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Staircases offer style as well as functional appeal to a home. Many home owners and buyers don't always understand staircase options available. Knowing the parts of a staircase, configurations and basic code requirements can help you find the best staircase for your remodeling or new-construction project.

Parts of a staircase. Balusters are the vertical posts that support the handrail. Balustrade include the balusters, handrail and newel posts. The landing is a break in a set of stairs. Newel posts are a vertical support post at the end of a handrail. The riser is the vertical section of a step from one tread to the next and the rounded front edge of the riser that protrudes beyond the stair is the nosing. A tread is the horizontal part of a step and the surface you walk on. The height of the whole staircase is called the total rise. The stringer is the structural foundation that risers and treads are nailed to.

Configurations of staircases. The most common and economical configuration is the straight-run. U and L shaped work for in difficult design situations and take up more square footage because they require a landing. In extremely tight spaces a l shaped winder is used, the winder replaces the landing with triangular steps. The spiral is the last resort for a staircase in tight floor plans, home buyers are not fond of this style.

Residential building code requirements for staircases. Treads are required to be a minimum of ten inches deep, risers must be a maximum of seven and three-quarters tall. The minimum width of a staircase is thirty-six inches and if a landing is used it must be a minimum of three feet by three feet. The three foot square rule also applies to the landing space at the top and bottom of any staircase.

Enjoy more Bricks & Sticks by Mark Nash. Topics include Ceiling options, Interior Lighting and Staircases.

Copyright 2006 Mark Nash

Mark Nash, is a residential real estate author, broker, columnist and writer based in Chicago. His fourth book 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home received eighteen five star reviews on Amazon.com. His latest book; Real Estate A-Z for Buying & Selling a Home will be published in December 2006. Mark publishes a free monthly ezine for real estate professionals. Agent to Agent features ten articles that offer free reprints for agents, home buyers and sellers through EzineArticles.com . Real estate news and book reviews, Celebrity Homestyles, Home selling and buying tips and advice, Joke-of-the-Month, Help this Agent, and agent marketing tips. Over 5000 subscribers in the U.S. & Canada. Subscribe at: http://www.1001realestatetips.com/forrealestateagents