Spiral Staircase

If you have an upstairs space, like a loft or a deck, that you want to access, but you don’t want to waste all the room that a staircase takes, you might consider a spiral staircase.

Spiral staircases have a much smaller footprint (the area they take up on the ground) than standard staircases. Because of this, they are very popular in small living areas, such as lofts and townhomes. They can be a wonderful addition to an outdoor space, too.

A spiral staircase is not something you want to build from scratch, unless you are a master carpenter. The calculations are difficult and should not be attempted by an amateur. Instead, you should order one of many kits that are available from spiral staircase manufacturers.

Spiral staircase kits come in many different materials. You can get them in steel, galvanized steel, wood, and aluminum. Spend some time on this decision; you are making a permanent addition to your home with your new staircase, and you want to make sure it suits you and your space.

For indoor spaces, you will probably want to go with either a standard steel or a wooden staircase. They are nice products that come in a variety of colors and finishes. The steel ones can come with a variety of types of wooden treads (the top surface of the steps).

With both the wood and the steel, you can choose from a variety of balusters, too. (The balusters are the vertical pieces that hold up the handrail.)

For outdoor spiral staircases, you have an option of galvanized steel or aluminum. All of these are treated to withstand Mother Nature’s forces, so they can last for years and years. As with the steel and wooden staircases, you have dozens of options to choose from to make your staircase suit your taste.

It can be a lot of fun to choose your spiral staircase. Choosing the options can be as interesting as choosing options for a new car or home. If you like a sleek style, choose a spiral staircase without embellishment. If you like something ornate, you can choose a staircase with swirls on the balusters, fancy end caps, and beautifully finished hardwood treads.