Stairs & Staircases might seem like an easy construct but are often an integral part of any structure. For any building, they provide a way to reach elevated floors and act as secondary support to pillars of the building.

However, understanding the design and construction of stairs and staircases can be equally pivotal. The general rule of designing the stairs is to integrate them into the construction plan as early as possible. You have to allot space and location for it to look the best. Here is a brief rundown to make it easier:

Types Of Flights

Before you can consider the material and type of construct for the stairs, flights become an essential consideration. A flight for stairs is the pathway it will elevate into. Here is a quick overview of the common flights:

  • Straight Flight – A straight flight elevates in a straight line to the next floor.
  • 90-Degree- A 90-degree or 45-degree staircase usually has a quarter-landing floor in the middle form where the stairs turn. The stairs might take a specific turn, like 90 degrees or 45 degrees. Many households are known for integrating this design.
  • Return – A return-type flight is prevalent in apartments and other buildings. It often has a U-shaped construct where both the sides have stairways going to the next floor. However, the entry and exit stairs aren’t always pointed out. Some buildings have specific rules for entry from one side and exit from another.

While these are the conventional flight designs, modern innovations have seen other additions like spiral or circling stairs that might save space.

Types Of Stairs

Next comes the type of stairs. These have much to do with the material and overall design. It can also impact the budget. Depending on your preference for aesthetics to budget, here are the three primary types of stairs:

  • Traditional – Traditional stairs utilized timber as the primary material. These are cost-effective. If you have a higher budget, you can get more luxurious additions for texture and appearance. However, timber-based stairs and staircases are often noisier and require frequent maintenance.
  • Concrete – Concrete stairs can be a cost-effective and durable addition to any building. For most buildings with a higher number of floors, it is a ‘go-to’ option. It can be smooth or latex concrete, carpet, or even tile flooring on the stairs to make them more appealing.
  • Contemporary – These kinds of stairs & staircases primarily focus on aesthetics and complementing the modern decors. You still get the same functionality, but the material in question might be costly, like glass, marble, and other similar additions. Contemporary stairs also forego the traditional bounds of having railings in some cases. You might even find stairs integrated into the wall to go upstairs. These can be minimalist and appealing.

Of course, as far as material is considered, there are also steel stairs by Active Metal worth consideration. Durable, long-lasting, and most importantly, visually pleasing.

Space-Conserving Stair Options

Finally, as far as stairs go, contemporary covers most of the unconventional ideas. However, there are also two other types of stairs. These are most notably used for accessing the attic or a basement in the house:

  • Spiral Flights – These are the kinds of stairs you can pull down to open a pathway. Yes, it is most commonly used in attics.
  • Ladder Stairs – A prominent example would be fire-escape stairs. Ladder stairs are the ones you can pull to extend and retract whenever you want.

Conclusion

This covers up to all the baseline information regarding the design and construction of the stairs & staircases. Now you can go ahead and do in-depth research if you need to learn more.