A spiral staircase is simply irreplaceable for the interior of rooms with limited space, or in cases where it is necessary to maintain a certain architectural style.
The screw can be made of wood, metal, composites, or all of these materials in combination. This depends on the choice of the owners of the building, on the skills and capabilities of the craftsman, as well as on the general interior design of the room into which the created structure will fit.
Since this type of staircase itself is not just functional, but also decorative element, it is suitable for almost any interior style. For example, a room made in a “rustic” country style would be perfect with massive steps, and for an interior in which the “modern” style predominates, you will need to purchase or order forged balusters or steps with metal “lace.”
For each of existing options finishes can be selected design solution, and the material from which the stairs will be made.
Pros and cons of spiral staircases
Like all interior details, spiral staircases have their positive and negative sides, which you need to be aware of when choosing this option for installation in a particular room.
1. The advantages of this type of stairs include:
- Compact design. Most often, this circumstance is decisive when choosing a staircase for small rooms. And if the room has a low ceiling, then the screw model usually visually makes it slightly higher.
- Unlike marching staircases, the spiral model will not take up much space on the first floor and will not require a large opening in the ceiling, which means you can save useful space on the second floor.
One of the main advantages of a spiral staircase is space saving
- A spiral staircase is perfect as an additional, internal staircase, for example, if the main one is located on the outside of the building. The main ladder is necessary for lifting large objects, such as furniture and household appliances, and it will be difficult to do without a screw in the winter.
- By choosing this option, you can save not only on the area of the rooms, but also on overall cash costs. A spiral staircase is often much cheaper than a flight staircase - due to the smaller amount of materials required for its manufacture, as well as in some cases- due to the ease of installation.
- This original element will give the interior exclusivity, which for many owners of mansions is also important, and sometimes even a predetermining factor.
2. This design also has its significant disadvantages:
- The main thing that can be attributed to the negative aspects is the impossibility or extreme difficulty of climbing screw design large items.
- If there is a residential, frequently visited premises on the second floor and the residents of the apartment have to go up and down the stairs several times a day, then this circumstance can have a bad effect on the building, and perhaps even on their well-being. Therefore, it is best to arrange bedrooms on the second floor, where they are not climbed so often, or, as mentioned above, you can have a main flight of stairs and a spiral staircase - as a decorative one.
Main types of spiral staircases
Spiral staircases come in several main varieties, depending on the design and fastening of the steps. But in all cases, the steps are attached radially with small turns of each step, forming some semblance of the thread direction of an ordinary screw, which is where the name of this staircase model comes from.
If you look at the stairs from above, you can see a round or polygonal flight of stairs.
- The latter is formed if part of the steps is fixed not only on the central pillar, but also on one or two walls. This type of staircase is located in narrow niche in limited space or in a corner. In the figure above, this option is number one.
- The second picture shows a view of the staircase in which the steps are cantilevered onto the inner central post.
- In the third option, the steps are fixed to a support post and to bent bowstrings and a fence.
Option without a central post at all - with bent bowstrings
- In the last type of spiral staircase shown in the figure, the steps are fixed to the casing and supported on the other side curved railings.
The steps are “accumulated” onto the central vertical post
These are the main, most used types of screw structures, but there are others - more complex ones, which can only be made by professional craftsmen.
Find out which system is better to choose from our new article.
Screw design elements
To understand how and which parts must be made for a spiral staircase, you must know what they are called, where they are located and what way are mounted. Therefore, before moving on to further actions, it is worth understanding this issue.
1 — Stair steps.
2 — The final upper platform of the structure.
3 — Supporting post for handrails and balustrades.
4 — The central cylindrical support pillar, which can be called the basis of the entire structure.
5 — The cylinders that make up the central column.
6 — racks for supporting the handrail and fastening the turns of the spiral staircase together.
7 — Jumpers.
8 — Helical handrail
9 — Second floor fencing.
In addition to these elements themselves, you need to know how they are connected in various structural units:
- Node “A” is the connection between the central support post or crimp pipe of the staircase and the railing on the second floor.
A handrail, in which a special through hole.
- Node “B” - shows the connection using a thread of a section of a crimp pipe with a sleeve installed in the hole of the step.
- Unit “B” - installation of washers and sleeves on the casing pipe, which performs a decorative and pressing role.
- Node “G” is the connection of the support post with the base, which is fixed to the floor.
Video: prefabricated modular spiral staircase “Dream”
Important nuances when calculating, manufacturing and installing stairs
In order for the staircase to be comfortable and safe for ascent and descent, it is recommended that at all stages of work - during calculations, during the manufacture and installation of the structure - follow the recommendations and rules developed and tested by experienced specialists.
- The width of the step in its middle, where people most often step when ascending and descending, is not recommended to be less than 200 mm.
- The supporting central post, for safety reasons, should not have a diameter less than 50 mm.
- It is not recommended to install risers on a spiral staircase, as they can interfere with the full placement of a person’s foot on the surface of the step. This can lead to your foot slipping and an accidental fall, and as a result, there is a high risk of injury.
