Staircase measuring: stairwell, floor-to-floor height and walls in one plan

A staircase is made to measure and connects two fixed points: the floor below and the edge of the stairwell opening above. If either point differs from the plan, you often only notice during installation. So staircase measuring, or a stair survey, is best done on site, before the design starts. iMesure measures staircases and stairwell openings for staircase makers and joiners and draws everything up in AutoCAD itself. You get a plan to start your staircase design from straight away.

What needs to be measured for a staircase?

A staircase needs these dimensions: the floor-to-floor height from finished floor level to finished floor level, the stairwell opening with its length, width and diagonals, the walls along the stairs at their actual angles, the clear floor space, and anything in the way, such as doors, windows and beams. Together, they determine what the staircase maker can design.

During a stair survey, we record:

• Floor-to-floor height: from finished floor level downstairs to finished floor level upstairs. If the finished floor is not down yet, we agree in advance which level we start from.
• Stairwell opening: length, width and both diagonals, and the floor thickness at the edge of the opening.
• Walls along the stairs: their line and the angles between them, so an angled wall or an out-of-square corner also shows in the drawing.
• Floor space: the clear space downstairs and upstairs, where the staircase can start and finish.
• Doors and windows: position, width and height of the openings near the stairs.
• Obstacles: beams, pipes, radiators or a chimney breast.

Measuring the stairwell opening point to point

With a tape measure, you often stand on a ladder above an open void. Our experts use professional Leica laser measuring instruments on a tripod. From one set-up, we measure points in the room: the corners of the stairwell opening, the underside of a beam, the floor level upstairs. The instrument calculates the distance between two points, even points we cannot touch. This is point-to-point measurement (P2P).

For a staircase, that gives three advantages:

• Less work at height: we measure points in the opening and on the ceiling from the floor.
• Diagonals without a tape measure: they follow from the measured corner points, so you can see whether the opening is square.
• No retyping: the measured points go to the computer as DXF and form the basis of the drawing.

More on the measuring method under equipment and software.

From survey to drafting in AutoCAD

A survey is only useful once it is properly drawn up. iMesure is first and foremost a drafting office: we work up the measured points ourselves in AutoCAD, to scale, dimensioned in millimetres and with a clear layer structure. On request, we use your own layers, pens and templates. A staircase delivery usually includes:

• a floor plan of the lower and upper floor around the stairs, with the floor space and openings;
• the stairwell opening with length, width, diagonals and floor thickness;
• elevations of the walls along the stairs, with levels, doors, windows and beams;
• the floor-to-floor height and the levels used, clearly marked.

You receive DWG, DXF and PDF. Without AutoCAD, you can view a DWG in the free DWG TrueView or Autodesk Viewer.

Measured it yourself? Outsource the drafting

Have you taken the dimensions yourself, or do you have a sketch, photos or an existing plan? Then outsource only the drafting. We draw up the stairwell opening, levels and walls in AutoCAD. Drafting on commission is done digitally, so it works anywhere. If you doubt the dimensions, we recommend a check with an on-site survey. More on this route under drafting on commission.

A survey, not a staircase design

iMesure does not design the staircase. The number of steps, rise, going and staircase shape stay with the staircase maker or joiner. We supply the correct dimensions that calculation relies on.

For staircase makers and joiners

After the survey, a staircase plan goes to work preparation and often to the CNC machine. Your CAM software imports the DXF. A second measurement to check your own dimensions is also possible. More on what we do for your trade under joiners and interior fitters. If bespoke furniture comes with the staircase, such as an under-stairs cupboard, we make a shop drawing for it.

How a job works

On-site stair survey

1. Request: send the address, plans or photos and tell us whether the floors are finished. You then receive a quote.
2. On-site survey: laser survey on a tripod of the stairwell opening, levels, walls and openings, with photos. Make sure the opening is clear.
3. Drafting in AutoCAD: to scale, dimensioned in millimetres, with layers.
4. Delivery: DWG, DXF and PDF, with a survey report.

Drafting on commission only

1. Submission: your dimensions, sketch, photos or existing plan.
2. Agreements and quote: scale, level of detail, layers and delivery format.
3. Drafting in AutoCAD: stairwell opening, levels and walls to scale. We ask questions along the way.
4. Check and delivery: DWG, DXF and PDF. We discuss any changes together.

See both routes under how we work.

We work out of Lauwe and measure staircases in West Flanders, East Flanders, Hainaut and northern France; further afield on request. See also site surveys by experts, or request a stair survey or drafting work.

Frequently asked questions