Stairs are more than just a functional feature in your new home. They’re an untapped design highlight that can transform your space and be tailored to fit your design aesthetic. With any design feature though, comes a variety of options and it’s important to not get overwhelmed. Each section of a staircase can be customized to help meet any design goals you may have. We’ve got all the basics covered to help you understand different stair features and styles to help you make the decision that best fits your space.
Balusters: Also known as the spindles. These provide vertical support for the stair railing and can be customized to match the design goals of the home.
Newel Posts: The post that sits at the head or foot of a flight of stairs that supports the handrail.
Handrail: Also known as the banister. This is the part of the stair you hold while climbing up and down the stairs. It attached to the balusters or a wall depending on the design.
Treads: The part of the staircase that is stepped on and is the most fundamental part of the staircase.
Riser: The vertical portion between each tread on the stairs.
Included in every Schumacher home is a half wall, but there are several different ways you can bring personality to your stairs. Your first step is to choose what style fits your home best, and then decide on additional design focused details.
Half Wall
This first construction option is a standard half wall. The name is fitting as this option uses a half wall to frame and enclose your stairs. This eliminates the need for individual balusters.
Rake Wall
A rake wall follows the pitch of stairs and provides a more open concept than a half wall. This style uses a handrail that follows the pitch and is attached to the individual balusters.
Open Tread
An open tread design is exactly as it sounds. The treads in this stair style are exposed and not encapsulated by any wall. This style has balusters connected directly to the tread.
Now that you have the main design element chosen for your stairs, it’s time to pick out the features that can add more personality.
Balusters
If you have chosen a rake wall or open tread you can customize the balusters that provide support for the stair railing. Balusters have plenty of ways to be customized to bring your design vision to life, whether it’s modern, coastal or anywhere in between.
The most common kind of balusters are vertical but as the modern trend continues, horizontal balusters are rising in popularity. Besides the direction of the balusters, you can choose between wood and iron balusters. If you choose a wooden option, you can customize even further with staining or painting.
Newel Posts
Now that you’ve chosen your balusters it’s time to select the newel post that will go at the head and/or foot of the stairs. As with balusters you can choose either a wood or iron newel posts. There are also several variations such as square and traditional newel posts to help match your design aesthetic.
With both the balusters and newel posts selections complete, you’re almost done with designing your newest visual element of your home! The final detail comes down to how you choose to finish your staircase.
Included in all our builds is traditional carpeted steps that cover the full length of the staircase. If carpet is not in your vision, you can do fully wood steps with stained treads and painted risers to match the other staircase elements.
Lastly, there’s an option to include both carpet and wood steps on your new staircase. By choosing wood steps with a carpet runner, you can bring elements from both previously mentioned finishes to finalize your stairs.
When choosing your new staircase, there are plenty of ways to make this focal point as unique and eye-catching as the rest of your new house! And we source our materials from millwork experts at Carter Lumber and 84 Lumber known for their quality production and beautiful finishes. So your staircase will continue to look gorgeous and last for years to come.
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 30 markets in 12 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 20,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends. Stop in today, be inspired and receive your no obligation price quote.