Stairs & Staircases

Glass Balustrading

Traditionally, balustrades were moulded posts or spindles installed in staircases to support the handrail or banister. They are also used in parapets, fencing and gates. The term is derived from the Italian ‘balaustra’, which means ‘pomegranate flower’ because of the similarity to the curved form of the half-open flower.

Balustrades are made from a range of materials, including cast bronze, marble, timber, perspex, polystyrene, wrought iron, polymer stone, cast stone, plaster, concrete, steel, stainless steel, and of course glass. They can be designed vertically or horizontally, the latter giving a defined structure to the staircase without the rigidity of walls. Glass balustrades give a contemporary look to your staircase and home or business.

Benefits of Glass Balustrades

Staircases can perform two functions. The first is simple and economical access between floor levels, in other words a functional purpose. The second is aesthetic, it can make a statement that enhances the architectural style of a home. Glass balustrades provide this statement with an open and contemporary look. Glass balustrades in fencing and balconies also create an uninterrupted view, as well as being safe with toughened glass. This effect is enhanced when installing frameless glass balustrades, although regulations concerning handrails may need to be checked for your country.

In addition, unlike stainless steel or timber balustrades which need polishing and sometimes special maintenance, glass only needs to be cleaned occassionally. It will not rot, buckle, rust or deteriorate.

There is a great deal of variety when choosing the design of your glass balustrades. They can be frosted or clear, patched, semi frameless, frameless and so on. Semi frameless balustrades usually have posts, clamps, and a handrail to support it. And glass can be combined with other materials to match the rest of your home, whether it be timber, iron or stainless steel.

Stair Maintenance

It is very important to keep your staircases safe, especially with those who are more vulnerable to falling, whether children or the elderly. Regular maintenance should prevent any accidents caused by structural weakness, especially in external staircases that are more exposed to the elements.

When checking your staircase you should ensure that the handrails and balustrades are not rusty, rotted, loose or unstable (depending on the materials they are made of). You should observe for any compression or deformation of structural members. If made of timber, test it with a sharp object such as a screwdriver to find any soft decayed wood. Timber typically rots where two pieces join together, so check connection points. Also examine brackets and bolts for rust. It is also important to check any balconies for signs of deflection, as it should not lean.

Stair Design

A safely designed staircase will comply with building codes in regards to rise height, tread depth, walkline (the inner radius of the curve in spiral staircases), headroom (height above the nosing of a tread to the ceiling above it), total rise of the stairs, total run of the stairs, banister height, and balustrade spacing.

In regards to spiral staircases, winder steps are often difficult to navigate and therefore a potential cause for accidents. Slattery & Acquroff developed a system to solve the problem of narrow, wedge-shaped steps used for turning with the StepSure™ Winder System. Their solution involves incorporating a small flat landing in the corner, rather than a triangular shaped tread. This gives people more security when climbing, without taking up extra space.

Other safety measures to consider, especially in commercial and public spaces, include incorporating tactiles, visible stair nosings, antislip stair treads, antislip tapes and rubber flooring. These fittings can usually be added to most materials, whether timber, concrete or metal.

Safe Staircases

While it is possible to build a staircase yourself, if you haven’t the necessary experience it is probably best to employ a professional. This is because, while aesthetics and sound design are important, even more important is that the staircase is safe and complies with building codes.  Many people find stairs, especially steep or spiral staircases, difficult to climb. There are several ways to make stairs safer, including handrails and balustrades.

A handrail or banister is an angled beam that is placed on either both sides of the staircase or only on the open side, for people to hold onto. The balustrade system is the series of vertical beams that provide support for the handrail. Many contemporary balusters are not decorative wooden or intricate cast iron posts, instead being replaced by sheets of glass. Whichever is used, balusters prevent children from falling off the staircase, as well as giving support.

StepSure™ Winder System

Winder steps, wedge-shaped steps used to turn corners in staircases, used on U and L shape stairs were traditionally narrow and triangular, and often the cause of falls. Slattery & Acquroff, an Australian stair building company, developed the StepSure™ Winder system to solve this problem. This system makes the winder steps more regular in shape and a spacious corner landing area. This means that even staircases that make a sharp 90° turn, people can navigate them more safely.

The solution in the past was to replace all winders with a landing. However with space becoming more valuable with smaller blocks of land and smaller buildings, allowing an extra metre for the staircase may not be the most effective solution. By using the StepSure™ Winder System, the stairs are no longer intimidating, they are comfortable to walk on and easy to navigate. Rather than a difficult triangular shaped tread, a small flat landing in the corner is used. This system has been approved by the CSIRO as to its compatibility with the Building Code of Australia.