Why Stair Railings are Not Just Functional

If you look upon the stair railings in your home as simply something to hold on to as you go from one level to another, you are missing a lot. Stair railings can add a lot to the look of a home and reflect your personal taste in decorating. Stair railings made of wood, metal or other materials are available that are easy to install and will add a great deal of value to your home. Don't forget that the stair railing is the first thing people see when they enter your home. If you are going to install a new stair railing in your home, seek the advice of a professional who can advise you as to the best choices in materials, design and types of construction.

For a choice that will always be in style, wood stair railings are usually the way to go. Wood stair railings are classic and have been used for many years and are still popular today, even with the choice of other materials that are available. There are unique designs available in wood and wood is one of the easiest materials to work with. Oak railings, for example, have a lovely reddish tinge and visible knots that add to the character of the railing. A beautiful oak wood balustrade overlooking a room will truly be memorable. Matching the color of the railing to the floor will lend a smooth, unbroken line to the area, but sometimes that may not be easy to do, Trying to match the all of the wood aspects of a room, such as the flooring, stairs, handrails, trim and balustrade is not an easy task. The most visible and noticeable part of a railing is the handrail, and it is also the part with the most important function: to steady people and to hold up the balustrade. These are important elements to consider in the design of the stair railing. The soft glow of wood railings offer charm and grace to a home and add a finishing touch to the beauty of the home while, of course, adding to the value. Strong, durable wood is a material for stair railings that will never go out of style. Traditional buildings, such as libraries, office buildings or houses and commercial edifices built in the traditional style usually have oak wood railings. It is preferred because it adds elegance and warmth to whatever area it is in.

Today, many people opt for metal railings, and this style goes well with certain decorating, especially since there are so many styles with decorative options to choose from. You will find metal railings in many luxury residences because of the elegance they can add to a home. They are especially prevalent in commercial spaces since they offer the same design and safety features as wood, but can be much more functional. The almost limitless design features available in metal railings make them right for almost any environment. Metal railings, of course, have to be installed by a specialist in that material. Make sure you hire a craftman who works in metal, because this in not an easy material to work with.

An expert will be necessary for any stair railings you want, because of the important steps that have to be considered in building a rail; the safety of a railing is paramount. The height of the stairway, the proper number of steps and the height of the rise are all very critical to both the safety and beauty of the stair. With the proper guidance of an expert, you can use your imagination and creativity in designing a beautiful staircase, especially since you have today's modern assortment of designs to choose from. Just let your inner artist guide the way.

Andrew Caxton is the author and editor of many resources published at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com. If you would like more information on this topic please checkout his website, read his article about stair railings, and subscribe to his successful e-newsletter, published regularly

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Reliability and Safety of Stair Lifts

One of the inescapable realities in the life of every individual is that of getting old as years pass by. In old age, climbing stairs of one’s own home can become a difficult task. As a solution for the mobility problems caused by physical challenges, one can opt for stair lifts designed for helping the elderly and disabled individuals to move up or down the stairs of their homes with ease. Chair lift is another name for stair lift, because a motorized chair is used to lift people up and down the stairs. It is highly reliable and safe and sans any risk of the user getting injured. There are different models of stair lifts suitable for straight, curved and spiral staircases.

The reliability and safety of stair lifts are considered with top priority, while they conform to the ASME standards. To ensure reliability and safety of stair lifts many additional safety-oriented facilities are incorporated apart from their inbuilt features; they include,

• Safety sensors to avoid the chances of the stair lift hitting the objects on its path and thus avoiding accidents,
• Reliable and foolproof mechanism to prevent the lift from operation until the seating is correct,
• Seat belts with locking facility, and
• Safety breaking system.

All AC and DC models of stair lifts are designed with armrests and footrests which are intentionally placed on tracks as an extra measure to ensure reliability and safety of stair lifts. Thanks to this safety feature the stair lifts can be used by the aged and the disabled without fear of getting injured by accidents. As an added measure to ensure reliability and safety of stair lifts, they are provided with protective covers to avoid damage when not in use. Stair lifts are highly reliable for residences because they require only little maintenance. When considering the cost-factor, stair lifts, apart from home elevators and platform lifts, are the least expensive mobility solutions. To provide the disabled with reliability and safety, many models of stair lifts are built with battery backups to tackle unexpected power breakdowns.

A stair lift helps you overcome your mobility problems. You can find stair lifts which can provide you with reliability and extra safety in a variety of models which can be customized according to your budget and needs.

