small sign noting your $500 pet cleaning fee..
The "box"" with folding ladder would be a LOT less expensive than the spiral staircase and still look good.
.
True- I guess my thought was that some guests would still prefer the permanent private entrance and that a narrow pre-assembled spiral would fit into the existing footprint, be less inviting to theft, and not too challenging to install.
If it goes no stairs, then some kind of emergency egress like you suggest is much less costly.
 
Deck for coffee, exterior spiral stairs for egress. Small sign noting your $500 pet cleaning fee..
The "box"" with folding ladder would be a LOT less expensive than the spiral staircase and still look good.
.
True- I guess my thought was that some guests would still prefer the permanent private entrance and that a narrow pre-assembled spiral would fit into the existing footprint, be less inviting to theft, and not too challenging to install.
If it goes no stairs, then some kind of emergency egress like you suggest is much less costly.
.
"Wide loads" and large suitcases have difficulties with spiral staircases. A friend has one IN his house to access their room - he regrets it.
 
Deck for coffee, exterior spiral stairs for egress. Small sign noting your $500 pet cleaning fee..
The "box"" with folding ladder would be a LOT less expensive than the spiral staircase and still look good.
.
True- I guess my thought was that some guests would still prefer the permanent private entrance and that a narrow pre-assembled spiral would fit into the existing footprint, be less inviting to theft, and not too challenging to install.
If it goes no stairs, then some kind of emergency egress like you suggest is much less costly.
.
"Wide loads" and large suitcases have difficulties with spiral staircases. A friend has one IN his house to access their room - he regrets it.
.
Which might go along way in mitigating it's improper use.
 
Our outside staircase is required by building code. Double check before you go ahead with the project.
 
When we shop around for insurance, our upstairs egress is always a difficult discussion. There is no secondary staircase on the exterior. We have the rope stairs in the closet. There is a door that leads to a large deck. If a guest had to exit through any of the windows, they would be on the tin roof. To get down to the ground level, they would need to use the rope stairs.
It's legal for us, but don't know if it would be if we actually removed that egress you have.
 
When we built the house some 40 years ago with a spiral staircase (42 inches wide!), we had to put on an outside exit (or another one inside) That was the building code. Twenty years later when we opened the bed and breakfast and had it fire inspected, it wasn't necessary. The exit door is off the family room upstairs. Nobody uses it. There is a sign that says "emergency exit" It does have a little deck on it and is a great place to shake out bedding. Also great for cross ventilation.
Does anyone have one of those " IDEAL" security wireless saftey alert dingers? or chimes.? They are good for 400 feet out, battery run, no wiring and easy to install. Cost about 50 dollars. We couldn't get by without one. We don't hear cars drive up so with the dinger I can always go out and greet them before they get to the door. Or hear guests come back after a late night out. That would be great on your outside stairs.
 
Our outside staircase is required by building code. Double check before you go ahead with the project..
TheBeachHouse said:
Our outside staircase is required by building code. Double check before you go ahead with the project.
Yes, I know. I said that at the very first line! This has to go by the building dept and get permitted, but I wanted to see if anyone has a "balcony" and no 2nd stairway UPSTAIRS as an egress. You guys are a tough lot! :) Cheers!
 
Our outside staircase is required by building code. Double check before you go ahead with the project..
TheBeachHouse said:
Our outside staircase is required by building code. Double check before you go ahead with the project.
Yes, I know. I said that at the very first line! This has to go by the building dept and get permitted, but I wanted to see if anyone has a "balcony" and no 2nd stairway UPSTAIRS as an egress. You guys are a tough lot! :) Cheers!
 
Deck for coffee, exterior spiral stairs for egress. Small sign noting your $500 pet cleaning fee..
The "box"" with folding ladder would be a LOT less expensive than the spiral staircase and still look good.
.
True- I guess my thought was that some guests would still prefer the permanent private entrance and that a narrow pre-assembled spiral would fit into the existing footprint, be less inviting to theft, and not too challenging to install.
If it goes no stairs, then some kind of emergency egress like you suggest is much less costly.
.
"Wide loads" and large suitcases have difficulties with spiral staircases. A friend has one IN his house to access their room - he regrets it.
.
gillumhouse said:
"Wide loads" and large suitcases have difficulties with spiral staircases. A friend has one IN his house to access their room - he regrets it.
That has been another issue. We have had a very large woman and her very large husband on the stairs and telling me they didn't feel safe. I had to stand on them with them as they tried to show me why. I nearly threw up. Nothing in this house can handle that sort of weight, I mean, yes of course it can, but we are not going to push it! (and on that off topic "if you provide KING sized beds, you may have some KING SIZED guests" you can quote me on that one. Super sized, may be a good term. Some people are tall and some people are big, sometimes they have children and they grow up to be supersized.
heart.gif
heart.gif
heart.gif