- Each of the turns of the staircase must have at least 11 ÷ 12 steps.
- It is recommended to calculate the height of the turns of the structure taking into account the maximum height of the residents of the house; it is advisable to even take it with a margin of 100 ÷ 200 mm. If an incorrect calculation is made downwards, then in some parts of the stairs you will have to bend over so as not to hit your head. Agree that using such a structure will be extremely inconvenient.
Calculation of spiral staircase parameters
Before starting to manufacture staircase elements, it is necessary to carry out careful calculations, otherwise the design may simply be unsafe.
The first thing to start with is general drawing and calculation of parameters
The passage width of a spiral staircase usually varies between 700 and 1000 mm.
To understand how to correctly calculate the parameters, you can take average statistical data as an example. For example, the width of the staircase passage will be equal to 900 mm, its height is 2700 mm, and the diameter of the central support post is 300 mm.
First you need to determine the overall diameter of the spiral staircase, in projection - top view. To do this, you need to take two passage widths of the stairs (900×2) and add the diameter of the support post to the resulting result:
(900 × 2) + 300 = 2100 mm
In this circle you need to inscribe another one, which will show the trajectory of a person walking up the stairs. The radius of the second circle will be equal to the sum of the radii of the supporting central post and the width of the staircase, divided in half.
(900 + 150) : 2 = 575 mm
Next, it is necessary to determine how many steps there will be in each complete turn of the structure. To calculate this parameter, you need to take the average width of the step. Since the usual width of this element for an external fence is 400 ÷ 450 mm, then approximately in the middle (along the trajectory of a person’s movement) you can take 250 mm for calculation.
Then, the circumference of the movement path must be divided by the average width of the step.
(2 × 3.14 × 575) : 250 = 14.44 pcs.
In this case, rounding is done upward and the result is 15 steps.
The next step is to find the height of the steps. For this purpose, the first circle is divided into 15 equal parts. It must be taken into account that the last and first stages of the coil should be located between themselves according to the height of a fairly tall person, for example, 1900 mm. Adding to this parameter another reserve - about 100 mm. In addition, you need to take into account the thickness of the step, let’s say it will be 30 mm. The total is
1900 + 100 + 30 = 2030 mm
Further, knowing all the calculated parameters, you can easily find out the height of each of the steps (if, of course, their placement is planned at the same height interval). To do this, the height of the coil must be divided by the number of steps:
2030: 15 = 135.33 ≈ 135 mm
In order to find out the total number of steps in the staircase, you need its height - from the floor of the first floor to the level of the second, divided by the height of the step.
2700 : 135 = 20 steps.
Total for the entire ascent the ladder will make 20 : 15 = 1,(33) full revolutions, or describe a full turn and plus another 120 degrees.
Use a winder or spiral staircase with a description.
Manufacturing of structural parts
support pillar
For the supporting central pillar, metal pipes, concrete, brick and wooden pillars are used.
Steps can be secured to metal, concrete or brick using elements welded to the pipe, couplings or bolts.
TO wooden stand securing the steps is much easier. For this, any methods can be used, from metal corners to wooden blocks, installed vertically in the gaps between the steps.
The stand must be strong and easily withstand the total weight of all structural elements and a large person with luggage located on the stairs. In addition, the central support pillar must be securely fastened at the top and bottom.
The diameter of a stand made of metal (pipe) must be at least 50 mm, and that made of other materials - from 150 to 500 mm and even sometimes more.
Making steps
For the manufacture of steps, a tree with a dense structure is most often chosen - beech or oak, but other species are often used. However, it is better not to choose fragile wood, such as pine or spruce, as they may not be able to withstand the heavy load that falls on these staircase parts.
- When choosing material for steps, you need to know that the thickness of the finished parts must be at least 50 mm, provided that the height of the stairs does not exceed 2 meters. If the overall structure is higher, then the thickness of the steps should be greater - at least 60 mm.
- The material for the manufacture of parts must be moderately dried and processed. It is best to purchase an already planed board. If wood is dried unevenly, it can gradually lose moisture and become deformed, taking on the shape of a propeller or tray. The worst thing is if this starts to happen after the workpiece has been installed in the overall structure. Most likely, a deformed step will have to be replaced, otherwise it will “pull” other parts along with it, violating the overall strength of the assembly.
Taking into account all these circumstances, and relying on the experience of the craftsmen, it is recommended to use glued wood for the manufacture of steps, which can be made independently, using bars of the required thickness. The panel of bars should have a length equal to the length of the step, and the width should accommodate two steps laid in the opposite direction.
- The bars are assembled into a common panel, and it is very important to ensure that adjacent parts have a structural pattern of fibers directed in opposite directions. The bars are glued together and tightened using clamps, and in this position this assembly is left until completely dry.
- In order not to constantly resort to measurements when making each part, it is best to make a step template, with the help of which the shape and size will be transferred to the prepared glued panels with very high accuracy.
