FAQ
Questions and answers
Here are answers to the questions readers ask most often: about the magazine itself and its connection with the former site, about choosing a staircase and what a designer's job involves, and about safety and care. If your question isn't here, have a look at the topic sections, which go into more detail.
If you're unsure whether you can do something to a staircase yourself, the answer is almost always the same: inspect and describe it, yes; change the structure, no.
About the magazine
Are you connected with the domain's former owner?
No. The domain used to belong to another organisation and was later used for unrelated advertising. The current magazine is connected with neither that organisation nor the advertising and does not restore the old pages.
Do you make or sell staircases?
No. We do not make, sell or install staircases, take measurements or accept orders. Ladder Spb is an independent magazine.
Why don't you name manufacturers and prices?
We write about stair types and the properties of materials, not about specific products. Ranges and prices change quickly, and advertising for manufacturers and shops is against our editorial rules.
Where does your information come from?
From works on architectural history, encyclopedic sources, manufacturers' technical documentation for finishing materials and EMERCOM of Russia safety leaflets. We do not invent regulations or dimensions; for those we refer you to a designer.
Choice and design
Which type of staircase is best for a home?
There is no universal answer. Straight flights and stairs with a landing are usually more comfortable for everyday use, while spirals and winder stairs save space at the cost of comfort. The decision is made together with a designer.
What is Blondel's formula?
It is a ratio described by the French architect François Blondel in the late 17th century: twice the riser height plus the tread depth roughly equals the length of a stride, about 60–64 cm. It is a comfort guideline, not a building regulation.
Does a staircase in a private house need a design?
For a load-bearing staircase, yes. Requirements for stairs are set out in building codes, and the design for a private house is agreed with a designer who takes the floors, the opening and the loads into account.
What is the difference between a closed and an open stringer?
Both are load-bearing beams of a flight. With closed (housed) stringers, the treads are set in between them from the side and their ends are hidden. With open (cut) stringers, the treads rest on top, so their edges are open and visible from the side.
Safety and care
How can I make a staircase safer for small children?
Fit safety gates at the top and bottom, check that the handrail runs the full length of the flight and that a child cannot squeeze through the balustrade. Good lighting and a non-slip tread surface help the whole family.
The steps have become slippery. What should I do?
Start by cleaning: dust and residue from care products make a surface slippery. If that doesn't help, use anti-slip pads or a lower-gloss finish suitable for stairs according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Can I fix a creaking step myself?
You can mark the creaking steps and check whether the creak is linked to dry air. Don't fix or drill into stringers or step supports yourself; show the problem to a professional.
What should I do if someone falls down the stairs?
Don't lift the person abruptly if they complain of pain in the back or neck or can't move a limb. For a serious injury, call 112. Afterwards, inspect the staircase and remove the cause of the fall.
Related sections
- Planning
How to approach a staircase project, what Blondel's step formula is and which questions to ask your designer.
- How-to
How to stand safely on a stepladder and how to refresh the lacquer on wooden treads. And what not to do yourself.
- Care
Caring for lacquered and oiled wood, metal, stone, glass and carpet treads, plus a seasonal check.
Sources
- F. Blondel, Cours d'architecture
- Encyclopedic sources on the history of architecture
- Manufacturers' technical documentation for finishing materials
- EMERCOM of Russia — home safety leaflets
Information about staircases is given in general terms, based on works on architectural history, encyclopedic sources, manufacturers' technical documentation for finishing materials and EMERCOM of Russia safety leaflets. The specific requirements for the staircase in your home are set by building codes and your designer, and the care of a finish by the manufacturer's instructions.