What kind of lasting impression does your front entry leave?
It’s time to give stairs more attention. Stairs are often the feature of an entrance; the first place of welcome and greeting in a home. The entryway has the opportunity to set the feeling and tone for the rest of the home.
There are so many spaces in a home that require our attention – kitchen, bathroom, living room, etc. And while they are all important, we believe the rewards are great for time invested in designing stairs and railing, with style. A staircase can tie together all aspects of your home. Not only are stairs and railing the primary focus of an entry, but they are generally visible from many areas of the home, giving them huge stylistic reach and influence. Stairs set the tone and style from the beginning, letting everything else flow from that place of inspiration.
Parts of a staircase explained
A staircase is a core architectural design feature that sits at the heart of a property. While styles and trends have come and gone, the basic design of a staircase has stood the test of time and little has changed over the centuries.
As well as serving a functional purpose, a staircase can make a statement and cement the character of a building. Each decision over style will make a visual impact, from the choice of material, to whether it’s an open or closed string, the shape of the spindles and newel posts and the use of decorative Moulding.
Components of a staircase
Here at Murad Floors, we have been remodeling beautiful staircases for over 15 years, from the traditional to the contemporary, and from county residences to city dwellings.
We know that the terminology used to describe the different parts of a staircase can sometimes be confusing, so we’ve created this helpful guide. Below you’ll find a handy illustration of a typical staircase, with key components highlighted and explained.
Riser – A stair riser is the vertical space between one step and another. It may be closed or open, depending on the style of the stairs.
Tread – A stair tread is the horizontal part of the step that a person will stand on, and along with the riser, is an integral part of a staircase.
Newel Posts – Newels are the large post found at the foot and at the top of any flight of stairs. They can also be found at key junctures of a staircase, for example where there is a change of direction. They come in a range of styles, including box newels (which are box shape) and turned newels (which are curved).
Newel Cap – This is the name for the decorative top section of a newel post. They help provide an attractive finish and can be very simple, such as a square, acorn or ball, or hand carved and highly intricate.
Spindles/balusters – This is the term used to describe the smaller posts which can be placed vertically at the side of a staircase to enclose it. They sit underneath the handrail and above the base rail. In contemporary stairs this is now likely to be glass.
Handrail – The handrail sits on top of the balusters and will run the length of the staircase between the newel posts.
Half newel post – These are often found on landings where the staircase meets a wall and are basically a newel post cut in half.
Landing/Landing return – This is the area immediately at the top of the staircase (landing), or part way up where a change of direction in the staircase occurs (landing return) which may be either a quarter or a half landing return. Depending on the direction of travel, it may be a parallel landing return that continues back in the direction of the proceeding staircase, or a right angle return that goes off at 90 degrees.
Base rail – This is the rail that sits underneath the balusters and on the string.
Stair nosing – Stair nosing is used in most staircases and is legally required in certain circumstances, such as public buildings. It is normally part of the tread; however sometimes it’s thin strips of wood, which are placed on the edge of each step to help make the edge of each stair more visible and less slippery.
Closed or cut string staircase – The strings on a staircase are the sides which the treads and risers are housed into. In a closed string staircase, the edges of the steps will be hidden. In an cut or open string staircase, the side profile of the steps will be visible or even overhang the string.
Wall string – This is the side of the staircase which sits flush against the wall, which the treads and risers are housed into.
String Capping – This is a Mould that is used to cover the top of the string nearest to the wall.
Staircase Designs
Staircases are often overlooked as mere mechanisms to help you travel from one level of your home to another.
A Brief Overview Of Different Types Of Staircases:
Straight
L-Shaped/winder stairs
U-Shaped
Curved
Spiral
Circular
Split
Mono-stringer
Floating
Cantilever
A high-quality staircase begins with high-quality wood. Specialized Stairs works with the best wood suppliers and choosing premium products that showcase a wood’s natural beauty.
Whether you are looking for the gorgeous color and grain patterns of hardwood like cherry, walnut, oak, and maple – or the stunning style of rare woods such as sapele and tigerwood – we guarantee your new staircase is going to exude a “wow factor”!
Cantilever Stairs
A cantilever staircase is one where the solid stone steps (also known as treads) are embedded into a supporting wall on one end, with the other end ‘free’, visible and seemingly floating: the treads are said to be ‘cantilevered’ from the wall
Advantages:
Cantilever stairs create more visual interest and are more unique than other types of stairs
The stringer is typically located to one side or hidden in the wall which can allow for more headroom
Cantilever stairs create a more open and spacious aesthetic to the room
Disadvantages:
The design of the structure needs to be taken into consideration to support the cantilever stairs.