The template is made according to the parameters obtained as a result of calculations carried out in advance. You should definitely remember that after cutting out the workpiece, the steps will undergo final processing, so you also need to provide a certain allowance for it, about 5 mm, and make a template taking this amendment into account.
- When using a template to transfer the shape of a step onto a glued panel, it is especially important to accurately transfer the size of the wide side of the step and the hole (if provided) under the counter. The correctness, ease and quality of installation of the structure will directly depend on the correctly transferred parameters. Naturally, it is equally important to accurately transfer other dimensions (the width of the middle and narrow parts), but they will not seriously affect the build quality.
- Since the topmost step is a kind of platform that connects the stairs and the floors of the second floor, it is significantly larger in size.
It can be marked and cut out using a template made for ordinary steps, only then slightly increasing the dimensions. The figure clearly shows the process of calculating and marking the upper step-platform on a blank panel glued together from bars.
Sometimes the length of this element is increased so that the platform can rest with its wide side on interfloor covering, which will make the ladder more durable. In addition to the length, the width of this step is also made larger, which will improve its performance.
- After marking the steps, they are cut out and then processed on special carpentry machines or finished manually.
- If there are holes for mounting steps on a support post, then they are selected with a specially selected cutter, only after all the elements have been cut out.
Several steps are stacked, securely fixed to each other on both sides, and then holes are drilled for the support. Using this “batch” method of cutting holes, you can obtain a more precise location, which will help in the future to facilitate the installation of the structure.
Read the article yourself with detailed descriptions actions.
Manufacturing of posts and balusters
- To make racks, you need to have laminated veneer lumber with a section size of at least 50 × 50 mm and a lathe. You can, of course, install well-processed square bars in the form of racks, but round balusters with a certain relief pattern are traditional. If it is not possible self-made Such elements can also be purchased ready-made.
- To ensure structural rigidity, the outer posts are shaped so that they can connect two steps at once - this is also necessary in order to eliminate the risk of the step turning on the support pipe.
- It should be noted that baluster posts can be glued into drilled holes and secured on top of the steps special fastenings or put on and glued to the steps using cuts made in the lower part of the balusters, half their cross-section.
The calculation of the installation location of the balusters is clearly shown in the drawing below.
Later it will be necessary to mark and cut the upper part of the racks under the right angle, which will depend on the slope and turns of the stairs.
Stair railing
Curved ones look great on a spiral staircase wooden railings, but making them yourself is a very difficult task. high level difficulties. So, necessary details can be executed in several ways, none of which can be called simple:
- sawing out individual parts of the railing from solid pieces of wood, and then assembling them together;
— sawing out railings from bars glued together;
— gluing an element made of thin wood veneer.
Making bent wooden handrails is a task for real craftsmen
To make a railing, you will need not only the appropriate material, but also a tool that provides the desired bend and at the same time fixes the bent element in the desired position.
Therefore, in order not to waste time and effort on making bent handrails (especially without any special guarantee of success), they can be ordered from specialized manufacturing companies engaged in the production of complex wooden structures, including stairs and their components.
The craftsman will determine on the spot what radius to make the bend, take all the parameters of the staircase and make a handrail, as well as a plinth, if it is also included in the project.
The owner of the house will only have to install these elements on the staircase during its installation, although this work can also be entrusted to the craftsmen.
If you need to save money on handrails made of wood, you can order them to be made from another material, for example, plastic, which perfectly imitates the textured pattern of wood. Another option for railings is a combined one, that is, made of metal and plastic.
However, no matter what type of railing is chosen, its installation and fastening occurs last.
How is installation done?
- Having determined the installation location of the staircase, it is marked in such a way that the structure, designed to be installed at a certain distance from the wall, does not rest against it.
If the structure will be fixed to the wall in a certain way, it also needs to accurately calculate the installation location of the central post and the shape of the opening in the ceiling.
- The first step is to mark the ceiling, determining the center of the circle, which should later be cut into the ceiling and will subsequently serve as a passage to the second floor.
Determination of centers - on the ceiling and on the floor
- Having determined this point, using a plumb line it is accurately projected onto the floor. This mark will become the location for installing the support post.
- Next, an opening is cut in the ceiling the desired shape, and its edges are immediately decorated decoratively.
- The next step is the installation of the support post, if it is monolithic.
If ready-made sets of spiral staircases are used, then their prefabricated parts are a support post consisting of individual elements, and the steps, which are immediately fixed to the rack, are mounted at the same time.
An approximate diagram of such an assembly is presented above.
If the steps will be mounted on a monolithic rack made of concrete or brick, then places are marked on it where special brackets are fixed using anchor elements or welding. The steps will be laid and attached to them.
- If the stand has a large diameter and is made of wood, then to install the steps it is easiest to use bars that have the height of the distance between the steps, which will be obtained from preliminary calculations.
