Do you want to buy a staircase that meets your aesthetic and practical criteria? For interior remodeling or even new construction, the staircase remains an indispensable central element in your home, allowing access to the upper parts. How do you go about choosing your interior staircase? What estimate to expect for the installation of a staircase? We take stock of the main elements to consider, such as materials, price, and measurements, not forgetting the space available for an easy installation. Follow all these advice to choose your staircase in all serenity.

Indoor or outdoor stairs, which one to choose?

Depending on the architecture of your house and your project, you will have to choose between an interior staircase or an exterior staircase. The interior staircase is considered the central element of the house. Its shape and size will depend on the layout of your home. The classic straight staircases and those with a quarter turn are among the most common models in the home. They are practical and quite comfortable.

A spiral staircase is preferable for small areas, as it is both aesthetically pleasing and less cumbersome. You should install an exterior staircase if it is for an exterior layout (balcony, elevated access to the house) or if the surface of your house does not allow you to install one inside. This type of staircase must meet certain standards since it must withstand temperature variations. It must be resistant and non-slip.

1. A staircase for which space?

A staircase uses 4 to 6 m2 of floor space. Depending on the available space, different models can be selected. The straight or quarter-turn staircase: these two models take up the most space and are best suited to spacious rooms. It is also the ideal solution if you need additional storage space. Indeed, you can take advantage of the space underneath to install shelves, custom closets, or even a desk!

The spiral staircase: Self-supporting; this model takes up little space and can easily be installed in small spaces. Nevertheless, it does not allow for much freedom of movement and is not to be preferred as the main staircase of a family. It should also be avoided if you wish to use it to assemble bulky furniture or to fit out attic spaces.

Comfortable, the 2/4-turn staircase (which has two 90° angles) is an intermediate solution between the 1/4 turn and the spiral. It offers greater freedom of movement than the spiral staircase while ensuring maximum space saving. Nevertheless, it requires a larger hopper surface than a 1/4 turn staircase.

2. Which staircase for which cavity?

Very often, it is the hopper (the space available on the floor of the upper floor for the passage of the staircase) that will determine the shape of the staircase. With a long and narrow opening, a straight staircase is preferred. On the other hand, if your opening is short, a quarter-turn staircase will be more suitable, while a two-quarter-turn staircase will be more suitable on a square surface. As for the spiral, it can be installed in small hoppers.

3. What is the purpose of a staircase?

To connect busy rooms (living room, bedrooms…), choosing a wide staircase (80 cm minimum) is better. The straight staircase, 1/4 turn, or even 2/4 turn are well adapted to this situation. On the other hand, if you only use your staircase occasionally, look for folding or sliding staircases, which are perfect for serving attics or landings on narrow floors.

4. A standard or custom staircase?

There are two reasons to choose a custom staircase. The first one is obvious… For example, if your old staircase has atypical dimensions and the hopper does not fit the standard dimensions. But you can also choose a custom-made staircase to personalize it to your taste. In this case, be sure to set a maximum budget beforehand!

5. Which materials for the staircase?

Whether it is made of wood, metal, concrete, or even stone, you should choose it according to your taste while also thinking about its use. Lovers of tradition will naturally go for a wooden staircase, a classic that can also have a contemporary look depending on the species chosen. If hardwoods (oak, beech) is always preferred, the fir species will bring a more contemporary touch with its matt white tint. Be aware that a wooden staircase always tends to crack as it ages.

For an industrial and contemporary style, look for metal stairs (steel, aluminum, stainless steel). Metal will give your interior a sleek look, and its lack of risers will let the light in. Think of combining it with other materials, such as wood steps, to break its cold look. As for concrete or stone, while they allow for an incredible diversity of finishes, be aware that they require a particularly heavy installation.

Looking for help?

Backed by Toronto’s finest woodworkers, R.P.J Ram Flooring and Stairs Inc is known for its exquisite custom staircases, beautiful flooring, and more. Their team of talented experts can handle every stage of the stair construction process for builders, architects, contractors, and homeowners. When you choose them, you are choosing two decades of expertise as well as a repeat winner of the HomeStars’ Best of Award. So, what are you waiting for? Give them a call today or visit their website to learn more information about their services.