Building a staircase isn’t necessarily complicated, but it does pay to consider your options, ask some questions, be curious as to what’s possible, and seek expert help.
A staircase is a statement in a home; it can be one of those features that has a genuine impact and says something about you and the style of your house.
It’s a good idea to consider installing a staircase which will help increase the overall value of your property or build.
Above all it must be a solid structure, with good foundations and support your building project and its timeframes.
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Consider the materials and best design for you and your home
Do you want your stair to be a hero – with a carefully selected design and materials? Stairs may open-up a home or you may want them to be concealed, more private. Even when they’re very simple, very economical, and cost effective, a staircase can add symmetry and design impact. It can also influence the way a home feels and flows.
It’s a great idea to consider lighting – lighting can give a wonderful impact on a staircase. Low level lights used on stair walls, or in LED strips on the stairs or balustrade, will create a strong effect. Pendant lighting will create a feature, centre point.
A staircase can be built from almost any building material. Timber is certainly the most popular with a wide range of sustainable timber available today. Consider American Oak, Victorian Ash, Spotted Gum, Black Butt and more. Stairlock’s custom range offers solid timber construction using beautiful Australian hardwoods and cutting-edge design to create a completely bespoke set of stairs. You can also consider metal componentry’s, for example a metal, central stringer with timber treads.
Choosing the right balustrade and handrail will add impact and can lend to quality cues. It’s a good idea to consider the tones you want in the final product and the environment (light, other materials used etc). There is a broad range of material to choose from – a selection of glass, metal, stainless steel, and timber. There is literally no limit to your staircase options.
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Know your stair lingo
Stairs are made up of three main components. These are the stringers, treads, and risers. The stringers on a closed stair are the sloped boards at the end of the treads which go up the wall on an angle. Treads are what you step on, and risers (if the stair has them) are the vertical piece between each tread.
Stairs can be open or closed. Closed means they have a solid riser, and you can’t see in through the staircase (and often they’ll have storage built in under). Open is when the risers, or part of the risers, do not exist. You can also combine the two in your design, having some open and some closed.
3. How will the staircase attach to the existing structures – it must be solid
An important question to ask before getting started is how you will attach the stairs to the structures – ground floor and second floor.
If they’ll be sitting flush with the structure, you can attach your stringers to the framework that already exists. However, this isn’t always the case.
Everything needs to be solid and of course to building standards.
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Make sure you use a qualified stair builder
To ensure your stair case is solid, strong and built to standard use a qualified installer who knows what they are doing and the relevant codes for your location. Stairlock is the only stair supplier to have a fully system which is compliant. Using a qualified installer will also ensure your staircase does not squeak.
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Check the codes
One of the reasons why stairs can be complicated is because they must adhere to strict building codes. Don’t forget to check with your builder or installer for your state or territory and any required safety items.
In summary
Consider your options, ask some questions, be curious as to what’s possible, and seek expert help.
At Stairlock we make solid, strong stairs, which are fast to instal, supporting your builder and timelines throughout your project. Our team of experts are here to help, so get in touch if you’d like any guidance or advice about your stair or material selections. https://stairlock.com.au/contact/
Need some visual inspiration? Download our new product brochure: https://stairlock.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2021-02-17_Stair-Lock-Brochure_26.pdf