The bars are fixed vertically to precisely marked places on the pole using powerful self-tapping screws. The size of the bars can be 30 × 50 or 50 × 50 mm in cross section. This fastening method can safely be called the simplest; the main thing is to prepare the required number of bars of the required sizes.
- Under the first step on its wide side, you can provide a reliable stand on the floor from a larger block, which must be carefully processed.
- The upper platform step is placed on the floors of the second floor and securely fastened.
- Next, when all the steps are set, balusters are installed on them, but are not secured yet, since marks need to be made on them for cutting at the required angle, which will correspond to the slope of the stairs.
It is easy to determine the angle of their cut; for this process you will need to make a simple template in the form of a triangle. How to do this correctly is shown in the diagram below.
When all the balusters have been marked, they are carefully cut down, installed and secured to prepared fasteners (holes, tongues or grooves), but in addition to them, it is recommended to additionally fix the wooden balusters with glue.
- Next, a handrail is installed on the balusters, which is secured to them using self-tapping screws, screwed at an angle. To avoid damaging the rack, you first need to drill a channel for the self-tapping screw with an appropriate drill (usually Ø 3 mm is used), and then a thin but fairly long self-tapping screw is screwed into this hole.
Instead, some craftsmen use ordinary nails, however, given the fragile twisted structure of the staircase, it is still better to use self-tapping screws.
- To make the structure more durable, you can fasten a wide twisted plinth along the entire length of the staircase, on its outer side.
Having finished installing the staircase, you can proceed to its final finishing. You can cover it with paint, which will help fit the structure into overall design, or you can use stains and colored or clear wood varnish.
If you decide to manufacture and install spiral staircase independently, then the main thing in this matter is to make the structure as convenient, reliable and safe as possible, especially if the house is inhabited by elderly people and small children.
If you lack experience and skills in such work, it is better to entrust this process to a qualified master. IN as a last resort , you can start installing a finished structure, a set of parts of which is made by professionals. In this case, you will need to accurately, down to the smallest detail, follow all the technological recommendations specified in the instructions that come with such a kit.
Video: installation of a finished set of spiral staircases
A spiral staircase to the second floor is one of the most popular designs for communication between floors. Can save space and decorate the interior of any room. Can be installed in the smallest areas, in an apartment, country house or dacha. Also known as a pivot, round or radial design.
Construction and calculation of a spiral staircase
The design of spiral staircases has a number of disadvantages, for example, they are not always convenient, especially for the elderly and small children. In this case, it is preferable to use a regular flight as the main interfloor rise, and a rounded structure is ideal as a service or technical one, since it does not take up too much space.
To avoid falls and injuries, you must carefully prepare your spiral staircase design. Only if all requirements (GOST and SNiP) and construction rules are met, the product will turn out to be convenient and practical.
Drawings and dimensions of staircases
- H – height of the stairs. It is the sum of the distance to the ceiling and the thickness of the ceiling (h p);
- H 1 – the distance between the turns of the staircase, that is, the height to which you can climb after completing one full turn.
Important: H 1 should not be less than 2 meters, otherwise when climbing you can hit your head on the top step;
- h – riser height – the distance that can be climbed by climbing one step. It is believed that the most convenient height is from 12 to 22 cm;
- h 1 – tread depth. It should be sufficient so that when descending the foot does not slip off the steps, and when ascending it provides reliable support for the foot. It is recommended to take values from 25 to 40 cm. At the central support, the depth of the tread step should be 10 cm or more;
To make movement convenient, the circular staircase must meet the following conditions:
2 h + h 1 = 60..65 cm (1)
A round staircase less than 1.5 meters wide must be equipped with railings 90 cm or more in height.
The design of the structure begins with the calculation of the main dimensions. Let's assume that the distance to the floor of the second floor (H) is 3 m. The width of the staircase (R) will be 1.2 m. The entrance location is strictly under the exit (i.e. the twist angle is 360°).
H = 3 m, R = 1.2 m, ω = 360°;
n = H / h, 3000 / 180 = 16.7
Rounding the value up, we get the answer - 17. But since the last step is the floor of the second floor, there will be 16 steps on our staircase.
The length of the stairs (L o) along the main ascent line is calculated as follows:
L o = 2πR 1, where R 1 = 2/3 R, therefore
L o = 4/3πR, substituting the value R = 1.2m into the formula, we get
h 1 = L / n = 5 / 17 = 0.29 m = 29 cm
Having checked our calculations using formula (1), we get the number 65. That is turning staircase with these parameters it will be quite comfortable for walking.
Shape of steps
h 1 inner = 10cm
h 1 ext = L in / n, where
L in = 2πR = 2 * 3.14 * 1.2 = 7.536 m substitute the value
h 1 out = 7.536 / 17 = 0.44 m = 44 cm
It turned out that the depth of the tread at the outer edge is 440mm.
Of course, calculations very rarely result in integer numbers, as a result of which errors appear and the shape of the steps is distorted. To level this out, the size of the steps can be changed slightly, for example, making the first one slightly lower than the others. This way the remaining steps will remain the same.
