Country houses often include the presence of several floors and the presence of such an architectural element as a staircase is a prerequisite for free movement between different levels of the building. Some owners prefer marching flights, while others choose spiral staircases for summer cottages - as such, there is no consensus on this matter.
However, when choosing a staircase, it is necessary to focus not only on personal preferences, but also on the technical parameters of the structure and the size of the room, since in some cases the use of certain analogs will be completely inappropriate. There are several main types of flights of stairs, which differ from each other, both in appearance and in internal structure.
Types of stairs
Marching
Marching stairs got their name from the presence of a march - a flight of stairs, which has a rectilinear structure. This is one of the most traditional types of stairs that can be found almost everywhere. Marching flights are most adapted to the biomechanics of the human body - climbing and descending along them takes the least amount of energy compared to other analogues.
Their design may include landings - in the event that the number of steps of the stairs is too large to overcome in one go. Areas play a role "Transshipment point", where the ascending person can take a breath. Also, mid-flight stairs are practically unlimited in span width, which makes it possible for several people to move comfortably at the same time.
The main disadvantage of marching spans is the massiveness of the structure - a large amount of space is required to accommodate them. Depending on the parameters of the stairs, the amount of space required varies, but, nevertheless, it remains quite significant, which is not always appropriate.
Screw
Spiral metal stairs have the form of a vertical spiral that twists around the support pillar. From an aesthetic point of view, this type of staircase is more exotic than a marching one and some owners of living space install them solely because of their appearance. The main advantage of spiral staircases is ergonomics - much less space is required for their installation than in the previous case.
The disadvantages include the fact that spiral staircases to the second floor for a summer residence are not convenient - they cannot include a staircase or a large span width. They are not intended for a room in which the elderly or small children constantly live - in view of the compressed space, the angle of rise of the stairs will be quite steep, which significantly complicates the process of its operation.
Modular staircase
This is the most original version of the staircase design - the steps are fixed by means of metal rods, which completely transform the appearance of the staircase. A wall or ceiling is used as a load-bearing element, which significantly saves space. In their design, railings or any external fasteners may be completely absent.
Modular stairs are the most shocking type of flights of stairs - most often they are given their preference solely because of their appearance.The second factor for their installation is space saving. The disadvantage of stairs of this type is the mandatory presence of a wall, which plays the role of a load-bearing element.
Selection of material
The material, which will serve as the basis for the flight of stairs, has a great influence on the quality characteristics and features of operation. Most often, metal and natural wood are used for this purpose.
Note! There are also stairs made of natural or artificial stone, but in this case it is used as a finishing material and will not be considered in this article.
Wood
Natural wood is the most traditional raw material for stair flights. A wooden staircase for a summer residence is perhaps the most common solution today. Natural texture has always been a symbol of quality and wealth, and therefore, wood products are often not exposed to any extraneous coating other than colorless varnish.
The popularity of wood is due to the presence of a number of unique features that make this material almost indispensable for creating flights of stairs. Even if it is not the main material for the staircase, it is often used as additional insert elements, which can carry both a purely decorative function and increase performance.
Dignity
- Price. Commercial wood is one of the cheapest materials for making interfloor staircases. It cannot be called a budget option, since the cost is still quite high, but in comparison with other options, wooden stairs are quite cheap;
Note! Reducing costs is associated not only with the cost of consumables, but also with the cost of installation work - for the installation of wooden stairs you do not need expensive equipment and services of craftsmen, which is often impossible to do without when installing metal counterparts.
- Ease of processing. Wood is a rather malleable material that can be easily processed, which is important if you are installing a ladder with your own hands. Instructions for processing wood are also not very complicated;
- The integrity of the structure. A wooden staircase does not need any additional decoration, since its aesthetic and technical characteristics are at an optimal level. The presence of additional inserts or other elements is quite rare;
- Fragility. Wood does not have a great potential for fracture strength - it is quite easy to scratch or split by mechanical stress of moderate severity, and therefore, the appearance of the stairs can quickly deteriorate;
- Creak. Even properly assembled components can become loose and squeaky over time;
disadvantages
Metal
Metal stairs for home and summer cottages can be found quite often, despite the specifics of this material. Most often, complex staircases are assembled from metal, you can also find options for a standard structure, but their use is rather limited, in view of an unattractive appearance.
For the most part, the metal base is combined with various materials:
- tree,
- stone
- glass, etc.
Dignity
- Durability. Metal is quite difficult to damage, and therefore, stairs of this type are the most durable analogue today. With proper installation and proper care, the metal structure will remain unchanged for a very long time;
- No squeak. Since there are no wooden parts in contact with each other in the structure of the staircase, it does not squeak.In some cases, the appearance of a squeak is still possible, but this is a consequence of damage to any part and indicates the need for a thorough inspection and repair work:
- Variety of shapes. The strength of the material allows you to create complex structures without significantly strengthening the structure - a modular staircase for a summer residence is most often assembled from metal;
Outcome
Correctly selected metal or wooden staircases for a summer residence are a guarantee of the comfort of daily living in a multi-storey building. Having made the right choice, you will ensure the ease of use and durability of the installed structure (also find out what a staircase on a metal stringer is).
The video in this article contains interesting information on the topic for completeness, look!
