In any house of more than one storey, it is necessary to place stairs that allow us to access each floor. When it comes to doing a comprehensive renovation of your home or making your new house from scratch, you may have doubts about what type of sclera to put in or how. And that’s why we’re here today! We will explain the types of stairs that exist and the most used in homes. We will also describe different materials for the construction of a staircase, where to place the staircase in your home and even things to take into account when designing and calculating it. With all the information we provide you today, you will be more than prepared for the complete choice of the staircase for your home. Start!
Types of stairs
There are many types of stairs that can be subdivided into groups: according to their material, according to the shape of the building or the space to be placed in it, according to the floor plan of the house and according to the structure of the staircase. Today we will explain some of the most commonly used typologies in homes , especially entering the subgroup to which the stairs correspond depending on the floor of the house and the structure of the staircase. For home interiors we find the following most common types:
Straight stairs
They can be of one or two sections. It will depend on the height of the second floor and if a landing in the middle is necessary. To be able to place this type of ladder, a greater straight space will be needed, since it is normal for them to occupy at least 4 meters longitudinally.
Two-section stairs
These stairs can be built closed or with an eye. Closed two-section stairs mean that the two flights of which it is composed are joined together and there is no separation between rungs. Even the railings of this staircase are also located on the same plane. The ladder with an eye means that there is a certain separation between rungs and a central gap is created. Two-section stairs need less length, but it should be borne in mind that the width will be at least twice as wide as if single-section ladders are placed. And if you have an eye, the ladder will need even more width.
Curved stairs: spiral staircase
This type of staircase has a central axis from which all its steps come out, creating a perfect circle in plan. If you have almost no space to place your ladder, this typology does not take up as much space as the previous ones. For this type of stairs, the comfort of the user and the design of the house must be taken into account, since the ascent can be created in an hourly or counterclockwise way. The height and spacing of steps in these stairs is even more important than in those with straight sections, since, as the shape is circular, the steps will not be straight or whole, since their design is square. That is why it will be important to pay special attention to the measurements of the steps. Spiral stairs are not highly recommended if you have a lot of children at home or people with reduced mobility. In this case, they are not the best option.
Floating stairs
The peculiarity of these stairs is that they are anchored to the wall. They do not have their own structure under the steps like the previous typologies explained. One of their advantages is the feeling of spaciousness they provide to the space and, in addition, the use you can give to the space under their steps, since the gap will be free. One drawback to keep in mind is that they are a little more dangerous than those with a structure underneath. But if they are well calculated and a railing is put in, there is no problem in their placement and use.
Mixed stairs
These stairs are made up of both straight and curved sections. This means that when the section is straight its steps are also straight, but if there is a turn they are specially designed to adapt and that the section has a curve. These steps designed for the curve save space for a landing and make the staircase a single section, saving space.
Materials for the construction of a staircase
There are many building materials out there, but do you know which ones are best for stair construction? The most common material used in the structure of the staircase has always been concrete or brick to then cover it and with marble or tile step finishes. But at this point we want to introduce you to other ways in which to build your staircase that are just as valid (or even better) and will give a more modern and different touch to the space.
Wood
Wood has always been a material that gives the space warmth and is very welcoming. An advantage of this material is that it does not produce sounds when stepping on its steps, which metal ones do produce a certain sound. You can also combine the use of materials, such as wood with metal, which can create combinations that work very well both aesthetically and structurally.
Steel
Steel can be used if your goal is for the ladder to be practical and durable. It should also be noted that with this material we can create quite a few types of stairs: zigzag, straight, curved, etc. They do not have a great economic cost and combine with all types of spaces.
Things to keep in mind when building stairs
So that you can enjoy your new stairs to the fullest, we leave you with a series of tips to keep in mind when building a staircase.
- Be careful with the tread finishing materials you give to your ladder. Try to make it a non-slip material to avoid unnecessary slips or falls
- Distance between steps. You should bear in mind that for the stairs of a house you should NEVER exceed 21 cm between steps. This is the maximum height allowed for a riser.
- Number of steps. To make the staircase as comfortable and functional as possible, it should have no more than 15 steps per section. If more are needed, you have to put a landing.
With all this information and advice about building stairs, we hope we have helped you and that you are much clearer about what the ideal design for your house will be. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact our interior design team in Valencia and we will solve them.