Turning stairs, as a rule, are made without risers. This is explained by the fact that it is more convenient to move around such a structure. Therefore, the height of the steps may have a slight flaw.
Calculation of the distance to the ceiling
As we climb each step, we approach the ceiling to the height of the riser (h). In our case, this is 18 cm. Having overcome 4 steps, we will rise to 72 cm. If we take the thickness of the floor (h p) as 20 cm, then for the fourth step:
H 1 = H - 4h - h p = 300 - 72 - 20 = 208 cm
This is quite acceptable, since this parameter must be at least 2m.
When ascending to the fifth step, the loss of height will already be 90 cm and H 1 = 190 cm, with this value A tall man may hit his head.
Based on this, the length of the upper floor platform along the center line in our case should not exceed the depth of four treads, that is, 1.16 m.
This can be seen more clearly in the figure, which shows a round staircase, viewed from above. The site is highlighted in white. The dotted line is the steps that are located under it. Start flight of stairs coincides with the exit point. The rise occurs counterclockwise.
These calculations are approximate and do not take into account the thickness of the material from which components for spiral staircases will be made, for example, the covering of steps and some other nuances that must be taken into account.
How to make an opening in the ceiling
It is best to prepare a staircase opening in the ceiling of the second floor immediately, when building a private house. If this was missed, then in case wooden ceilings, it must be cut out before installing the interfloor structure.
The opening can have a round or rectangular shape, depending on whether round or square spiral staircases will be installed.
The main thing is that the basic condition must be met: the size of the opening must be 10 cm larger than the diameter of the spiral staircase on each side. This is necessary so as not to injure your hands on the walls when using the railing on the last steps.
If a round opening for the stairs is assumed, you should draw it on the floor of the lower floor and then transfer it to the ceiling.
A through hole is drilled in the center of the circle. Then, on the floor of the second floor, a pin is inserted into this hole and, using a rope, the length of which corresponds to the radius of the opening, and a pencil tied to it, a hole is outlined that needs to be cut out.
Alternatively, the area where the second floor platform is supposed to be made does not need to be removed. This will save time on its arrangement. In addition, the cost of a spiral staircase will be slightly lower. But at the same time, the most careful calculations are needed so as not to make a mistake with the location of the site.
The staircase opening is lined with a beam made of veneer in the shape of a circle. The beam consists of several layers, bent using steel circles and stops. The first and last layers must be made from solid pieces of veneer. For the manufacture of intermediate layers, it is allowed to use shorter pieces.
The design of the opening will be done better if the layers are made one at a time, then dried, glued and inserted into the next layer.
The finished beam is installed in the opening for the spiral staircase and secured with corner pads. To give a more aesthetic appearance, decorative skirting boards are additionally installed.
Finishing a staircase opening that has a square shape requires a minimum of effort and skill due to the lack of rounded parts.
Step-by-step instructions for making a staircase to the second floor
The production of spiral staircases begins with the selection of materials for load-bearing elements, components and casing . Either can be used as a central post iron pipe, or a strong wooden beam large diameter. Steps and handrails are usually made of solid wood, railings and railings are made of stainless steel or, again, wood.
Wooden steps
Wooden steps are usually made of oak, beech, maple and others hard rocks. Alternatively, you can buy ready-made steps for the stairs or use homemade ones by cutting the boards to required sizes with your own hands.
For example, a rectangular board can be sawn diagonally and get 2 trapezoidal treads. Then you need to round off the edges, process the edges and varnish in 3 layers - the steps are ready.
Installation of balusters
You can cut balusters with your own hands from metal rods or wooden rods. When making racks, some need to make several bigger size. They will go to the first and last steps and to the edges of the site. This will strengthen the strength of the entire structure and give the staircase a finished appearance.
You can try to make carved balusters with your own hands. For this you need a lathe. And in order to drill straight holes at the ends of the racks, it will do regular drill. Adjust it approximately as in the photo:
Smooth holes are very important, because they ensure the strictly vertical position of the balusters.
Installation of railings
To make railings, you will need two types of wooden balusters: large posts that are installed at the corners, and small ones for each step. 
Making a bowstring
To bend a string for a ladder, soak a piece of wood in boiling water until completely softened, then bend it in the right places, secure it in a bent position and leave it to dry.
There are more modern way– gluing many thin lamellas together. A spiral staircase on a bowstring made in this way can take on the coolest shapes.
Assembly and installation of the structure
The metal spiral staircase is easy to make and fits perfectly into the interior country house or dachas. The most popular is the design with cantilever support of the steps on the casing. In this example, we will show how to build a staircase with turning steps with our own hands.
Installation of a spiral staircase begins with the installation of a central post, which is a thick-walled steel pipe, with a diameter of at least 5 cm. Having secured the metal support, steps are strung on it. After each step, a sleeve is put on.
Then the steps unfold like a fan. In this case, it is necessary to very accurately calculate where the beginning and end of the stairs are. Once the flight is complete, each step is connected using support brackets that are installed near the outer edge. Lastly, the railings are assembled - the posts (balusters) of the fence and handrails are mounted.
