Planning interior staircases – a couple tips on what you should watch out for

16 January 2018

Interior staircase planning tips If you’re considering installing a staircase in your home, there are a number of facts to consider. A staircase can be a very practical solution while also providing a boost to your interior’s aesthetics, but only provided that you properly plan your course of action. By taking the right steps to ensuring that your staircase works properly, you can help make your construct last you longer and serve you better. Before we get into the specific tips, here are a couple of stair-related terms for you to know:
  • tread – this is the horizontal board of a stair on which you place your feet
  • riser – the vertical board between the treads
  • newel – a post that attaches to the railing
  • runner – a carpet element placed on the tread and riser, usually running down the middle
  • stringer – the support structure of the staircase
The first thing you need to plan for is security. Always make sure that your staircase project maintains a proper rise-to-run ratio. The sum of the rise and run should add up to 17 inches, and the run should be shorter as the rise gets steeper – this will allow for the walk to feel comfortable. Make sure the rise isn’t greater than 8 and one quarter inch, as that may be too steep to still be considered safe. Another important aspect is consistency. You want your stairs to look harmonious, so you definitely want to keep your steps in a unified style. At the same time, you want to keep the rise-to-run ratio consistent, otherwise the walk won’t feel comfortable or stable. Make sure to take into account the flooring, because if you want to add flooring on top of the existing flooring where it meets the staircase, you may need to adjust your treads to that. Take ceiling height into account. You need to have at least 6 feet and 8 inches above your stairs open so that taller people don’t bump their heads into the ceiling. This may seem like a given, but it’s one of those things that’s surprisingly easy to overlook and, once overlooked, can result in serious consequences. One of the last things you should consider – but consider nonetheless you should – is the style of your staircase. Plan ahead what material, colour, balustrade, etc., you want before you proceed with any type of work so that you can save yourself a lot of stress in the long run. Perhaps you want a glass staircase with metal elements? Now’s the time to choose! Decide whether you want your wooden steps to remain natural or be painted. The options to consider are plentiful, and now is the time to make those decisions.

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