Six Types of Metal Staircase

The staircase is one of those everyday necessities that we often don’t give a second thought to, but the right choice of staircase can be an inspired design feature in any setting. The skeletons of most staircases are made from steel. This is due not only to its strength and malleability but also to its versatility, which gives the staircase manufacturer and designer plenty of scope for creative ideas. Here we look at six common types of staircase.

1. Straight

This functional, cost-effective and straightforward design is the most common, as it allows simple and convenient travel from one level to another. However, other constraints may mean that a single flight of straight stairs is not possible or desirable or an alternative design may be chosen for aesthetic reasons.

2. Winder

This type of staircase includes a ninety (single winder) or one hundred and eighty degree turn (double winder), achieved by the use of wedge-shaped stairs rather than a landing. Winder stairs can be used to achieve interesting and ornate architectural features and are inherently safer than a spiral staircase.

3. Quarter-Landing Stairs

Quarter-landing stairs include a ninety degree turn, like the single winder, but they include a flat landing section rather than wedge-shaped stairs. This requires fewer stairs in the flight and makes them safer and more easily accessible.

4. Half-Landing Stairs

The one hundred and eighty degree turn in this type of staircase makes it similar to the double winder, but again this is achieved by the addition of a single flat landing. This divides the flight in two, providing a safe, convenient and functional design similar the the quarter-landing staircase.

5. Curved

The curved staircase is a design favourite and is often included for its aesthetic and original nature rather than pure functionality. The flight will not contain any right-angles, meaning that each stair will be wedged to form the arched effect of the whole staircase. This type of design can be put to many elegant and creative uses and is a more expensive option than the more basic types.

6. Spiral

The spiral stair case is also curved, but more tightly. It winds a full 360 degrees from bottom to top to form a circle in profile. This type of staircase is very useful in small spaces, where a spiral can replace a ladder or steep steps, but they can be elegant and beautiful in there own right and often very ornate.

Whatever project you are working on, a good staircase manufacturer or designer can assist you to make the right choice in terms of function, aesthetics and budget.