Stairs. Entry group. Materials. Doors. Locks. Design

Ecology of consumption. Homestead: There are no stairs more spectacular than cantilevered ones. Their main difference from all other types of stairs is a special attraction in any interior style.

There are no stairs more spectacular than cantilever ones. Their main difference from all other types of stairs is a special attraction in any interior style. The airiness and soaring of cantilever stairs is just an illusion: these systems are strong and reliable, and therefore their designs are very complex - all fasteners and load-bearing elements are skillfully hidden in the structures of walls, ceilings and in the details of the stairs themselves.

Classical stairs, having string or bowstring as a supporting element, have the advantage of safe operation, in addition, these stairs are presentable, solid and solid. But modern interiors tend towards lightness and minimalism, as much air and space as possible - this somewhat contradicts the idea of ​​a proper massive staircase that limits the field of view and “eats up” the volume of the room. The cantilever staircase for small lobbies becomes a good solution due to its compact design and special fasteners - directly into the wall.

Types of fastening of cantilever stairs to walls:

• The steps cut into the load-bearing wall to a depth of 200 - 400 mm. The depth of the tie-in depends on the width of the cantilever march and on the material and strength properties of the wall.
• The steps are supported by special brackets, steel plates, channel or angle parts, bolts, anchor bolts or decorative supports.
• In cases where the wall cannot provide a load-bearing capacity, cantilever steps rest on a nearby frame, located as close to the wall as possible and as less noticeable as possible. Fix the frame supports from a channel or corner profile to the floors.
• As additional fasteners, systems of ceiling strands are used, which simultaneously perform a second function - enclosing. Handrails in such systems usually go along the wall on which the steps are fixed.
• "Hanging" steps recessed into the wall, the absence of a handrail, railings and balusters of any kind, as well as ceiling ties and mesh fences - an extremely interesting solution and a radical design. But this option is exclusive not only in the context of interior design, but also part of the increased danger, and it is possible to use such extreme stunt simulators in an ordinary home under special conditions - as a second decorative staircase. If there are small children and people of the age in the house, this version of the stairs is categorically unacceptable.

Stairs with steps of the same fastening system and the same design can be made of various materials, and this radically changes the appearance of the stairs. There are a lot of options, and the main thing in choosing is the preferences of the owners and their imagination. A very common option is a metal frame fixed to the wall, decorated with MDF panels or wood. Spectacular and durable steps made of cast concrete or polymer concrete. A special place is occupied by glass stairs - weightless and transparent, but distinguished by enviable strength.

Advantages of cantilever stairs:

• Lightweight and compact designs that do not create obstacles for air circulation and light fluxes in the premises
• Spectacular externally, a real highlight of the interior
• Lightweight construction results in savings on the consumption of basic materials
• Saving usable area and room volume, which is very important for small houses

Cons of cantilever structures for stairs:

• In the absence of fences, moving along a cantilever staircase is by no means safe, and in any case, such a staircase in a house is a risk factor and a zone of increased injury. The classic stairway with a railing, designed with safety formulas compared to a cantilevered structure, is a safety example.
• Cantilever ladders are often inconvenient to climb and descend.
• The design and calculations of cantilever stairs are more complicated than classic mid-flight stairs, and installation is also difficult. Independent calculations without experience and special knowledge are hardly justified. Do-it-yourself installation is possible if there are calculations performed by specialists according to the initial data - materials and construction of load-bearing walls and ceilings, etc.
• The bearing capacity of the wall should be with a margin. Another option is an attached frame, and in both options, the reliability of the fasteners must be ensured.

Cantilever stairs are designed at the first stages. It is important to decide to which enclosing structures the stairs will be fixed, taking into account the mass of the steps themselves. Wooden and glass steps do not require additional wall reinforcement, but cast concrete steps require very strong support and additional local reinforcement if the load-bearing wall is designed from monolithic reinforced concrete.

A console with an additional element at the free end will give an increased load on the entire ladder system, so such solutions are usually avoided. The main errors in the installation of cantilever stairs are associated with the wrong choice of fasteners, the use of insufficiently reliable components and parts, and erroneous distribution of loads. These errors can lead to the fact that the ladder will be dangerous for operation.

A ready-to-install cantilever staircase is a rare and standard option. For individual houses, the design of such a staircase is made to order, according to the initial data of the design of the supporting wall or ceiling and the size of the room. Even if it is possible to complete with factory mounting and frame assemblies and choose a model from the catalog, changes for specific rooms are required. Cantilever stairs are classified as non-standard and piece products.