Good Stair Parts For a Good Staircase

When we look into a home, we often tend to forget to look at the things that are more essential, things that we need give attention to for we might improve them. Well maybe you should start to check your home and see things that you might develop.

It is a fact that a house built with more than one level should have staircase, a construction designed to bridge a large vertical distance by dividing it into smaller vertical distances, called steps. There are different type of staircase, of course it depends on what the owner of the house likes, the general shape, construction method, materials, design and other features that differentiate one from another. And if you want to have good staircase, good stair parts are necessities.

All of the time, a staircase is used as often for they connect each floor they are use in order to go up or down in the house. Because of this it became an integral part of a house. Some staircase are factory made that are shipped and installed in your home by carpenters, others are built in place and customized by some with the help of woodworkers, carpenters, or stair makers to make it more personalized. It can be narrow or wide, steep or gradual, grand and showy, or purely functional. It is also important to know its stair parts and the materials used for it as well, because you can never be so sure if your stair is good or not. Some believes that having good stairs means having good stair parts. Well they are definitely right.

The design of the stair is heavily affected by its function, different designs have different functions. Staircases like those in hotels are being used most of the time that is why they placed in a more visible area and are bigger than those staircase used by few or those that are placed in basements. Spiral staircases are used to give more style, artsy, and elegance. Now a days stairs have the same stair parts whatever the type is. The way the stair parts are built and combined will determine its style and structure that people desires for their home.

Not all stairways have exactly the same stair parts; take the stairs that have open risers for an example. There are basic rules and principles that need to be followed in building staircases in order to make them safe from danger.

Selecting the best stair parts gives you the best staircase with all the style and functions that you want. Stairways can give a big impact on the overall look of your home, which is why more people would like to have the best staircase.

Staircase is one of the most important parts of a more than one story home so we really should look at it and improve them for they don't just gives style to your house but also because it has a great importance in one's home.

Eliza Maledevic Ayson writes for Jump2top.com - SEO Company Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eliza_Maledevic

A Guide to Buying a Spiral Staircase

With many people renovating their existing properties rather than opting to move, a staircase which takes up less space for accessing new levels or rooms has never been a more popular feature. A spiral staircase can take up nearly half the room of a conventional straight flight staircase, whilst still providing a convenient means of ascent.

When looking to purchase a spiral, the first decision to make is whether a small kit staircase will be sufficient, or whether a larger more bespoke feature stair would be the better option. The kit staircases tend to be designed as secondary access staircases, for going up to a mezzanine level or a converted loft space. The largest kit spiral is likely to be around 1600mm total diameter. By contrast, bespoke spirals can be anything up to 3000mm overall diameter, and can be safely installed as the main staircase in a property. They also tend to have a wider range of materials available, such as different timbers or the option for stainless steel metalwork.

From a technical point of view, the most common error people make whilst searching for their first spiral staircase is in regards to the opening. The opening in the ceiling for a spiral should ideally exceed the total diameter of the stair being placed in it by 100mm. So, if a 1600mm diameter spiral is being installed, a circular opening of 1700mm or more would be necessary, allowing 50mm on either side of the staircase. This is to allow the 50mm "knuckle gap" as a person climbing the stair moves their hand along the handrail.

Spiral stairs are available to suit many budgets; kit ones can begin at £800 or so, whilst top of the line bespoke spirals, in oak or with stainless steel centre columns, can reach upwards of £9000. In general, if looking for a small secondary access stair, budgeting £1800-£1900 should be sufficient unless it is passing over 3000mm in height, and for a main staircase, a budget of around £5000-£6000 should cover the more popular options in terms of material and style.

To purchase a spiral, the important dimensions to know are:

• The floor to floor height
• The diameter of the staircase
• The dimensions of the opening in the ceiling (if applicable)

Important building regulations to be aware of when selecting a spiral staircase include the 100mm gap rule, which states that clear distances on the staircase (such as between the spindles of the balustrade) may not be more than 100mm wide. This also applies to the risers - or gaps underneath each tread - which are normally supplied with a riser bar to fit across the gap, thereby enclosing it sufficiently.

The other critical regulation is in regards to clear tread width, which was touched on above. Contrary to popular belief, a 1600mm diameter spiral does not have the required 800mm clear tread width, as the diameter of this spiral includes both the centre column width (normally 120-150mm) and the handrail to either side of the stair (40-50mm). Therefore for a stair with an 800mm clear tread width, a minimum overall diameter of 1850-1900mm would be recommended.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For information and advice on Spiral Staircases, he recommends Complete Stair Systems.

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