How to Choose a Staircase

A staircase is a key feature in many homes. A good staircase serves its purpose by providing access to the upper levels of a building, serving as a connecting path from one floor to another, usually to a bedroom or maybe a mezzanine, sun deck or garden area. Aside from the functional purpose of a staircase, it also provides a stylish addition to a home.

Of course, most of us don’t get to choose a new staircase very often, and staircases come in many varieties. When choosing the kind of stairs we want, we must take care and choose wisely.

If you are planning for your own home, let us help you decide on the type of staircase that will be right for your home and your family. Looking at staircases in brochures, magazines and on the British Spirals & Castings website will give you a good idea of the types of stairs that you may wish to buy. But there is no substitute for going to see the staircase yourself – visiting our showroom will allow you to get a feel for the different types and sizes of staircases. There are many things to consider when choosing for a staircase design and this blog will highlight some of the major factors worth considering.

1. Budget

An essential part of choosing a staircase design is your budget. Outlining this early on can help you understand the kind of materials that will be be used for the stairs as well as the style of the stairs. For example, aluminium metal staircases are more cost effective than our solid timber staircases, but there are various mixtures of the two which fit within different price ranges. Find the type of staircase you like and get some quotes, then you will soon see whether the budget you have allocated for the stairs is sufficient for the type of stairs you have in mind.

2. Space

Look closely at the space you have available; this can help you think of a design that will work well in the area. If the space you’re working with is on the larger side, you could opt for a larger and more decorative staircase.

For example, a straight staircase will occupy more space in the room below but only require a thin rectangular opening in the ceiling above. Whereas a spiral staircase takes up less space in the downstairs area but requires a square or circular opening in the ceiling above.

A spiral fits best when the staircase can be pushed into the corner of a room or where you can fit it in a larger space allowing you to really make a feature of the staircase. If you cannot create an opening for the staircase that is suitable, but still desire the spiral option, you may wish to consider a combination staircase with a mixture of straight and spiral treads.

3. Consider safety

It is vital to consider the safety of your stairs. The current building regulations are designed to help, stating minimum width requirements for certain applications. Regulations also ensure that there are no gaps on the staircase more than 100mm so that children cannot climb through the balusters. A spiral staircase is as safe as any standard staircase and isn’t considered dangerous in any way.

4. Consider the Occupants

If you are a builder or property developer, consider the occupants of your property.  It is them who have to make use of the staircase.  For example, if there are seniors or children in the family, it’s advised to use stairs with landing plates and handrails.

5. Materials

There are many kind of materials that can be used for making stairs. It could be timber, marble, steel and even concrete. British Spirals & Castings use aluminium and solid timbers to make their spirals. Mixing the two materials is also no problem, this technique results in the Scandinavian range which can be made with a metal or timber handrail.

6. Staircase Designs

Aside from materials, you can also choose from different staircase designs. It could be straight stairs, a half-turned staircase, a combination staircase or of course a spiral. Also remember that spiral staircases are good to save space and reduce the amount of space taken up on the lower ground floor. A spiral staircase can also really open up a room, as well as provide a stunning centrepiece.

7. Building Regulations

There is a standard code of practice within the U.K building regulations relating to staircases that applies to all new builds. In cases where the building is listed or where space is limited, and a new staircase will be a significant improvement on the one you already have, then building regulations have built in discretion (Document K) for the building regulations to be relaxed. This utilisation of the discretionary order under Document K varies from local council to council and from building inspector to building inspector.  It is always advisable to contact your local building inspector to discuss with them your requirements before committing to a purchase and finalising any details. British Spirals & Castings will be able to help and guide you through the process – we will be able to advise whether your desired staircase designs will comply with building regulations.

8. Be certain with your decision

When it comes to choosing a staircase design, you have to ensure you have finalised your decision and considered every single detail. You must be clear before you proceed, because replacing a staircase isn’t simple. It would be difficult and any late changes to your plans could considerably increase the cost. Plan everything well to ensure you get the right stairs for you and your family the first-time round.

Staircase checklist:

When deciding on your staircase and finalising your order, complete this checklist to ensure you have everything taken care of:

1. How much metal is in the tread?

If you are opting for a metal or cast staircase, make sure you explore a variety of pictures – or even better visit our showroom, to see how much metal is in the treads. Some staircases will be cheaper than others and this is because they have more airspace, which can make them less sturdy.

• What material is the staircase made of?

Explore a range of materials and do your comparisons, and costings.

• Are you comparing like for like?

Ensure when comparing products that each have similar features, e.g. same type and number of treads, landing plate, landing balustrade, etc.

• How heavy will the staircase be?

Will special allowances need to be made to accommodate the weight?

• Is it a bespoke product?

A lot of companies offer kit staircases that are not made to measure and not bespoke to your design requirements, these staircases may not fit in your space or suit the design of the room.

• How much fabrication work is there to do on site?

With our bespoke staircases, a full set of instructions are sent along with them. As the staircase is designed specifically for your space, not much can go wrong.

• Can I go and see the staircase?

Lots of bespoke staircase manufacturers have showrooms in which you can visit and explore their range of options, and so do we. You can book a visit to our showroom here on the website.

• Where are the component parts manufactured?

British Spirals & Castings own our foundry, so this means we can have total control over the quality of the castings. Most of our competitors import casting from the Far East with little control over quality or flexibility.

We hope that you will be able to get the right staircase design for your home and if we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.