A spiral staircase to the second floor of a private home is an important element of home design. You can do it yourself, spending a minimum of money on purchasing the required materials.
Spiral staircase structures, which are often called circular and spiral, are very popular among owners two-story houses With small area. To arrange such stairs, one and a half square meters, on which a reliable support is mounted. And the structure itself, attached to this base, literally “hangs” in the air, creating a truly sophisticated design in your home.
Spiral staircase design
Spiral staircases are made from different materials. At the same time, wood structures are considered the most popular. They make it possible to create very original interiors for relatively little money. And most importantly, anyone who is comfortable with the most common construction tools can make and install a wooden staircase with their own hands.
Structurally, circular structures on the second floor are divided into several types. It is easy to select drawings for the following staircase structures:
- With steps reinforced using cantilever technology on the main monolithic support pillar. Such structures are mounted at some distance from the walls of the room.
- With wedge-shaped steps resting on the central column and at the same time on the walls. Steps to wall surfaces are most often fixed on bolts. But there are also more “advanced” options, when fastening is carried out on stringers or on spiral-shaped bowstrings.
- Without central support. In this case, the steps are attached to stringers or spirally curved bowstrings, which turn into special railing rods. It is quite difficult to make such a staircase with your own hands, although drawings for its manufacture are available in large quantities.
- With a central support made of asbestos-cement or metal pipe. The cross section of the latter should be 5 or more centimeters. As a rule, these are exactly wooden structures This is done by the owners of private two-story houses with their own hands. They are characterized by high operational reliability and ease of manufacture.
Wooden staircase structures are built according to certain principles. In order to competently make a drawing and develop a project for such structures, you need to take into account the following requirements:
- the steps should have a depth of 20 cm in their center line;
- the diameter of the spiral staircase is taken to be in the range of 130–330 cm (the opening in the interfloor ceiling must have a similar indicator);
- march width – up to 143 cm (not less than 53 cm).
In practice, structures with a diameter of about 210 cm are most often erected with their own hands. Note that in plan they can be not only round, but also oval or polygonal. The optimal width of the flight of the structure is 85 cm. If you are planning to make a staircase with your own hands for the first time, experts advise using ready-made drawings. There are no problems finding the ideal project for your home. You will only need to correct the data it contains finished drawing, adjusting them to the parameters of your home.
DIY wooden staircase
It’s easy to do the basic calculations yourself. First of all, you need to determine the height of the structure. It must be comfortable for everyone who lives in the house. Let's see how the lifting height is calculated for a structure 300 cm high with a march 80 cm wide and a support with a cross section of 20 cm (a standard project, the drawing of which is often used by home craftsmen):
- The diameter of the structure is 80x2 + 20 = 180 cm (take double the width and add to it the cross-section of the support used).
- The lifting radius is determined as the sum of the radius of the support used and 1/2 the width of the flight. Add 40 to 10 cm and get 50 cm.
- For such indicators, the number of steps in one turn of the staircase is usually taken to be 17.
Now you can calculate the optimal step height. It should ensure safe and most comfortable movement along the stairs for a person with a height of 180–200 cm. We take the maximum height (200 cm), divide it by the number of steps (17) and get a height of approximately 12 cm, which we must achieve by building a circular staircase made of wood with our own hands. You can use the described calculation algorithm for staircase structures with different flight lengths and widths. Just plug in your numbers and get the correct results.
The function of the central support in the described screw structures is most often performed by metal pipe with a cross section of 5–7 cm. You can also make your own main stand from durable and thick wooden beam. The central support must be mounted in the chosen place strictly vertically. In this case, the support point (by which we mean wooden or concrete floors) must easily withstand the load on the circular staircase.
Installation and fixation in a vertical position of the main column is carried out: with hardware different types(for example, anchor bolts); by filling concrete mixture the base of the support used. When using metal fasteners, it will be easier for you to align the main rack vertically with your own hands. But when pouring concrete into a pipe, you will need to additionally strengthen it with special braces and use them to align the right angle.
Fixing the main pillar of the stairs in a vertical position
It is recommended to make wooden steps for a circular staircase structure from maple, beech or oak wood. These tree species are characterized by increased strength. The steps made from them will serve you for a very long time.
You will need to take a rectangular board of a certain size, cut it diagonally to get two trapezoidal treads. After this, their edges must be rounded, the edges must be carefully processed, and several layers of varnish must be applied to future steps. If you don’t like to walk on varnished steps (you’re afraid of slipping), you can treat them with stain or special impregnations that have dirt-repellent properties. In this case, the surface of the steps will be more rough.
The steps are mounted on the central support using bushings. Please note that the height of these fasteners must be equal to the distance between the two steps. Washers should be placed on the areas of contact between the bushings and the joints of the steps. They will protect wooden crafts from deformation during operation of the structure and mechanical damage.
