Best position for your staircase

Ideally, the staircase will be positioned in line with the roof ridge as this will give maximum head height. To comply with Building Regulations, the minimum clear head room should be 2m. In loft conversions where there isn’t enough space to achieve this height, the headroom can be reduced to 1.9m in the centre of the stairs and 1.8m at the sides.

People often think there is only one place to put the stairs but, in many cases, there are several options. Clever positioning of your stairs could dramatically improve the layout of your loft conversion. Talk to a design professional about different ideas and options that could work for your project.

Over the existing stairs

In general, the best place for the base of a loft staircase is near as possible to the existing stairs. This will help the conversion blend with the existing internal layout, especially if the stair furniture (handrail and balustrade) is made to match.   Placing the loft stairs directly above the current staircase is often ideal. It is likely a change in direction would be required to connect the two flights, possibly with a 90 degrees quarter turn landing or a 180 degrees half landing.

For some houses, however, this may not be possible – the stairs simply won’t fit. Another option is partitioning the upper floor to make space for the new staircase. For example, turning the spare room into a box room or making the largest room smaller. Ask yourself is it worth spending thousands converting the attic if it means losing part of an existing bedroom?   

Know the Building Regulations

When converting a loft, it’s important to be familiar with the relevant Building Regulations, especially on fire safety. Stairs that open onto a habitable space, such as a bedroom or home office, must be enclosed to provide fire escape.

Other regulations that affect staircase design include:

• A minimum of 2,000 mm of clear headroom above the staircase (reduced to 1.9m in the centre of the stairs and 1.8m at the sides).
• Staircases should have a maximum pitch of 42 degrees. Retractable ladders are not allowed for a loft conversion. It has to be a fixed staircase.
• Flights should have a handrail at least on one side if they are less than one metre wide and both sides if wider.
• No gaps of any balustrading should allow the passage of a 100mm sphere (about the size of a child’s head).
• Balustrades and handrails should have a minimum height of 900mm.

For more regulations see Approved Document K from the planningportal.co.uk

Independent and separate

Building Regulations on the minimum head height above a staircase, mean the top of the stairs is often positioned at the highest and most usable part of the attic.  The regulations on fire safety also usually mean the top of the stairs need to be walled in with a separating door. As a result, the newly created loft room may be squeezed by the staircase and landing.

If you don’t have enough space to work with, a strategically positioned dormer or if appropriate, converting a hip end to a gable, can create more headroom for stairs away from the main staircase.  See this article on hip to gable loft conversions for more information

Ultimately, the aim is to have stairs leaving the first floor and reaching the loft floor at optimal positions. Choosing to position the stairs above stairs may not achieve this. An independent and separate staircase could leave more useful floorspace in the loft for a master bedroom with en suite bathroom, for example.

Alternative designs

One way to deal with the problem of a sizable landing enclosure dominating the loft space is to bring the stairs into the room itself. The separating fire door could be positioned at the foot of the staircase. While this can cause its own difficulties on the floor below, the benefits in terms of more floorspace in the loft can be huge.

When there is limited floor space for a conventional staircase, another solution is a “hit and miss” staircase or “paddle flights.” The idea is that as we walk on alternate feet on each step, there only needs to be a tread on every other side. Under Building Regulations, the construction of an alternating tread stair is only allowed in a loft conversion if there isn’t space for a standard staircase and if it leads to just one room, so check the rules.

While some space saver staircases can be a bit basic, they can look quite cool and stylish. Make sure whoever is using the loft conversion is comfortable climbing this type of steps. In many cases, it’s better to see whether you could fit a small but standard staircase.

Another way to get around the need for an enclosed landing and fire door is to opt for an open-plan mezzanine loft. This turns the space into one room for regulatory purposes. Talk to the building control department of your local planning authority to check the rules for your project.

Staircase, natural light and storage

There are several ways you can draw natural light into your loft staircase design. These include a gable window or rooflight located directly above the stairwell, a full-height picture window on a half landing at the top of the staircase and fanlights above internal doors.

Give thought also to how you will use artificial light to illuminate your loft staircase. This can add a whole new dimension to your stairwell as well as being necessary on a practical level. Consider using LED lights set into the wall or even the treads themselves to really add wow factor. Meanwhile a large, designer pendant hanging over the top of a stairwell can add drama. As a minimum, install lighting at the top and bottom of the stairs controlled by a two-way switch.

Consider whether you could incorporate some storage into your new loft staircase or landing, such as fitted cupboard or bookcase. 

How do I buy a staircase?

Ask the joiner already working on your loft conversion to help with the design of your staircase. When you have the dimensions, it’s possible to buy a staircase from a builder’s merchant or DIY warehouse if it’s all standard sizes. You can then jazz it up yourself with a coat of paint or decorative runner. Another option is to design and order a staircase online from a company, such as Stairbox, that can make a staircase to suit your space. Choose your design, materials and finishes using the online designer, adding all the required parts to your shopping basket. The staircase is then assembled and delivered direct to your home.

Staircase design for a loft conversion is a fundamental but often forgotten feature. The best location for a staircase will vary from home to home and should be based on your own layout. Remember to carefully consider your loft staircase in the early planning stage.

If you are looking to make some home improvements, you may find some of these services useful