INTERIORS


Structure versus style?


any people feel that staircases are ust a means of getting from oor to oor in a property, but for others it is a focal point which is treated in the same way as a major piece of furniture or a kitchen. Eric Nicholls of Spiral UK provides some insights into the choices to make


T


here are many decisions to make in designing a house, and there is often the chance to change things oer time, such as colours, oor finishes, appliances or even windows and doors. With stairs it is not so simple, they are structural and often interface with other parts of the building structure. Putting it simply, you get ‘one bite of the cherry,’ and then have to live with it, often for decades! Stairs need some careful thought, as if you get it wrong, it can ruin the whole feel and ow of the house. So some decisions to be made.


DESIGN


Do you want simple standard straight, or something more adventurous like spiral, cured or oating s you can guess, the more complicated or bespoke, the more the cost generally increases. Bear in mind that generally the more complicated the stair, the more it will require associated supporting structure. You may need to consider if a concrete foundation or thickening of the oor slab is reuired, or if steel beams rather than timber trimmers are needed for the edges of the stairwell.


Where does it start and finish People can often get carried away with design but forget the fundamental basics, you must think about how you use the stair and the space ow dont finish facing a wall or having to turn around to walk where you most often are heading. This is particularly important with curved and spiral stairs, which have different Building Regulations and need careful consideration regarding headroom, far and away the most common design fault with all stairs. You need to think three dimensionally, not just on plan and sort


People can often get carried away with design but forget the fundamental basics – you must think about how you use the stair and the space flow jul/aug 2023


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