Everything You Need to Know About Stairs and Staircases

In 2013, more than half of all the new detached homes built in the United States were designed and built with two or more stories. One in five featured a full or partial basement. What all of these homes have in common is that they each required some type of stairs or staircases in order to accommodate the extra levels. For those new to home design and custom home building, stairs and staircases play important roles in how the floorplans in GA are designed. This guide will share some important insight into these must-have features.

Types of Staircases

Stairs and staircases typically come in two varieties – basic and fancy. The basic variety staircase is usually installed in a part of the home where it isn't on display. This is a strictly utilitarian staircase, so it is not built to extravagant design schematics. A basic staircase is one that is most commonly used for accessing the basement or attic levels of a home.

A fancy staircase, on the other hand, is one that is meant to not only provide access to the home's upper levels, but it is designed to accentuate the home's actual aesthetic. With a fancy staircase, the designer can spread their creative wings and utilize different-sized steps, shapes, and configurations.

Staircase Materials

The most preferred material used on fancy staircases is of the natural variety. This can include natural hardwood or any type of natural stone. Using natural products result in an end-product that is not only beautiful, but also resilient and easy to maintain. Although these types of stairs tend to be significantly more expensive than practical plain stairs, they are intended to work as one of the home's statement pieces so you can understand why quality materials are a must.

Basic staircases, on the other hand, don't require any extravagant finishes. These stairs can be finished using a laminate product or even carpeting. Of course, these products won't hold up to high amounts of traffic, so you can expect to replace the surface materials on these stairs from time to time and as wear dictates.

Does Your Floorplan Demand a Spiral Staircase?

A large, airy entryway is best suited for the atmospheric elements of a grand spiral staircase. This type of fancy staircase draws the eyes of all who enter your home and if the space is large enough, it can certainly prove to be a benefit to your home's look and feel. In fact, if your entryway can support such an elaborate structure, you can expect your home's resale value to climb as well as home buyers will be instantly transfixed by the romantic nature of the staircase.

Keeping Your Staircase Safe

Staircases, while necessary for multi-level homes, can pose certain dangers if they don't feature adequate safety measures. For instance, open stairwells should feature handrails along both sides of the stairs to help prevent slips and falls. The foot surface, or tread, should also be in good condition and free of obstacles, toys, and other objects at all times. There should also be plenty of lighting installed above the staircase. Lastly, if you have very young children, then installing latched gates at the top and the bottom of the staircase will help reduce the risk of scary accidents and falls.

Visit Southland Today for the Best Floorplans in GA

Southland Custom Homes is one of Georgia's premier custom builders. We have model showrooms located in Macon (3956 Bloomfield Village Drive, Macon, GA 31206), Dawsonville (837 GA 400 S, Dawsonville, GA 30534), and Marietta (265 N. Cobb PKWY, Marietta, GA 30062). Stop by today to see some of the best floorplans in GA!

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