Spiral staircases |
Space saver stairs |
Modular stairs |
Loft ladders |
Sun pipes |
Spiral stairs, electric loft ladders, space saver staircases, modular stairs, sunpipe natural daylight systems.
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RHS Ltd,
226-228 Holbrook Lane
COVENTRY,
CV6 4DD
tel +44 (0)24 7663 7160
fax +44 (0)24 7663 7992
sales@rhs-products.co.uk
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RHS Ltd is an established independent specialist in innovative building product supplies. We have been operating from our base in the heart of the Midlands for over 35 years. We specialise in products like self assembly stairs, spiral stairs, loft stairs, space saver staircases, sunpipe natural daylight systems and electric loft ladders, all of which require some technical advice prior to purchase. Our two 'long in the tooth' technical directors have over 90 years professional construction experience between them. Sad as that fact is, it makes them the ideal people to discuss any technical aspects of your project before you purchase. We at RHS choose not to have an online ordering facility believing that our expert personal advice can save errors occurring in your order. In our experience whatever stair you are interested in, a simple space saver stair, a loft stair or even a main house spiral staircase, it is better for you to contact us early in any proposed stair project. We have lost count of times that we have been asked to squeeze a Building Regulation compliant stair into an already built structural opening that is too small. Even carefully drawn architects plans with stairs correctly drawn to comply with the regulations, may not fit the module of a kit stair. Usually a little forethought and an internal wall or trimming joist moved a few millimetres before it is built, can save tears and expense at a later date. We are happy to take your order or give advice by e-mail, fax or telephone and are also more than happy to welcome you at our centrally-located, Coventry showroom so that you can see our superb range of staircases for yourself. |
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The following information gives advice on the usage and likely applications of the various stairs types available
Kit stairs
Kit staircases are a relatively new phenomena, arriving from the continent, they are now used everywhere. Kit stairs are made from modular parts and supplied flat pack for DIY on site assembly. They are available as spiral stairs, modular loft stairs, space saver stairs, straight staircases or linear stairs with either a single or double turn (dogleg stairs). In fact they are now available to suit most stair applications, all being adjustable in height and some adjustable in tread going. Kit stairs provide a cost effective and off the shelf answer to a range stair requirements.
Bespoke or Fully Custom stairs
Made-to-measure to suit your specific requirements these luxury spiral stairs and straight flight staircases combine a range of materials and sizes to give that much sort after individual look. These include glass tread spiral stairs, minimalist all metal spiral staircases, hardwoods such as oak tread spiral stairs. In the straight flight staircases, you can have stainless steel strings and balustrading combined with hardwood treads or even glass tread staircases. Depending on the style and materials used, custom made stairs are capable of larger sizes than the kit stairs and so are suitable for as the main staircase in a domestic residence or office situation. They are equally suitable as secondary stairs such as loft stairs or space saving stairs where the look is important. As a rough guide a bespoke spiral stairs will cost around twice the cost of the equivalent kit spiral staircase, but where style and looks are important or where non-standard designs are required, they are the answer.
Semi Kit Stairs
Semi kit stairs are a new development on the kit stair market, combining the availability of the off the shelf kit stairs, with the luxury of the bespoke stair ranges. Using standard modular parts like the kit stairs, but boxed to order, they allow you to order a specific number of treads and accessories rather than having to have the complete standard kit. More up market than the standard kit stairs they provide an excellent balance between style and cost. Typical examples of this type of staircase are the Genius and Reflex ranges of spiral stairs and modular straight stairs. Both of these luxury ranges are similar in design, with the Genius stair range offering a choice of tread and metal colours in both spiral and modular stairs. The Reflex takes luxury a step further with a wonderful stainless steel balustrade system.
Kit space saver stairs
A catchall term that is really self-explanatory. Typically used as loft stairs or gallery stairs where space is at a premium. Space saving stairs save space by being steeper and having special paddle shaped treads. A space saver straight stair will typically need around half the length of a more traditional straight flight stair. The down side of space saving stairs are that their use is restricted under the Building Regulations to a loft stair serving one bedroom. There are other restrictions, therefore it is always worth asking our advice on the suitability of a space saving stair for your particular application. The various kits available in the space saver stair range allow for straight or curved stairs such as the Karina spaces saver, the Kya space saver or the luxury Berlin space saving stair. The Gamia Mini Plus space saver staircase can be straight or turn, using innovative quarter turn platforms, these allow for some really useful corner or cupboard applications not possible with the other styles.
Kit Modular straight staircases
A modular straight stair is really a misnomer for a kit version of a traditional flight staircase. They can be straight or turn corners using landing platforms or corner (winding) treads, so the kit stair versions make the same shapes as any traditional main staircase that you find in most houses. These kit stairs consist of a central metal support spine beneath timber treads with metal balustrading and timber hand railing. They are supplied flat pack with the stair support supplied in individual tread elements to be bolted together on site. Most of the modular straight stair kits are adjustable in going and height this makes them extremely adaptable to a huge range of applications. However this adaptability also means that they can be installed in designs that do not comply with the Building Regulations. So we strongly recommend that you seek our advice before ordering for any loft stair or main house straight stair. The four brand leaders in the Kit modular straight stair world are
Arke Kompact modular stair
Arke Komoda straight flight staircase
Albini & Fontanot Genius modular flight stair (a semi kit stair range)
Albini & Fontanot Reflex modular straight stair (a semi kit stair range)
These four stair systems cover the field, from the standard budget Kompact modular kit stair and the Komodo fight stair ranges, through to the luxury Genius stair range with superb designs and colour ranges, up to the Reflex flight stair range with its stainless steel balustrading.
Kit spiral staircases
Spiral stair kits do what they say on the tin, they are flat pack spiral stairs supplied in kit form for self-assembly on site. Spiral stair kits are usually available in diameters 1200mm, 1400mm and 1600mm., and are sold in kits from 13 to 16 treads in height. It is also possible to put one spiral staircase on top of another to achieve a double height two-floor spiral stair, but always seek our technical advice first if you wish to do this. The leading kit spiral staircases on the market are
Arke Klan spiral stair
Arke Kye spiral stair
Albini & Fontanot Genius spiral staircase
Albini & Fontanot Reflex spiral staircase
These four spiral stair systems start with the standard Klan spiral and Kya ranges, progressing to the luxury Genius, and then up again to the stainless steel balustrade Reflex spirals. With a maximum diameter of 1600mm kit spiral stairs are not large enough to use as the main staircase in a house. Their primary uses are as loft staircases, gallery stairs or mezzanine staircases.