Going Up?
What type of stairs is best?
If you’re adding a second floor, finishing a room in an unfinished attic, or designing a new, two-story home, you’re going to needing some stairs. At first thought, you’ll probably envision a straight flight of steps from one floor to the next. Think twice – there are alternatives that may be a better fit for your situation.
Why Not Straight Stairs
A straight flight of stairs is the easiest to build, so it’s usually the least expensive to build. Straight stairs are also the least likely to trip people up and cause a fall. So why would you build something else? There are several answers:
Space: The stairwell for a straight flight of stairs has to be long enough to reach the second floor before it reaches the far wall. The opening at the top also has to start sooner, so you don’t bump your head on the ceiling. You can make the stairs steeper, but then it becomes a tough climb for seniors and people with certain disabilities. Steep stairs are also more prone to cause accidents, particularly with children.
Privacy: Straight stairs provide an easy glance at the second floor. If the stairs start in a relatively public space like the living room or dining room, you might find that a problem.
Safety: Though the chance of a trip is smaller, the unbroken run of stairs results in a longer fall and potentially worse injuries.
Style: You can always paint or stain new stairs to match your current décor, but you may find that a straight run doesn’t suit your vision of the new space. Your new stairs may become the inspiration for a complete interior design makeover.
So what are your alternatives? There are three basic types: winders, landings, and circular or spiral stairs. All of them can save space along the run of the stairs, and they create a greater sense of privacy. Here’s more detail:
Winders
Winders are steps that create a curve, usually resulting in a right angle turn of the stairs. The inside end of each step is narrower than the outside end, resulting in a short section of spiral or circular stairway between two straight sections.
The main advantage of winders is space – they allow for a shorter stairway. However the bottom section takes up a bit wider space than a straight run, and the ceiling has to open up quickly as well, to avoid head bashing. Winders are more difficult to build and are also more prone to trips than a straight run, though the fall will be shorter
Stairs with Landings
There are three common variations on the landing theme: a single landing that makes a right-angle turn, two right-angle landings that total a 180-degree turn, or a single landing wide enough to allow a 180-degree turn. Their main advantages are space, looks (they can be quite attractive done in hardwood in an open structure), and the broken-fall effect.
While landings shorten the distance needed for the run of stairs, they require some distance in the other direction. Your opening to the second floor will either be an L or a square. Note that you can create all of these turns with winders, but stairs with landings not only shorten falls, they are also less prone to tripping. And landings are generally easier to build than winders, though they use less wood.
Circular Stairs and Spiral Stairs
What’s the difference? Circular stairs are attached to the walls of the stairwell at their outer ends, with an open hole and a railing in the center. Spiral stairs are attached to a post, or newel, in the center, with a railing and open space at their outer ends.
Circular stairs are generally safer than spiral stairs, because they are usually wider, less steep, and have railings at both ends. But they also need more space, so they are usually chosen for their looks. Though often walled in, the outer ends can be supported with posts or cantilevered from two walls, showing off their graceful curves.
Spiral stairs can be built to take up the least amount of space, in only a small corner of a room. But beware of making them too small – they get a lot harder to climb at anything less than a 28-inch radius. (Check your local building codes for allowable dimensions.)
The smaller the radius, the more prone they are to tripping as well. One reason for this is the shape of the treads. Because they are narrow at the center, the stairs are steeper at that end than at the outer end (an odd trick of geometry, to be sure). However, when solidly built to code, spiral staircases are plenty safe enough.
They can be very attractive, too, made of wrought iron or hardwood. They are also available in kits and as prefab units, which can save money. Though they are often delivered black, metal stair kits can be painted any color, and natural or stained hardwood treads are classy options.
Big or small – straight, angled, or curved – your new stairway can be much more than a way up. Think of it as a bright and alluring transition between two living spaces.