Tread supports need to be designed to handle the weight and potential torque.
Cantilever stairs are more costly than a typical mono-stringer stair due to additional structural requirements.
Circular Stairs
Circular stairs called Round stairs are called either circular stairs or spiral stairs depending on the stair design. Circular stairs follow a circle with a single center of curvature and a large radius. True spiral stairs have one central post to which all steps are attached.
Advantages:
Because of their unique design, circular staircases take up around half as much space as their straight counterparts. If you like the idea of creating more space in your home without having to build an addition or convert your basement, spiral staircases are well worth further investigation.
Wider choice of Materials – If you decide to install circular stairs you will have a wide selection of materials from which to choose when having them built. Spiral staircases can easily be manufactured from glass, metal or wood, or a combination of all three, providing homeowners with a multitude of choices when it comes to new installations.
Security – The reason that medieval castle designers were so fond of spiral staircases is because they provide greater security to those who occupy the upper floors of a property.
Disadvantages:
Circular stairs are more harder to explore than different kinds of stairs.
It is hence that codes don’t permit them to be utilized as the essential admittance to an entire second floor of a home.
Walkability improves as the outside diameter gets larger, so on the off chance that you have space, you might need to consider going a piece bigger.
Carrying large things up spiral stairs is troublesome.
Just a single individual can go up or down the stairs simultaneously.
Curved Staircase
Curved stairs called either circular stairs or spiral stairs depending on the stair design. Circular stairs follow a circle with a single center of curvature and a large radius. True spiral stairs have one central post to which all steps are attached.
Advantages:
Curved staircases are often very elegant and traditional but this type of design can equally be adapted to contemporary architecture.
They are relatively easy to walk up if the radius is large.
Disadvantages:
Curved stairs are by far the most difficult to build of the various types of stairs. In fact, building curved stairs represents a pinnacle of achievement for any stair builder or fabricator. For this reason, they are the most costly to build.
Floating Staircase
Floating staircases are designed to minimize or hide the supporting structure of the staircase. This gives impression that the stair treads are floating. Floating stairs are popular in open concept spaces. They remove visual obstructions and maximize living space. These stairs are well-known for their design.
Advantages:
Its floating design gives it a clean and minimalist look that is visually appealing.
Its ability to forego support gives you more useable space underneath its steps.
Disadvantages:
There are more engineering costs involved to make sure it is structurally safe.
L-shaped/winder Stairs
An L-shaped or dog-leg stair is a straight staircase which includes a space to change direction with a 90° or 180° bend. This is usually at a landing halfway between floors. This can be a helpful staircase design idea where space is limited as it is more compact than a completely straight staircase.
Advantages:
The landing can be decorated and even be used as a functional space
Takes up less space and can be placed in corners
There’s a break in climbing up and going down (easier to use)
They serve as a barrier between floors and offer more privacy
They work with acoustics within four walls and help in sound transmission
Disadvantages:
They are more complex to build and are, therefore, more expensive
They require more materials for turn and landing support
Handrails are more complex to design and construct
Mono- stringer Stairs
A mono stringer staircase uses a single ‘beam–like’ stringer that supports the center of the treads from below. Due to this structural feature, mono stringers have a hold on modern stair design. This minimalist approach offers open space, beautiful flow of light, and the feel of stairs that simply float!
Advantages:
A contemporary aesthetic, seamlessly blending into modern interior designs is provided by a mono strings staircase.
Mono stringer staircases can be customized to match individual preferences, architectural styles, and load requirements with various material options available.
This staircase can be designed and built to fit specific particular spaces, accommodating unique dimensions and architectural configurations.
Disadvantages:
Because of their complex construction and the materials used, Mono stringer staircases can be more expensive than traditional staircases.
In comparison to traditional staircases, mono-stringer designs require more additional engineering experts to make structural soundness and more adherent regarding safety standards.
The open design of mono-stringer staircases can be a potential hazard for young children or pets, and additional safety measures may be required for households with children and pets.
Spiral Stairs
A spiral staircase is a structure that is built around a central post that acts as an axis for its steps. The origin of this type of staircase dates back to the Middle Ages. They were used both for aesthetic purposes and for defense (their structure makes it difficult for possible attackers to advance).
Advantages:
It is perfect for lofts (one of those stair designs that fall under “corner stairs”)
It is fun to design and nice to photograph and look at as a design feature
The steps go around a central pole. Hence, this design does not require much in terms of support.
