Stairs & Staircases

Timber is a classic material that has been used to build staircases for many, many years.  It is an economical material choice which if designed and developed properly can produce a stunning staircase. It is hard wearing and durable which ensures a long lasting staircase.

Staircases can be built open rise, closed or cut stringer, or any other special requests can be manufactured.

Timber is a very versatile building material and with the right protective finishes timber can be used for both internal and external staircases.

Timber is both an elegant and practice material choice when building staircases.  It can either be painted or stained depending on the desired finish.

When choosing which type of timber to build your stair case with it is important that you choose on that is certified by the FMC (Forest Management Certification). These timbers are sourced from sustainable managed forests which will ensure that you are not depleting our natural forests for future generations.

Stairking have been designing and building timber staircases since 1920. They are now Australia’s leading timer staircase specialist.

For more information about timber staircase design see the Stairking Website.

Scala Regia (Royal Staircase)is a famous flight of stairs which is located in the Vatican City. It was built in the 16th Century by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger and is an integral element to the Vatican entrance. Its purpose was to connect the Vatican Palace to St Peter’s Basilica. After many years of use the Scala Regia began to come into disrepair and was then restored to its former glory in 1666.

Purpose

The Scala Regia (Royal Staircase) is a set of stairs that was built in the Portone di Bronzo (the official entrance) that was reserved for the king. Its structure is very majestic in nature to emphasize the importance in the king’s position of power.

Building process and structure

Building the Scala Regia was not an easy task due to the awkwardly, irregular walls. Bernini espied to exalt his entry point into the Vatican and for this reason there were a number of theatrical, elaborate effects used in the construction of the staircase. The staircase was built with a narrowing at the end of the vista. It was created this way to emphasize and exaggerate the distance.

Building Stairs

Although staircases do provide a means of getting from one floor to the next, and are therefore essential, there is more reason than simply practicality to install one. From classic to contemporary staircases, the challenge inherent to the architect and the resulting manifestation of ingenuity, skill and imagination creates a feature that will enhance your home. There is a plethora of styles of staircases, made possible also because of the range of materials that can be used, from glass, to wood, stone, reinforced concrete, steel and other metals such as wrought iron.

Some basic components of staircases include:

• treads- what you step on
• risers- the vertical face of the stair
• stringers- the structure holding the treads and risers up
• handrails – a safety and support feature for those climbing the stairs
• balusters- the pillars supporting the handrail
• newel post- the pillar at the beginning and end of the handrail

Staircases can be custom made or pre-built, and whichever is chosen it is imperative that all pieces are fastened together securely with construction adhesive and square-drive finish screws. This will prevent squeaky stairs later on as the materials may shrink and swell with changes in humidity.

Australian Stair Builders

Australia’s oldest stair builder, Slattery & Acquroff, was established in 1920. Originally a family business, today it employees over 85 employees and is Australia’s leading staircase specialist. The reason that they continue to flourish today is that they know how to deliver staircases that exceed customer expectations by paying attention to what is wanted.

With almost 90 years of experience, Slattery & Acquroff provide expertise, customer service and superior staircases. They offer a wide range of styles and materials to choose from. From feature stairs, classic staircases to modern or contemporary staircases, they are able to design and build the staircase you are after. The company also has a wide range of materials to choose from for balustrades and handrails, including timber, glass, stainless steel, wire and wrought iron.