We make railings - we maintain safety
The final stage of work is the installation of fencing. Railings are needed not only to ensure safety of movement on the stairs, but also to give the structure an elegant look. Fences are best made from balusters made from wooden rods. They are easy to cut out lathe. If you do not have access to such equipment, you will have to buy finished goods. In this case, you will need two types of balusters:
- small ones that you will install on each step of the structure;
- larger ones (they are mounted in the corners of the stairs).
Installation of the fence proceeds as follows:
- Mark an angle on the top of the large balusters that is equal to the angle of inclination of the structure we are creating. Then cut off the unnecessary part.
- Make a hole at the bottom of the baluster. It is needed to fasten the components of the stairs using cylindrical wooden nails (they are called dowels).
- Drill holes in the places where the balusters will be mounted. We install dowels. To prevent them from becoming loose, you can additionally fill them with glue.
- Place balusters around the entire perimeter of the staircase structure.
- Install handrails. They are installed on the upper part of large balusters cut at a given angle.
- Check the accuracy of the installation of handrails using. If everything is fine, secure them.
- Apply to the fence protective compounds for wood.
Your spiral staircase is ready!
Elegant and graceful metal constructions, spiral staircases are attractive for several reasons. However, the ease of their manufacture and relatively low cost successfully complement positive traits stairs. In addition, the compactness with which the design can be made will allow it to be placed even in the most cramped area. If there was no spiral staircase in the plans for the construction or refurbishment of a dacha or house, then it is worth taking a closer look at it. It can not only decorate a home, but make it more functional.
Spiral staircase to the second floor, design advantages
The compact design of a spiral staircase will allow you to solve those problems that were inaccessible to other staircase designs, and also in combination with metal, they provide an undoubted benefit, namely:
1. Compactness. The spiral staircase has absolutely small sizes thanks to one single support around which all its structural elements are located. In order to fully use the spiral staircase, you can allocate no more than one and a half square meters of space. This is several times less when compared with traditional designs.
2. Availability. Spiral staircase prices, the prices of which are determined only by the costs of material and manufacturing in a factory or workshop, are much lower than marching structures, since all design details can be unified and do not require adjustment on site.
3. Easy to install and manufacture. The principle of making metal spiral staircases is simple, you just need to have certain basic skills and master basic tools in order to make a spiral staircase with your own hands from metal. Drawings and diagrams are also not at all complicated and can be understood and read without any preparation.
4. Functionality. A spiral staircase, in addition to being the main means of ascending to the second floor, can be used as additional method, thanks to its small size and exist along with flight stairs.
However, many point out some of the disadvantages that the screw has metal stairs. As a rule, steps become the target of attacks - it is not always possible to make them with sufficient width. Sometimes it can become a source of increased danger, especially when it comes to older people.
Types of metal spiral staircases
Because the ladder can be made different ways, then the staircase will withstand different characteristics, including dynamic loads. It all depends on the metal from which the structure is made. And, of course, technology. And it can be different:
Of course, this does not mean that the staircase is cast at the installation site, it means the manufacturing method structural elements. The easiest to install are welded structures, since they are more flexible in the choice of both linear parameters and load characteristics, therefore almost all stairs that are made independently are made using welding.
Design and drawings of spiral staircases
Designing spiral staircases is a rather complicated matter, so when manufacturing it is worth using ready-made drawings. This is due to the mass of both reference and local data that must be used for calculations, therefore the use and adaptation of the finished drawing is perfect option. When developing drawings, not only the main indicators related to the structural features are taken into account, such as:
The main indicator that determines the functionality of the structure is the width of the step, so by all standards it should be at least 35 cm at the widest point. Considering the fact that the step in a spiral staircase is not rectangular, but trapezoidal, the average width at the center of the step is taken to be 20 cm.
Economy spiral staircase in a private house, design and railings
The simplest stairs that you can successfully assemble with your own hands and use both in the country and in a large cottage are welded simple designs economy class. As a rule, such stairs are assembled around a main pillar, which is rigidly fixed in the stairwell. This design is assembled from ready-made elements, and the elements themselves can be prepared and made in convenient conditions, and when installing the structure it will be enough to assemble them together. We presented several such structures in the photo.
The simplest option is a prefabricated pillar, which is formed as the steps are strengthened, and the design of the railings and strength elements is determined by the choice of the owner; here the choice is extremely large. Thus, for very little money and with your own hands, you can make a simple spiral staircase for your summer house, which, nevertheless, will meet all the parameters of safety and comfort.
The staircase is necessary element any house containing two or more floors. Today there are several types of stairs, differing design features, dimensions and convenience. However, no matter what design you choose, the presence of railings is mandatory for each of them.
Therefore, in this article we will talk about stair handrails, including materials of manufacture and design features.
The photo shows a wooden handrail for stairs.
Handrails for modern stairs
The SNiP requirements clearly state several rules regarding stair railings:
- All stairs with more than three steps must be equipped with handrails. If the staircase structure is free, that is, it does not adjoin any of the walls, then the fence should be on both sides. If it is located near the wall, then it is necessary to fence it only on the free side.
