Installing and designing a spiral staircase for a conversion project is now simpler than ever, as Richard Harding of British Spirals & Castings explains
Conversions offer a great opportunity to transform an unwanted building which is steeped with character, into a beautiful home. There are hundreds of such projects waiting to be discovered across the country, from disused barns and churches, to older homes which have fallen into disrepair. In many cases, to make the most of the space, homeowners are looking to add mezzanines, new floors, or new access routes to get from floor to floor. This means finding a staircase which works for the space.
However, getting a perfect fit is not only about picking the right style and design of staircase, but also being able to adjust for walls and floors which can be far from straight. The latest technologies are now making it much simpler and faster to get an accurate fit when fitting a bespoke staircase.
SCANNING YOUR SPACE
The tape measure is still the go-to way of measuring out for a staircase in most cases. However, when you’re dealing with a large space with walls which can undulate in and out as they rise, we find the best solution is to turn to a LiDAR camera. This is a laser scanner which works much like radar, firing out a signal and measuring the time it takes to return. By doing this repeatedly, it is able to plot where points are in space, creating an incredibly accurate 3D point cloud which can then be used in computer aided design (CAD) modelling software.
The latest models of camera are able to merge this ‘point data’ with photographs of the project. By positioning the camera at different points in the room or around the building (if it’s an external staircase), it’s then possible to create a recognisable digital recreation of the space, as you can see in the images above. This can all be completed with just a few hours work, first capturing the images, and then processing them in the CAD software.
Once the image is processed, it’s easy to make subtle adjustments within the CAD model to aspects such as the design and orientation of treads and landing plates, the location of fixings and the dimensions of openings in the upper floor or balcony. It also makes it much easier to visualise how the staircase will actually look at the design stage. With a bespoke staircase, this means you can get a clearer sense of how different design choices such as the staircase materials, spindle or tread patterns, types of handrail and even finishes will look in your house.
The staircase can then be manufactured with a high degree of precision, regardless of how complex or ‘out of square’ or ‘out of plumb’ the space is. This helps to ensure a much easier installation process – avoiding any unnecessary delays or surprises. The LiDAR images and outputs can also be useful for your architect, allowing them to plan further features as part of their own design processes.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT DESIGN
In addition to dealing with the potential quirks of the building, it’s also important to give some careful consideration to which staircase style can help you make best use of the space, and provide that all important accessibility.
The most suitable design will depend on a variety of factors. For example, in an open-plan church or barn conversion, a large straight staircase can provide a focal point for the room. Helical staircases, which curve but have no central pillar, can also offer a great statement piece in large open-plan spaces. Alternatively, if you’re looking to maximise the useable floor space, then a spiral staircase can provide a much more compact alternative that is just as at home in the corner of a space as it is in the middle of a room.
In all cases, we strongly believe that for large conversion projects, it’s best to opt for a bespoke staircase, rather than a kit staircase bought from an online store. While the upfront cost of these may be somewhat higher, what you end up with is a staircase which truly matches your taste and makes the most of the space. All aspects can be carefully tailored from the width of treads and the pitch angle of the staircase, to the choice of materials and even the patterns used for the spindles and treads. Manufactured pieces specifically for your home may mean lead times are longer, so it’s important to consider this at an early stage.
Richard Harding is managing director at British Spirals & Castings