Articles

Stair Supplies Handrails Stairs Balustrades Balusters Building Stairs Stair Design Newel Posts Circular Stairs Stair Spindles Stair Nosing Stair Manufacturers Custom Staircases Wood Staircases Stair Pictures Stair Rail Parts Contemporary Staircases Staircase Ideas Staircase Suppliers Wood Handrails Spiral Staircases Stair Parts Metal Stair Parts Cherry Stair Parts Hardwood Stair Parts Iron Stair Parts Oak Staircases Home Staircases Stair Treads Oak Stair Parts Boxed Newel Posts Wood Balusters Stair Turnings Oak Stair Treads Discount Stair Parts Creative Stair Parts Stair Part Distributors Buy Stair Parts Maple Stair Parts Hemlock Stair Parts More Resources About Stair Supplies

Stair Supplies

Contemporary Staircases

by Andrew Kozlov

Contemporary staircases, such as spiral stairs, circular stairs, and mini stairs, can introduce a modern flair to your home or business. Ultimately, these contemporary staircases rely on design principles that are similar to the principles used to construct classic wooden single story stairs. However, contemporary cases may dispense with ornate components, like carved balustrades and newel posts.

Many contemporary staircases are open stringed. In other words, they are built without rise boards attaching the different treads. While this adds a modern, almost Asian quality to the stair design, it also presents a number of technical and safety challenges. For one, whenever you build a staircase with an open string plan, you run the risk of having someone accidentally get their leg caught in the opening.

Designing Contemporary Staircases

The technical challenges of engineering an architecturally and structurally sound open staircase can also be complicated. That's why many people buy their contemporary staircases pre-made. Of course, you can always adjust certain components of your staircase after the fact. You may be able to skew the rises smaller to avoid trip and fall accidents, for instance.

Many contemporary staircases showcase their minimalism and functionality. For instance, some dispense with newel posts altogether in an attempt to turn the staircase into an object de art--a stand-alone work, if you will. The good news is that the components used in many modern staircases--such as iron and aluminum based metals--are relatively cheap compared to the cost of wood.

Get all Building Supplies articles via