Thursday, July 25, 2013

About Hardwood Staircases

There is something about the warm glow of a firm hardwood staircase. The smooth steps and countless designs have morphed over the years to include an array of hardwoods and construction techniques. Though slightly more expensive than most carpeted stairs, hardwood staircases give any home or building a finely crafted and handsome touch not to mention a higher resale value.

History

    Hardwood staircases have been a beautiful element in homes, buildings and even cruise ships for some time now. According to Stephen Calloway's architectural encyclopedia The Elements of Style the common use of wood plank flooring was not until the Colonial era in the 1600's. Simple designs turned into elegant ones involving French parquetry in the Baroque era beginning in 1625. Hand chiseled and oiled stair designs were seen only in the wealthiest homes at the time. It was not uncommon to see an average home's staircase to be composed of off width boards nailed to the joists.
    Wood floors and staircases were not mass produced until the onset of the American Victorian era around the 1840's. Construction, design and finishes were improved upon over the years. In the 1930's polyurethane became the ideal finish and widely replaced wax finishes. The carpet boom after WWII sadly left many beautiful wood floors and stairs covered and forgotten. Today many wood staircases are prefinished but there are still some truly unique and timeless hardwood designs out there.

Function

    Hardwood staircases function like any other staircase as a means of transport from one elevation to another usually indoors in a house or building though some have been used on large cruise ships. The special function of a hardwood staircase is its ability to create a natural and sturdy stair bringing the strength of the outdoors inside.

Types

    Many classic designs have been used for centuries though there are three main types of hardwood staircases. These are straight, curved and spiral. The type of wood used depends on how much a homeowner would like to spend and if they are concerned with using an eco-choice of wood, meaning choosing a highly renewable species. Red and White Oak are the most abundant American Hardwoods, most able to regenerate themselves. Following are Poplar, Maple, Ash, Cherry and Alder among other woods.

Features

    Some have hardwood balusters and newel posts to match and some have metal handrails and balusters. The structure of a staircase itself is composed of the rise, run, nosing extension, and width of the steps. Some staircases have open risers creating a look of floating while others are completely solid wood. Staircases that have been refinished as a hardwood staircase are fitted with over-planks.

Size

    Most are about 3 feet wide, but many modern stair cases are built 4 feet or wider. Some are separated by landings if they need to change direction or if there are lots of steps. When building a new home the building codes for staircases should be carefully reviewed for safety purposes.

Prevention/Solution

    According to the American Hardwood Information Center you can extend the life and character of a hardwood staircase by conducting general care. This can include, wiping them down to prevent dust buildup, using fine sandpaper to remove built up grime from rails or steps and topping with a fresh coat of varnish and repairing any loose boards which may cause squeaking. Many choose to refinish a staircase that has previously been carpeted. Restoring a staircase is a solid option for transforming any set of stairs. There are many companies who offer this specific service though some choose to do the handiwork themselves.

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