Details about Stairwell

Stairwells:

When talking with customers regarding stairs and railings, it is helpful if we all use the same terminology. There are many types of stairs that we can build or add railings to. The following of the more popular stair type:

Advantages of L shaped Stairs:
  • L Stairs can be more visually interesting.
  • They provide a visual barrier between floors so they can add some privacy.
  • Also L Stairs can help somewhat with sound transmission between floors if the stairs are contained within walls.
  • Some believe they are safer than straight stairs as the central landing reduces the number of treads one could fall in a given flight.
  • The landing can provide a place to stop and rest while ascending.
  • They can be located in a corner of a room if this works better for your design.

Disadvantages of L shaped Stairs:
  • L shaped stairs are a bit more difficult to build.
  • A support is typically required for the landing in a L type stair. Often this is built into the surrounding walls so it goes unnoticed. In modern dwellings however it is usually desirable to open up the space leaving the stair structure visible. In these cases the supporting structure can be visually minimized by taking advantage of the strength of steel to create slim supporting members. Through careful engineering, it is possible to eliminate the landing support all together.
  • Handrails for these types of stairs require more skill and planning to construct.
  • In climates where basements are used, stairs are typically stacked over each other for efficient use of space. Since basements are often used for storage, large items can be difficult to move in and out of the basement.

Leave A Comment