Curved Staircases
Curved Staircases
Curved staircases are incredibly striking pieces of architecture that instantly draw the eye. If you want to make an impression or encourage visitors to explore upstairs, a curved staircase is perfect for the job. It truly delivers on the wow factor. Think of stately homes or luxury hotels with their grand hallways that just radiate extravagance. At Glass & Stainless, we can design and build a bespoke staircase for your unique situation and needs.
What are curved staircases?
You might know curved staircases under another name, helical staircases. A more sharply contoured curved staircase which completes multiple rotations can look a lot like a double helix, hence the name. A double helix is simply the distinctive shape of a DNA molecule, comprising of two strands twisting around each other.
If you’ve got the space, you could make a real statement by installing two curved staircases that work in perfect symmetry as mirrors of each. Perfect for hotels or office buildings, having two staircases is useful from a practical perspective as they help to limit the congestion that results from people trying to go up whilst others are moving downwards. The eye is almost involuntarily drawn up to the point at which the two staircases meet, making the landing the perfect place to position a stunning piece of artwork, opulent light fixture or beautiful flower display. In the home, a single curved staircase can be used to similar effect.
Although incredibly elegant to look at, bespoke staircases are also impressively strong. Advances in technology and engineering mean that you have a wide range of materials to choose from, including stainless steel, glass and timber. Each works brilliantly in combination with any other so you can be sure to find an aesthetic that sits comfortably with the rest of your interior decor.
Stainless steel is hard-wearing and easy to clean, making it ideal for an office environment. Timber lends itself well to period properties and glass is ideal for allowing light to spread throughout the property.
Curved staircase or spiral staircase?
Curved staircases are sometime confused with spiral staircases, particularly when the curved staircase rotates several times as it climbs upwards. The key detail to look out for to tell the difference is the presence of a central column.
Only a spiral staircase has this pole. Each individual stair tread is attached to it, arranged in a perfect circle at the exact same distance from the pole. In comparison, the treads of a curved staircase are simply attached to two stringers, much like a standard staircase.
If you struggle with your mobility, we would typically recommend that you chose a gentle curving staircase over a spiral one. This is simply because the stair treads of a spiral staircase narrow as they reach the central pole and so require more care. In contrast, the treads of a wide and sweeping curved staircase are typically the same width all the way across.
A curved staircase also comes with the added benefit of two handrails for you to hold on to. With both spiral and curved staircases, you shouldn’t need to worry about the rise of the step being too high as this is governed by UK building regulations.
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