Stairscase Styles
Straight Staircases
A straight staircase offers many more options than one might initially imagine. Combined with landings a one flight straight can be transformed into a two flight L shaped or three flight U shaped stair.
Flared Staircases
A flared staircase is a sort of hybrid between a straight and circular stair. The first few treads can be bowed and a portion of the stringer is constructed on a radius. This type of stair gives the homeowner elements of both staircase designs. If you are unable to decide which type of stair is for you, then have a little of both.
Circular Staircases
Often mislabeled a spiral stair, the shape of a true circular staircase is based upon the radius of a circle. There are variations of this design based upon tangent arcs that allow the stair to snake back away from its center point giving the stair a serpentine design. It is also possible to combine straight and circular design principles to yield an elliptical or oval shaped staircase.
Spiral Staircases
The spiral staircase design is useful where space is limited. As in the design of circular staircases, the spiral stair follows the radius of a circle. However the treads are connected to a center pole based upon the center point of the circle's radius and ascend or descend to the next floor much more vertically than in circular staircase design. A spiral will usually travel two or three revolutions around its center point before it reaches is end.
