Choosing a bespoke staircase
Charley Ward on what to consider to get your flight right
Your new home’s staircase is an important structural element that can affect your overall scheme in more ways than you might expect. Aside from providing access to upper storeys and escape routes in case of a fire, your flight will also have a real impact on the look and feel of a space. Here, I’ve outlined six pointers to ensure your stairs make a standout feature in your new property.
1 What should I budget?
Standard staircases can begin at just a few thousand pounds, but if you want to make a statement by taking a bespoke route, then expect to pay from around £20,000. That figure can easily rise depending on the design and materials used. Complex elements such as cantilevers, slim profiles, glazed features and curves will push up the costs, as more sophisticated structural solutions will be required to engineer them to the necessary standards.
“For those working with higher-end budgets, you’re going to be looking at bigger flights with more complex veneer work and higher spec materials like bronze or good quality stone,” says Richard Mclane, design director at specialist staircase company Bisca. “You can also engineer in a lot more complexity, like helical designs, for example.”
Planning this kind of feature into your budget from the start is critical. “A staircase is a complicated and expensive element, but one that’s absolutely crucial,” says Elizabeth Webster, director at Fraher & Finley Architects. “This means it’s really important to know whether you want to make yours a wow-factor feature in the early stages and weigh that up with an appropriate budget if you do.”
2 How do I choose a designer?
As with any large scale project, it’s best to put in plenty of research before you make your final decision. Richard recommends looking through companies’ online portfolios to see their unique selling points and learn what appeals to you. “A lot of people come to us because they feel our work is diverse and there’s a certain sensitivity to our designs,” he says. “You’re getting something that’s custom made especially for your requirements, rather than a replication or just a standard off-the-shelf unit.”
Bear in mind that even if your architect has drawn something up for you, it might be the case that a stair designer or specialist carpenter is still needed to fully finalise the scheme, so it works technically as well as aesthetically. Make sure you look for a firm who can demonstrate how their flight will complement the work of your architect or see if they have a recommendation.
“A lot of the time, a vision has been crystallised and we just need to add more detailing, build it and install it,” says Richard. “In these instances, we’re still bringing some flair, but the core concept has been developed by the client and the architect during the house design process.”
3 What type of staircase will suit my home?
When it comes to developing the right flight, the practical constraints are always a major factor. You’ve got to get from one floor to another within a certain amount of space, and on smaller projects, especially, this will define the flight’s general size and stature. Lizzie says she works with clients to realise the experience they want from using their staircase. “You could have a really nice view, so would like to create landings with pause moments,” she says. “Or you might want to design your stairs so that movement when travelling up and down is very fluid.”
The materials used can also help you to overcome design challenges. For example, if you’re keen to create bright and airy spaces, open or glass risers (the upright sections between treads) can bounce light around a room. You can even use glass for treads and balustrades. Lizzie adds that, as staircases are a reference point throughout the house, maintaining a materials palette that takes you from the bottom storey right up to the top can be really effective when pulling together a cohesive scheme.
Whatever your vision, if you’re using the services of a dedicated staircase designer, it’s best to get them involved sooner rather than later – preferably during the build’s initial stages. “Your project may require thickening of the foundations at the base of the flight, or the structure of the building might need to change at the head of the staircase where it connects to the upper storey,” says Richard. He adds that, if you are using an architect as the primary designer of your new stairs, seeing a drawing before the planners have signed off the scheme means he can suggest improvements they might not have considered.
4 How does the engineering work and will it meet Building Regulations?
When it comes to the detailed construction, the job will normally fall to a structural engineer to ensure everything is safe, structurally sound and meets the regulations. This can be surprisingly complex, as stairs have to meet quite a lot of requirements pertaining to structure, usability and functionality. “I always look over the regs quickly when designing,” says Richard. “Then our structural engineer double checks and produces the full set of calculations that are required for building control approval.”
As a general rule, a standard flight measures around 860mm wide. The depth of each of the steps from front to back – or the ‘going’ – should be a minimum of 220mm, and the pitch of the flight should not exceed 42°. A typical total rise (between floors) is 2,600mm, which usually equates to 13 standard steps, but a single flight can actually contain up to 36 in a straight line.
If you’ve opted for a floating design with open risers, the gaps should be small enough between them that a 100mm sphere cannot pass between (to prevent children from falling through or becoming trapped). The same is true of any balustrades as well.
5 When should it be installed?
There might be some first fix elements, such as a connection plate, that need to be added during the early build stages. Ultimately, however, the later you can put off installation, the better. “As you can imagine, the moment you put in a staircase, everyone wants to climb up and down it,” says Richard. So it’s better to install a temporary flight that can be used over the main period of building works to avoid your new staircase becoming scratched or damaged as the project progresses around you.
If it’s really not possible to delay installation, and you’re not going to cover the stairs with carpet that could conceal any bumps or scuffs, then make sure it’s protected well during the construction period. “A few sheets of cardboard and bubble wrap is not going to be good enough,” Richard continues. “You’ve basically got to clad it with some timber that’s ultimately going to get thrown in the recycling.”
6 What storage solutions and additional accessories can I add?
For those who dread going into the standard chaotic cupboard under the stairs, it might be a good idea to ask your architect to factor in a more aesthetically pleasing or useful storage solution instead. Drawers can be built into the steps themselves in certain flights, or you can use the space to create a bookshelf or display area. “Sometimes this is a convenient place to put boilers or washing machines,” says Lizzie. “You can squeeze in under-stair toilets, too, if you’ve got enough head height.”
Lastly, well considered finishing touches can add additional flair that brings the whole look together. If your flight has beautiful forged balustrades in bronze or steel, why not create riser bars and stair rods out of the same material? According to Richard, bespoke dog and baby gates are also popular additions. For those looking for something truly extravagant, Bisca can undertake more ambitious projects like staircase canopies and even complementary metal sculptures to adorn your hallway.