Okay to be clear - not asking about what sort of stairs, I am asking about GETTING RID OF THE STAIRS altogether, and yes it could prob be called a balcony. DH keeps calling it a deck as that is what it is from a builder's perspective, so it is throwing me.
shades_smile.gif

 
Deck for coffee, exterior spiral stairs for egress. Small sign noting your $500 pet cleaning fee..
The "box"" with folding ladder would be a LOT less expensive than the spiral staircase and still look good.
.
True- I guess my thought was that some guests would still prefer the permanent private entrance and that a narrow pre-assembled spiral would fit into the existing footprint, be less inviting to theft, and not too challenging to install.
If it goes no stairs, then some kind of emergency egress like you suggest is much less costly.
.
"Wide loads" and large suitcases have difficulties with spiral staircases. A friend has one IN his house to access their room - he regrets it.
.
gillumhouse said:
"Wide loads" and large suitcases have difficulties with spiral staircases. A friend has one IN his house to access their room - he regrets it.
That has been another issue. We have had a very large woman and her very large husband on the stairs and telling me they didn't feel safe. I had to stand on them with them as they tried to show me why. I nearly threw up. Nothing in this house can handle that sort of weight, I mean, yes of course it can, but we are not going to push it! (and on that off topic "if you provide KING sized beds, you may have some KING SIZED guests" you can quote me on that one. Super sized, may be a good term. Some people are tall and some people are big, sometimes they have children and they grow up to be supersized.
heart.gif
heart.gif
heart.gif

Okay to be clear - not asking about what sort of stairs, I am asking about GETTING RID OF THE STAIRS altogether, and yes it could prob be called a balcony. DH keeps calling it a deck as that is what it is from a builder's perspective, so it is throwing me.
shades_smile.gif

.
So I am sayin' keep the stairs
 
Our outside staircase is required by building code. Double check before you go ahead with the project..
TheBeachHouse said:
Our outside staircase is required by building code. Double check before you go ahead with the project.
Yes, I know. I said that at the very first line! This has to go by the building dept and get permitted, but I wanted to see if anyone has a "balcony" and no 2nd stairway UPSTAIRS as an egress. You guys are a tough lot! :) Cheers!
.
Joey Bloggs said:
TheBeachHouse said:
Our outside staircase is required by building code. Double check before you go ahead with the project.
Yes, I know. I said that at the very first line! This has to go by the building dept and get permitted, but I wanted to see if anyone has a "balcony" and no 2nd stairway UPSTAIRS as an egress. You guys are a tough lot! :) Cheers!
I'll be more careful in the future. :(
 
Deck for coffee, exterior spiral stairs for egress. Small sign noting your $500 pet cleaning fee..
The "box"" with folding ladder would be a LOT less expensive than the spiral staircase and still look good.
.
True- I guess my thought was that some guests would still prefer the permanent private entrance and that a narrow pre-assembled spiral would fit into the existing footprint, be less inviting to theft, and not too challenging to install.
If it goes no stairs, then some kind of emergency egress like you suggest is much less costly.
.
"Wide loads" and large suitcases have difficulties with spiral staircases. A friend has one IN his house to access their room - he regrets it.
.
gillumhouse said:
"Wide loads" and large suitcases have difficulties with spiral staircases. A friend has one IN his house to access their room - he regrets it.
That has been another issue. We have had a very large woman and her very large husband on the stairs and telling me they didn't feel safe. I had to stand on them with them as they tried to show me why. I nearly threw up. Nothing in this house can handle that sort of weight, I mean, yes of course it can, but we are not going to push it! (and on that off topic "if you provide KING sized beds, you may have some KING SIZED guests" you can quote me on that one. Super sized, may be a good term. Some people are tall and some people are big, sometimes they have children and they grow up to be supersized.
heart.gif
heart.gif
heart.gif

Okay to be clear - not asking about what sort of stairs, I am asking about GETTING RID OF THE STAIRS altogether, and yes it could prob be called a balcony. DH keeps calling it a deck as that is what it is from a builder's perspective, so it is throwing me.
shades_smile.gif

