Are you planning to construct a new house or renovate an existing one? The staircase is among the main aspects of your home that you’ll have to consider. The reason, it can make or break the entire home design.
A staircase is a vital part of any home. It serves its purpose by providing access to the upper levels of a building. It acts as a connecting path from one floor to the other.
And yes, we don’t get to choose a new staircase very often. Staircases come in different forms and varieties. Therefore, we must exercise caution when choosing the right stairs by considering these factors.
- The Available Space
Look closely at the available space. Doing so helps you to choose a design that doesn’t take up a lot of space. For tighter spaces, both spiral and L-shaped staircases work well. The reason, they have small footprints that make use of even the tightest corners.
In an average-sized room, a straight staircase is ideal. If the space is big, you can opt for fancier U-shape or S-shape staircases.
- Check the Old Stairs
Yes, you want to install a new staircase in your house. However, don’t be in a hurry to do this unless the previous one is completely damaged.
Before changing the stairs, consult a structural engineer to assess the stairs. Based on their observation, they may ask you to do a few things which will strengthen it and thus increase its lifespan.
- Consider Safety
It’s vital to consider the safety of your stairs. Check the building code and regulations on the width requirements for these stairs.
For instance, the gaps on the staircase shouldn’t exceed 100 mm to allow children to climb through the balusters. For everyone’s safety, ensure that the steel stair stringers conform with the National Construction Code. Further, ensure that the spacing between the stringers is proportional to the width of the stair. Therefore, a wider staircase should have more stringers.
- The Budget
Your budget determines the type of materials and design that you go for. For instance, conventional staircases are usually made of stone, wood, or iron. If you want a contemporary look, then make use of modern materials like glass, acrylic, or stainless steel.
For this step, ask for multiple quotes from different contractors and suppliers to allow you to get the best price for your budget.
- The Home Occupants
Many people overlook this aspect when choosing their staircase. Don’t make this mistake.
For instance, if you have elderly or people living with disabilities in the home, then it wouldn’t be advisable to have a steep flight of stairs. Similarly, open staircases wouldn’t be ideal for a home with children or toddlers as they may accidentally fall through the gaps.
Conclusion
Getting the perfect staircase for your home isn’t that difficult. However, it is good to put deep thought into this decision. Since this is a part of your house that’ll be used most of the time, then select one that meets the needs of everyone in the household.
