Three Most Popular Staircases Home Owners Choose to Complete Their Loft Conversions

The advantages of converting a loft into a new and practical living space are no secret. From an extra bedroom to a games room, it can be a solution to the domestic cramp and provide personal space that can enhance home living for everyone. But, of course, getting into the new living space is important, and while house extensions can be simply entered through a door, a loft requires a staircase.

Thanks to the expertise developed over the decades by leading construction companies, like CB Construction, Bristol home owners have seen staircases expertly installed as part of the loft conversion plans in their homes of various sizes and designs.

In fact, when it comes to a loft conversion, Bristol home owners also get expert advice relating to the array of staircase designs. So, here are three of the most popular types Bristol residents choose.

Traditional Staircase

The traditional staircase is simply the straight forward flight of steps in L shaped order. This is easily the most requested style, and depending on the layout of the loft and the design of the conversion, it may be necessary to include a small landing before turning left or right and eventually though to the loft floor.

However, space can also dictate a couple of possible variations to the design. For example, the stairs may have to double back, creating a kind of zigzag effect, thereby making the most of the limited space available. This kind of design is more commonly known as dog leg stairs in the construction industry.

The advantage of opting for the traditional staircase is that it is easy to construct and install, with all for the materials easily available and, other than the precise measurements that are required anyway, there are no great complications involved.

Spiral Staircase

One of the more stylish choices, a spiral staircase can be accommodated in houses where there is very limited space. This fact usually deems the traditional staircase design unsuitable. However, there are still physical realities that need to be taken into account. The spiral options will, more than likely, require a banister for safety reasons. However, while the traditional option can be just as narrow, it typically stretches across several metres the wall of a room. The spiral design, however, will typically take up 2 metres or so, and head straight up, thereby minimising disruption to the floor plan below.

Also, the spiral option is not reliant on walls on any side, which means it can be placed in the middle of a room and emerge in the middle of the loft area above. The only real problem is in getting furniture into the loft, which should be taken into consideration before decision on one.

Tread Staircase

The third option is a tread staircase which is distinctive because of the sheer angle at which it rises. Steps in this staircase typically overlap each other, with as much as double the height of normal steps between them. This makes them more taxing to climb, and effectively rules them out as practical options for the older generation.

However, their advantage is in the minimal amount of space they take up. In effect, they occupy only a little more than the area occupied by a spiral staircase, but maybe as much as half the area of a traditional staircase. They can be highly stylised, with steps specifically designed to allow for feet movement in such a restricted space. In fact, steps can be little more than triangular chunks alternating from the left and right sides.

Of course, regardless of the type of staircase that one might choose, and as is the case with all house extensions, there are a number of fire and safety regulations that must be met. These relate to position, materials, headroom, and the inclusion of banisters. For example, all stairs with a width of 1 metre or less, must have banisters that are a minimum of 90cms in height.

These factors will effect a final decision, and with leading conversion companies like CB Construction Bristol, home owners can be sure of getting the best advice. In fact, it is vital that when considering a loft conversion, Bristol home owners and home owners everywhere else, seek advice from firms with a proven history and reliability.