.
So I am sayin' keep the stairs
.
happykeeper said:
So I am sayin' keep the stairs
funny after reading your tag line on your signature! haha
The vote is not here, there is no poll. I forgot how herding cats the forum is, i have been off my horse for a while. DH said what did they say "I said they are now talking about the type of stairs..."
So DO ANY MORE OF YOU HAVE A SECOND STAIRWAY ON YOUR 2nd FLOOR (vs an emergency ladder or roofline to crawl out on)? Or NO 2nd Stairway?
I got yes from Beach, and No from Breakfast Diva. (Thank you ladies)
 
Well you know my balcony has a stair case down, so not here to chime in on that aspect.
But looking at that space I can see the balcony there and I would love to sit out there with a cupa.
I would think that if you had to have an emergency egress, you could incorporate one of those extension style (me thinking of the ones I see in movies filmed in big cities - thinking of the scene in Pretty Woman).
 
We have a Ladder -- an actual ladder -- bolted to the side of our Lodge; the idea when necessary is to go out on the roof of the dining room, and then down the ladder. It is missing a rung at the bottom to discourge children from climbing up, although we still have had to shoo the big kids (20-somethings) down off that roof. And of course, one could still climb out on the roof through one of the windows...
Lodge20140620.jpg
 
OK - NO second staircase here.
IF I had 4 - 6 rooms I would be required to have: a COVERED outside staircase to ground accessed by a door accessible to everyone on that floor (3rd floor guestroom not an option, required - no sweat if innkeeper lives there) OR 2 interior staircases (the mansions with their "maid's staircase") OR every room had immediate access to the outside (your balcony or sleeping porches) OR sprinklers.
With 3 rooms, the Fire Marshal considers us just a residence. Exempt from all the crap above. Funny thing is that I was asking the Legislature to require a metal folding ladder in each guestroom but that was not considered safe.
Re the "wide loads" - I had 2 couples decide to have a pajama movie party in the Gillum Room. None of them were in the tiny or even small category - the queen bed now in the Harris Room held. One other time I opened the door to see 2 people who if they weighed less than 800 lbs combined, call me Elizabeth II. (One reason the Gillum bathroom has a 48 inch shower - (shudder) visions of having to Cri sco a wide load out of a 32 inch shower.) That bed held thanks to Himself and his toggle bolts and cable magic.
 
Deck for coffee, exterior spiral stairs for egress. Small sign noting your $500 pet cleaning fee..
The "box"" with folding ladder would be a LOT less expensive than the spiral staircase and still look good.
.
True- I guess my thought was that some guests would still prefer the permanent private entrance and that a narrow pre-assembled spiral would fit into the existing footprint, be less inviting to theft, and not too challenging to install.
If it goes no stairs, then some kind of emergency egress like you suggest is much less costly.
.
"Wide loads" and large suitcases have difficulties with spiral staircases. A friend has one IN his house to access their room - he regrets it.
.
gillumhouse said:
"Wide loads" and large suitcases have difficulties with spiral staircases. A friend has one IN his house to access their room - he regrets it.
That has been another issue. We have had a very large woman and her very large husband on the stairs and telling me they didn't feel safe. I had to stand on them with them as they tried to show me why. I nearly threw up. Nothing in this house can handle that sort of weight, I mean, yes of course it can, but we are not going to push it! (and on that off topic "if you provide KING sized beds, you may have some KING SIZED guests" you can quote me on that one. Super sized, may be a good term. Some people are tall and some people are big, sometimes they have children and they grow up to be supersized.
heart.gif
heart.gif
heart.gif

Okay to be clear - not asking about what sort of stairs, I am asking about GETTING RID OF THE STAIRS altogether, and yes it could prob be called a balcony. DH keeps calling it a deck as that is what it is from a builder's perspective, so it is throwing me.
shades_smile.gif

.
So I am sayin' keep the stairs
.
happykeeper said:
So I am sayin' keep the stairs
funny after reading your tag line on your signature! haha
The vote is not here, there is no poll. I forgot how herding cats the forum is, i have been off my horse for a while. DH said what did they say "I said they are now talking about the type of stairs..."
So DO ANY MORE OF YOU HAVE A SECOND STAIRWAY ON YOUR 2nd FLOOR (vs an emergency ladder or roofline to crawl out on)? Or NO 2nd Stairway?
I got yes from Beach, and No from Breakfast Diva. (Thank you ladies)
.
Ah hah! All this time I have been reading, "Would you prefer to remove the stairs." NOT "We would prefer to remove the stairs.
Yes in this case- use my tagline.
 
Back
Top