Looking to make an impact to your visitors by having a beautiful staircase? Confused about stainless steel staircases and their use? Here are some useful pointers for the home builder to consider.
1. Can’t decide on your ideal stairway?
Stairway to heaven, or the stuff of nightmares? This is what we want to achieve as you read- to make you to consider your stair project and the finished product.
2. Effective Design
Keep the stair uncomplicated and easy to look at. For example, rather than spindles use glass, and keep overcomplicated detail out of the stair if possible.
3. Legal Aspects
Remember that there are stringent legal requirements for stairs, the boys from Building Control appearing especially interested in the goings and risers. Pay particular attention to where the stair meets the upper or lower floor level here, and also your head room.
4. Make an Impact!
Use your stairway as a statement about your house. The stair is often the first thing that meets the eye of callers to your pad. So why not make an impression and incorporate glass and stainless steel?
5. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel creates the impression in many people of being cold and clinical, used in restaurant kitchens. So how do we use it in a self build situation? Stainless steel staircases, done in a tasteful way, are a fantastic feature in a property. Ensure that the supplier you pick makes a nice product, and request to see their previous work.
6. Glass
Glass is an effective product, especially instead of spindles. The advantage about glass is that it lets light into the hall, and gives a spacious feel.
7. Wood
I wouldn’t use a lot of wood in the balustrades of the stair unless you deem it to be really needed. Tasteful use of wood can in certain situations improve the overall staircase, especially in relation to creating a feeling of warmth. Oak is a particularly good wood to use, as it is plain and strong. Other alternatives to use include walnut and beech.
8. Finishing Wood
There are a number of products on sale for finishing wood, many of which are suitable. Varnish has been popular for many years now, but do think about alternative products, such as wax oil which give a beautiful finish.
9. The Tread
In years gone by, the closed tread was the norm in private houses. Open tread stairs are now gaining impetus, though. Again, this gives a more open and spacious feel to the hall.
10. Stepping Up
In relation to the steps themselves, sometimes it is worthwhile to think about use rubber grips on the treads. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, it is a practical means of stopping nasty falls. Run these out to just shy of the outer edge of the tread.
11. When the Stairs Arrive
Check everything’s there, if your joiner is fitting the stairs. Also make sure that the glass is polished properly, and no deep marks are visible. In my own house, I had to send back the glass as it wasn’t properly polished: it wasted an entire morning of my joiner’s time!
12. So Many Choices!
Open tread, closed tread. Closed string, cut string. Square nosing, round nosing. Wood, steel, glass. Wooden spindles for balustrades, or glass. Hopefully we will have given you some pointers in the above thoughts, and suggest you keep Stainless steel staircases in mind.