Spiral Staircase

Function and glamour have rarely come together in such a show stopping form as a spiral staircase. When it comes to statement making, few things can match its twisting beauty.

There are a few things to consider when using spiral staircase kits to perform an installation. The first thing to think about is how you want to use the staircase. If it is going to be used in an area where it will be used to carry things up and down the stairs, it is important to realize that spiral staircases can make it not only inconvenient, but impossible, to carry anything larger than a briefcase. Groceries, laundry, even suitcases will create an issue, so this needs to be take into consideration. If you have your heart set on a spiral staircase in specific area and have a larger area to install, like in a grand hall or you can upgrade to a double-helix. The double-helix design has a much wider step width (around 5 1/2 to 8 ft.) than the regular spiral (2 1/2 to 5 ft.), but does take up more space. In many cases you will choose which way the staircase twists, which will affect which side the handrail is on. In some instances, due to the spacing or some other consideration, the builder will have no choice but to build the staircase spiraling in a certain direction.

You may decide that you would like an outdoor spiral staircase which will require a bit more planning because you will need to install this in a different way. You will also have to check with you home owners association to make sure that this will be acceptable to their rules.

Another thing to keep in mind is that many building codes will not allow a regular spiral staircase to be installed as a main staircase or when the stairs will be used as an emergency exit. So, if the space available or the costs of upgrading do not allow you to choose a double-helix, you will have to go with another style of staircase.

Once you have decided that a spiral staircase will work and which style of spiral you are going to use, it is time to choose materials for the spirals. The two main choices for materials are a metal spiral staircase and wood. Just as with any product, the finish and detail work of the material have possibilities that are limited only by the manufacturer you choose. The general choices are hardwoods, aluminum, steel or a combination of these materials. As a general rule metal staircases will be less expensive than wooden. There are some finishes available that can give you the cost of metal with the look of wood, at least to some degree. While nothing can completely recreate the feel and look of wood, if you are on a budget this is a viable option to get the best of both worlds. Other materials are available, such as glass, but are less common and more expensive.

You will be able to choose the material for the balusters, treads, stair coverings, etc. This will give you more options than most people can wrap their mind around. You will truly be able to personalize and customize your stairs to fit your individual taste and style.

Spiral Staircase Rails

The final choice is going to be the type of hand rail style you want. While the actual choices are as limitless as the designers who make them, the basic construction comes to two choices; the number of balusters (the vertical pieces) and where the rail (horizontal piece) lies. There are two choices for balusters: a streamlined look with a few support balusters and a more classic look with one to three balusters per step. As far as the handrail you can have it either placed on the outside of the posts or choose to have it constructed so that the handrail runs into the posts. Just as with every other choice in building a major structure, which of these you choose comes down to a mixture of what look you are going for and budget.

Spiral staircases can add dramatic and interesting point of interest in a room, but the decision to put one in does take some thought and planning.