- The handrail for the stairs should be located not lower than 90 cm from the tread.
Advice! The handrail can have a round, square, rectangular or curly shape. However, the main requirement is a size that is comfortable for the hand to grasp, because first of all it is not a decorative, but a functional element.
- The distance between the balusters should be on average 150-200 mm.
Advice! If small children live in the house, the distance should be reduced to 100 mm to avoid injury.
Choosing material
Today, handrails for stairs can be made from a variety of materials. At the same time, designers ensure that even poorly combined materials begin to look harmonious and stylish in certain models of stair railings.
If we talk about the design aspect of these structures, then it is important to achieve a combination of three main components:
- Tread the stairs.
- Railing.
- Baluster.
If the combination of these elements is successful, the staircase will have an attractive appearance.
The material used for handrails is:
- Tree.
- Metal (usually aluminum or stainless steel– materials that are easy to process).
- Stone.
- Plastic.
- Ceramics.
- Glass.
Let's look at the features of the most popular materials:
- Tree. Wood is a traditional material for stairs. Today, most structures in private homes are made of wood. Polished and varnished, the wood fits pleasantly in the hand, being a warm and environmentally friendly material. Wooden staircase, if desired, you can make it yourself.
Advice! One of the undeniable advantages of wood is that wooden elements look harmonious with any materials. Therefore, you can’t go wrong when combining wood with metal, forging, ceramics or plastic.
Wooden elements are quite strong and durable, and the price of such railings can vary from budget options to elite ones, with refined carved shapes. Such handrails can be made with your own hands without much difficulty, because wood is famous for its exceptional flexibility in work.
- Metal. Metal handrails for stairs are most often installed in large stores, sports clubs, etc. The materials for such products are stainless steel and aluminum. These are smooth and lightweight structures that are not afraid of cold and temperature changes, corrosion, dampness, maintaining their pristine shine for a long time.
In addition, they are characterized by ease of care - just wipe such elements with a soft cloth, and they will shine in a new way.
- Stone. Ancient noble houses, castles, museums and some Soviet-era institutions boast marble railings. These monumental structures demonstrate the scale and power of the building. Therefore, these days such structures are often installed in luxury cottages.
In most cases, the entire structure is made of marble, including steps and handrails.
Since the material is quite light, has a porous structure and tends to absorb moisture, in the manufacture of staircases, fastening mixtures prepared on an anhydrous basis are used.
- PVC handrails for stairs most often imitate wood, but can be of different colors. Despite the fact that such products mostly belong to the budget segment, they are characterized by many advantages:
- Enough strength to ensure the safety of the fence, as well as a beautiful appearance.
- Such products are durable, resistant to dampness and moisture, and easy to care for.
- They are very easy to install because they use carefully “fitted” parts. The bracket for the staircase handrail is easily mounted on the wall, greatly facilitating the installation of wall structures.
- Plasticity, due to which such products are easily bent when using a powerful hair dryer. This allows you to give these handrails a wide variety of shapes.
- Low cost. Perhaps, in terms of price, these products are beyond competition compared to analogues.
- Like wood, the material is warm. That is, even in severe frost you will not feel discomfort, as if you touched aluminum railings.
- High impact resistance.
- UV resistance.
- Non-conductivity of electric current.
- Acrylic. Such products are characterized by excellent appearance. If speak about transparent material, then it is an excellent alternative to glass, but acrylic is stronger and safer than glass.
Most interesting option are illuminated railings. The illumination passes along the end of the handrail, shining through its entire length. This is especially useful in low light conditions, because when you lean on the illuminated handrail, you don’t have to worry about tripping.
How to make bent handrails
The flight of stairs is the most common design today. However, there are often spiral staircases for which standard straight railings are not suitable. Such designs require a special semicircular shape of handrails.
In this regard, many home craftsmen have a question: “how to bend a handrail for a spiral staircase?” In reality, everything is much simpler than it seems at first glance. Instructions for bending directly depend on the material:
- Tree.
There are two technologies for giving wood a bent shape:
- The wooden blank should be soaked in boiling water until it is completely softened, after which it bends in the right places. Next, it is fixed in a curved position and left there until completely dry.
- A more modern method involves gluing thin lamellas, giving the workpiece the required shape. This method allows you to make blanks of any shape, even fancy ones.
- Plastic. As mentioned above, for this procedure a construction hair dryer is used, the hot air flow of which is directed onto the workpiece, which begins to bend in direct proportion to the air stream. The workpiece should be heated gradually and carefully so that the bend does not become unnecessary.
- Metal.
There are two types of bending metal products: hot and cold.
- With the hot method, the metal is heated in a special forge furnace, after which it is given the required shape with a hammer.
- The cold method is more labor intensive, but is more suitable for living conditions. The strip of metal is clamped in a vice and given the required shape with a hammer.
There is also a special machine that bends metal.