It is easier to construct
Disadvantages:
Only one person at a time can go up and down
Not for the accident-prone since the inner part of the steps are narrow (the solution is to make the steps wider or to increase the diameter)
Hard to move furniture up and down if it is the only way up and through
Split Stairs
Split stairs allow one staircase to function as two, by leading up to different sections of the building making each end of the upper level easily accessible. They add an impressive architectural design statement to the building. Typically used in large homes or commercial buildings as a Grand Entry.
Advantages:
Makes a grand statement for your home (it is not called the “grand dame of stairs” for nothing)
It can serve as a point of interest in your home, depending on its design
The lines add to the depth of your space and give the illusion of an even bigger space
Disadvantages:
Large means expensive, with all the support its construction requires
May require a lot of space which not all can afford nowadays
Straight Stairs
Straight stairs are stairs without any changes in direction. They are certainly one of the most common types of stairs found in both residential and commercial properties. Below are examples of straight floating stairs made with a variety of stringer styles, railing types, and wood species.
Advantages:
Doesn’t need any support other than the attachments at the top and bottom
Railings and handrails are easier and faster to install
Easier to dress up because it is one straight line
For the user, it is easier to use when going up and down
Blends in easily with minimalist or simplistic interior design
Disadvantages:
For the detail-oriented with design and space, they take up more linear space
They do not offer privacy
Dangerous in terms of falling down because one misstep could lead to a long fall
One flight can only accommodate 16 steps. More would require a central landing which will then take up more space.
U-Shaped Stairs
Switchback Staircases (or U-Shaped) When a Switchback Staircase requires two landings (usually referred to as quarter landings) to complete the 180° turn, it is usually then called a U-Shaped or Half Turn Staircase.
Advantages:
More visually appealing than a straight staircase
Wider landing which you can have fun with decorating
Can also be installed in corners and are, therefore, space savers
The landing provides extra space and can become a useful nook
Disadvantages:
They are more difficult to build
The turn may make it difficult to move furniture up and down the stairs
Balusters & Spindles
Metal balusters
Metal balusters come in a wide range of sizes and styles. Usually made of metal tubes, pipes, rods or bars, these balusters are often incorporated into in a multi-line railing design for egress stairs. Metal balusters can be made of steel, aluminum or wrought iron and are often used with wood stairs as architectural elements.
Metal balusters applications
Metal balusters are a great option for industrial applications. Railings with a center mid-rail to meet IBC and OSHA building codes incorporate metal pipe or tube balusters.
Metal balusters are also common in both commercial and residential settings and can be used indoor and out. Hollow tubes and pipes are best for interior stairs, while solid rods or bars are better for exterior stairs. Commercial picket railing is a type of baluster railing.
Advantages:
Metal balusters are strong and durable.
They can withstand the natural elements quite well and can last a long time even with exposure.
Metal is malleable enough that it can be formed and made into different shapes and designs to achieve the desired look of the homeowner or contractor.
With powder coating, a variety of colors of metal balusters are available, including satin black and antique bronze.
Balusters made of metal are relatively maintenance free.
Disadvantages:
Except aluminum which naturally resists corrosion, most metals rust easily unless treated. Steel can be galvanized or powder coated to protect against corrosion, while wrought iron balusters can be sealed and coated to prevent rust.
Metal balusters tend to be more expensive than those made of other materials.
Wood balusters
Wood is one of the most popular materials for balusters. Wood balusters were popularly used in the past and are associated with more traditional, classic staircase designs. Today, wooden balusters can be combined with other materials, like metal or glass, to create a modern, sophisticated look.
Wood balusters applications
Wooden balustrades are often used in more traditionally styled homes and in the interior of commercial buildings. However, they can also be used outdoors if treated and maintained correctly.
Advantages:
Since wood is a natural material, wood balusters bring a sense of warmth to the staircase.
Many different wood species, including red oak and poplar, can be used for balusters. They can be stained or painted to match the surrounding environment.
Wood balusters are available in a variety of shapes and styles including turned, fluted, twisted, braided square, octagonal, carved and more.
Disadvantages:
While typically long lasting, especially if varnished or used indoors, wood can degrade or rot over time.
Wood balustrades are susceptible to pests such as woodworm or termites, especially if used outdoors.
Wood balusters are not as strong as metal or concrete balusters.
To avoid problems like warping or pest damage, wood balusters must be maintained properly. Indoor balusters can be oiled and wiped, while outdoor railing must be sealed or treated to avoid damage.
Contact us if you have any questions or would like to learn more about hardwood flooring or balusters on stairs. We look forward to helping you find your perfect flooring fit.
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