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 have a genuine impact and say 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.
American Oak Staircase with recessed LED lighting under treads
1. 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, 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 in terms of light or other materials used. There is a broad range of materials to choose from including glass, metal, stainless steel, and timber. There is literally no limit to your staircase options.
2. Know your stair lingo
Stairs are made up of three main components: 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 the riser (if the stair has them) is the vertical piece between each tread.
Stairs can be open or closed. Closed means they have a solid riser, and you can’t see 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?
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 are 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.
4. Make sure you use a qualified stair builder
To ensure your staircase 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 compliant system. Using a qualified installer will also ensure your staircase does not squeak.
5. 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 install, supporting your builder and timelines throughout your project. Our team of experts is here to help, so get in touch if you’d like any guidance or advice about your stair or material selections.
Image: Solid timber custom made staircase with feature lighting
