Over the years our team of professionals have formulated solutions to ensure our stair designs can be incorporated in any type of building project no matter what the environment, including a timber frame construction. As always we advise that early planning is key so that provisions can be made for the structural support to be incorporated in the overall project design to achieve the desired end results.
Here we feature two projects where our staircases were designed, fabricated & installed in timber frame homes.
Cantilever Stairs Project
The first is a cantilever staircase where the client discussed the plans with us at a very early stage in the project. Provisions were made to ensure that the necessary “hidden” structural support was in place to achieve a cantilever stairs that met all necessary stairs regulations. See article explaining building regulations for stairs.
Drawings were based on agreed measurements in consultation with the timber frame company and structural issues were also addressed at drawing stage so when the Signature Stairs structural frame went to site it was done in conjunction with the timer frame panels and the two were seamlessly installed together. This ensured all steel supports were adequately braced and could be concealed into the finishing of the house.
At a later stage our team of experienced joiners and fitters were on site to expertly finish clad the steel structure in high grade natural timber and toughened glass balustrade was fixed to the steel structure. Timber blocks on the outside of the balustrade glass have the dual function of both concealing the steel fixings and giving the impression that the glass was sliced through the timber. The design was completed with a rebated matching timber handrail.
Inca Staircase Case Study
The second staircase featured here is a double flight stairs from our Inca range, the key feature of which is a zig-zag profile stringer. The client wished to make the most of natural daylight but recognised that there was also an opportunity to make the stairs a stunning night-time feature.
Again early planning ensured that the end result is a striking feature staircase that creates a dramatic design statement both by day and by night.
Features of the stairs include stringer plates with pan support for timber steps and the outside zig-zag pattern stringer has hidden fixings to clamp the balustrade glass (toughened laminated glass) allowing for a clean looking linear appearance. As this stairs structure was independent of the walls, the fixing detail at each floor level was agreed in consultation with the timber frame manufacturer. For the landing the main fixing plate was fixed back to the timber structure.
Clever use of a double stinger to the side where the toughened laminated glass balustrade is ensures a neat but extremely solid fixing of the glass in place. This plate, coupled with the timber cladding to the underside of the stairs, means there are no visible fixing details or glass edges. The timber used is American White Oak hardwood and the design is finished with a matching timber handrail, all of which was finished with a ‘lime wash’ effect.
The client wished to make the staircase as equally striking a nocturnal feature. To achieve this a small shadow gap was left between the stringer and the adjacent wall. Recess lighting was strategically fixed giving the stunning night-time effect you can see pictured above.
