Maybe your existing staircase is no longer safe or suitable for use, or maybe you’re starting from scratch and need to design one for your new home. Chances are, though, if you’re reading this, you probably have a new staircase in the works, and you’re wanting to brush up on what you’ll need to make it happen.
You may, too, realize by now that there’s a lot more that goes into designing a staircase than selecting the steps, themselves – so the more you understand about what you need and how to refer to it, the easier a time you will have communicating with suppliers and otherwise making your wishes known. So, if you are getting prepped for a new staircase or a staircase renovation project, know that you’ll need:
Treads, Risers & Stringers
While the “tread” refers to the part of the stairs that you actually step on, the “risers” are the vertical parts that run perpendicular to the treads. The “stringers,” meanwhile, are the exterior components that hold the treads and risers securely in place. You can utilize any number of different hardwoods or softwoods, such as red and white oak, white and yellow pine, cherry, poplar, walnut and hard maple varieties, among multiple others, for their construction, or you can opt for wrought iron or other metals if you’re after a more industrial look and feel.
Handrails
If you’re looking to inject some personal style or flair into your staircase design, your handrail can help you do it. While the handrail serves an important purpose by enhancing safety and stability, it also gives you an opportunity to incorporate elegant or ornate stylistic elements that blend well with your existing space or design scheme. You can also customize your handrail in terms of its shape, choosing from flat, round or more oval-style designs, among others.
Newel Posts & Balusters
The vertical parts of the stairs that support the handrail are known as newel posts and balusters, with “newel posts” referring to the thicker, wider supporting posts often found at the top and bottom of the stairs. The smaller, thinner posts in between the newel posts are known as balusters, and you can choose from a wide variety of styles and materials for each when creating your custom staircase design.
So, even if you don’t know exactly what style or material you want for your new staircase, at least you know how to speak the language. Our massive inventory of wood and metal stair parts helps ensure that, when you are ready to take your staircase design to the next level, we can help you every step of the way.