QUESTION
I would like to draw two staircases and connect them with a landing. How do I accomplish this?
ANSWER
There are different ways to create a stair landing. The quickest is to use the Draw Stairs tool to create two runs of stairs then click to place a landing between them.
To create a landing using the Draw Stairs tool
- Select Build> Stairs> Draw Stairs
from the menu, then click and drag to create the first section of the stairs.
![A single run of stairs](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-00756/756-SingleStair-16.png?1715018088)
- Release the mouse button at the approximate location where you would like this stair section to join the landing.
- With the Draw Stairs
tool still selected, click and drag to create the second, higher stair section.
![Two separate runs of stairs](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-00756/756-TwoStairSections-16.png?1715018088)
- Begin at the approximate location where this stair section will meet the landing.
- Leave an appropriate gap for the landing.
- With the Draw Stairs
tool still active, place your cursor in the area between the end of the first landing and the beginning of the second and click once.
![Landing placed between two stair sections](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-00756/756-StairsWithLanding-16.png?1715018088)
- The program will create a landing between the two stair sections at a logical height and will make slight adjustments to the stair locations, if needed, to produce a finished result.
- Click on one of the stair sections to select it, then click the Auto Stairwell
edit button. The program will create an opening in the ceiling above the staircase, allowing access to the floor above.
The Auto Stairwell tool actually creates a room directly above the staircase that is defined by Railings and is specified as Open Below in the Room Specification dialog. You will receive an error if you attempt to create a stairwell when there is no floor above.
- In Chief Architect X16 Premier and newer versions, stair sections can be added to the User Catalog by first selecting one or more stair sections, then clicking the Add to Library
edit tool. Landings cannot be added to the User Catalog.
The ability to add stairs to the library is not available in Home Designer.
For more information on adding objects to the User Catalog, please see the Related Articles section below.