Saturday 28 September 2013

The Beauty Of A Custom Staircase

By Paulette Short


Customs staircases are usually grouped into two categories, residential and commercial staircases. They consist of quality staircases that can be used for both small residential projects and large commercial projects. A custom staircase may be straight, round, or consist of two or more straight pieces connected at particular angles.

Many people usually assume that staircases are only used to link two floors of a house. However, it should be understood that stairs require a major architectural attribute that are mainly used to make the house attractive. Installing well designed custom staircases with high quality materials would definitely give a better outlook to the building.

The amount of space available greatly influences the type of staircases to be installed. Bulky-styled staircases often require a relatively larger space for installation. Selection for a stair should be made with specific considerations in order to ensure that any particular style matches the unique characteristics of the house. For instance, it is commonly known that straight and L-shaped stairs require little amount, while the double-shaped ones need a large space.

Much attention should also be paid towards the general outlook of the stairs once their functions are determined. Curved and elliptical stairs are usually preferred for their elegance, while the spiral ones are readily associated with fun. Generally, the homeowner or the designer is tasked to ensure that there is a perfect match between the staircase and the rest of the building. For instance, it is important to note that the ancient styles do not match a modern-structured building.

Stairs need a support in order to function properly. This can be installed through making wood or metal handrails. The rails are used to offer protection to the users of the stairs, especially kids.

Custom staircases must have certain measurements so that people can effectively use them. For instance, building codes would specify various measurements so that the staircases are not too narrow or steep. The minimum tread length should measure about 9 inches, except the nosing of private residence.

Generally, there are two types of custom stairs; spiral and helical stairs and alternating tread stairs. The spiral and helical stairs wind around a central pole. They normally have a handrail on the outer side with a newel at the center. A spiral staircase can assume different shapes such as a circle, square and rectangle. A squared spiral staircase usually has a square stairwell with square steps and rails. Compared to other types of stairs, spiral stairs usually have very steep slopes that may be dangerous for use, especially for kids.

Normally, a pure spiral custom staircase should have a circular shape with equal positioned steps and handrails. The alternating tread stairs, however, are commonly used in houses with little spaces than normal stairs would demand. They have specific designs that allow them to alternate between the treads and high slopes of 65 degrees. In order to be satisfied, one should always go for what they like.




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