Options for staircases

By Jack Ferguson


Staircases come in all shapes and sizes so if you happen to be building your own home and it has two stories, then there are several options for moving between the floors. However they are all depending on how much space you have to work with, and the sort of functionality you want them to have.

There is always the option of a straight staircase, however although they are the easiest to build, they are actually very difficult to fit within a floor plan. Another chose people have is the sort of material to use in their staircase. Most homes will use wood, but there are some who want the classic look of a stone staircase. This sort of staircase requires the skills of a stone mason and is usually found in luxurious homes or other luxury buildings.

Circular stairs are good for homes with a large space to take up. They sweeps in a broad curve from one level to the next. Just like those grand staircases you'd see in old movies about the deep south or period dramas.

An "L" stair is also a more common home stair case that makes a 90 degree turn at the landing. Probably the most decorative staircase when it comes to home design in the spiral staircase. They make one dizzy and sometimes induce claustrophobia but they can be very beautiful. Staircases can be made from wood or stone. Stone staircases are beautiful works of art that require the skills of a stone mason to build. They often compliment a stone fireplace within the home.

The rule goes that the wider the stair and more subtle the climb, the more inviting the staircase is. That is why certain steps on famous buildings just begged to be climbed and people do not hesitate before scrambling to the top. However most homes do not have the space for these sorts of steps as they consume quite a bit of floor space. Thankfully with our modern small houses there are more and more space saving creative ways to get from one floor to the next.




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