The construction of wooden stairs is important for choosing the installation place and for competent zoning of residential premises. The exterior and decorative possibilities of the leaf also depend on the design features.
Functions of the elements of staircase construction
Stairs of any complexity can be assembled according to a drawing with your own hands or with the help of a master. Before the installation, it is important to make sure that all elements are perfectly adjusted and designed for a certain load and footage.
A string is the most important part of the modular structure; since a beam is supporting, it must be particularly strong to withstand the mass of steps, risers and hosts.
A bowstring is also designed to create a support. The element is capable of withstanding significantly less weight than a traditional open string, so a bowstring should only supplement any type of the design.
Steps-rectangular beams are usually equipped with risers. The modular design is lighter and airy without the latter, but it is less reliable.
Railings and balusters – fencing elements needed to support safe walking up-or downhill; this category includes support posts.
All parts require precise calculations, which can be performed manually or in special architectural and planning applications. Most design studios and construction companies provide services for calculating and selecting parts for a specific design.
Mounting options
When designing a leaf of a modular staircase, it is important to consider not only the location of the elements themselves, but also the type of fastening. Assembling leaves of complex types has its own characteristics, which should be considered in advance.
Modular systems can be classified into one of the following categories by mounting type:
Chain string with stupors
Each of the components is installed “module to module” and secured with plates and locking screws. The advantages of this configuration include ease of assembly, even when installing with your own hands. The disadvantages include not only rigid fixation of steps, which does not allow adjusting the position of the neighboring elements. Do not forget about the insignificant curvature of the structure, which is not corrected by the maximum tightening of the locking screws. The performance of the modular stairs deteriorates in proportion to the time elapsed since the installation. Metal parts and plates are deformed, thereby leading to sagging of the entire leaf.
The connection to the threaded pins
This variant of fastening is much more difficult to perform with your own hands, but it will save you from the curvatures of the stringer. The height of the steps cannot be adjusted but you can easily tighten the loose threaded connections (the procedure should be carried out no more than once in 1-2 years with moderate load).
Installation of modules on the principle of clamp
The third option of installing modular stairs is an improvement of the previous ones. Installation with your own hands will not cause any complications, but there will be more possibilities of adjusting the position of the structure. You can rotate not only the module itself, but also the flange to which the step is attached. Proper load distribution on fasteners makes it possible to avoid rapid wear and tear of components; however, the owners will be pleased by the ability to set the height and lengths of stage with their own hands.
Leaves design
If you want to compose a drawing, you can use one of the programs of three-dimensional design (ArchiCAD) or special calculators.
All parameters of the future construction are specified in the allocated fields: distance between floors, an angle of inclination, the area taken away for installation of a modular ladder, dimensions of steps and their form.
It is possible to make a drawing only taking into account information on characteristics of the used materials.
Modular structures should be as strong as possible, which means that their working surfaces should slowly wear out, and the supporting elements should withstand the main types of loads.
It is recommended to make a drawing on the basis of ideal dimensions for modular stairs. “Approximate” options are not acceptable, because individual parts can be hard to dock with each other and form unsightly cracks and gaps.
Such errors affect negatively on the strength of the modular stairs – a shaky structure may fail in the next few years instead of decades of service.
Features of care of wooden designs
Wood is a capricious material that requires careful treatment and special means (cleaners, wipers, polishers). Complex types of construction make cleaning with your own hands a difficult task, and the dust accumulating in the cracks forces to repeat the procedure endlessly.
It is much easier to take care for two (three-, four – and many) marching structures in the presence of the protective layer. Paint, varnish and impregnation can be used as a coating. As a result, the staircase and its elements do not wear out so intensively, and cleaning ceases to be a problem.
Carving and forged parts also require knowledge of the nuances of care. Depending on the metal and the degree of elaboration of the pattern, some parts of the stairs and decorative elements will have to be regularly rubbed and treated with anticorrosive agents.
The coating of steps and railings is mostly erased in the areas that are “used” most intensively. This problem can be solved with your own hands with the help of special coatings, and partly – fixing linings in the right places.
The advice of experienced buyers and people, who are able to assemble a wooden structure with their own hands, will help those wishing to equip the house without practical experience. Comments and reviews about the article will make the material more complete and useful!
