To create a vintage staircase with your own hands, you must first understand the meaning of this name and know how these objects differ from the rest. By definition, vintage was called a photographic photograph, which was printed immediately after the appearance of the negative. In relation to other objects, this name is used when interpreting samples from the past under objects. Thus, vintage staircases are also antique products.
Wrought iron stairs
Forged stairs are one of the most attractive types of stairs that emphasize their attitude to ancient objects. A variety of patterns created from elements of an ornament or an incredible view of plants and animals look quite impressive and always attract people's attention.
In the old days, when the art of forging was just in its infancy, not everyone could afford such products. Their production took a long time, required significant resources. Today, this is a completely solvable question for anyone who has such a desire. After all, having made a personal project, you can equip your building with a vintage staircase, a photo of which can be seen below.
Characteristics of forged products
The basic technology, invented by blacksmiths from the past, today has practically remained the same, with the exception of some tools and devices that were not available to craftsmen from ancient times. Specialists handed down their metal processing skills to descendants. However, today this process is carried out manually, without becoming the object of automated lines.
To give the patterns bizarre shapes, the same hammer, hammer, blacksmith mites and anvils of various shapes and sizes are used. In the process of heat treatment, iron acquires plasticity, which allows you to change its shape. Thus, it becomes possible to create the most incredible in form elements that the master’s imagination can decorate to decorate a vintage staircase.
Any products created using art forging, including stairs, always make a vivid impression and do not go unnoticed. Such a design without hesitation can be called a work of art, not only because of its originality and attractiveness, but also thanks to the efforts and creative thinking of the master who creates these types. In addition, the vintage staircase to the second floor can be tied to the motives of almost any style, such as:
And these are only the main directions in the style of such products, on the list of which the business is not limited at all. The capabilities of this method are most widely revealed when designing the railing of vintage stairs. Such fences serve as an object of close attention and are able to give the appearance of the product lightness and independence. However, with external airiness, such supports have considerable strength and are able to serve for a long time.
Varieties of Forged Stairs
The choice of the type of vintage staircase made using art forging depends not only on belonging to a particular style. Here you need to take into account the shape of such an element of the interior, its size, functional role, as well as the financial capabilities of the customer. Indeed, complex designs can have a very considerable cost.
By their purpose, such products can be divided into:
- Basic, which are designed to become a vintage staircase to the second floor.
- Auxiliary, allowing you to go down to the basement or climb into the attic.
- Ceremonial, employees to enter the building. Forged stairs are also able to take many different forms, allowing products to fit ergonomically into any interior.
Marching
This is the most popular type of vintage staircase to the second floor, a photo of which can be seen in the above article. However, such designs are poorly suited to small-sized rooms because of their massiveness. Among the advantages is the relative ease of manufacture. They are comfortable and allow you to move as safely as possible. Such designs are used both in residential buildings and in various institutions or in production workshops.
For convenience, each march is divided into an equal number of steps, the number of which should not exceed 15. This arrangement allows you to conveniently move around, rationally distributing forces. When a staircase takes on a great length, it is conveniently separated by marching platforms that allow you to take a breath. The designs of such products can have a direct direction, and can make turns to the side. The design, turning after the wall plane, is called a rotary vintage staircase, whose photos are impressive.
Screw
This kind of stairs is the most attractive. However, its location also requires a significant area. In addition, moving up such a staircase is not very convenient, because the unfolded steps have a variable size, at the beginning of which the foot does not fit. Such constructions have a spiral shape and, compared with marching samples, can take up less space, saving usable area. Spiral designs of vintage stairs are designed as decorative elements of the interior, emphasizing its individuality.
L-shaped
Such stairs are often installed in rooms with space limitations. They are distinguished by the running form of the steps and the requirements of professionalism for the performer. Such a staircase is easy to recognize by a characteristic rotation of 90 degrees and a structure that repeats the outline of the wall. These stairs can walk up to any placement of rectangular shape. Apparently, for this reason they are found in homes more often than others.
U-shaped
Such stairs are also well suited for installation in small rooms, without requiring the placement of large areas. Here, as a rule, the traditional form of steps is used, which allows convenient movement. To turn such a ladder through an angle of 180 degrees, a rotary march or a rotary marching platform is used. In the latter case, the staircase becomes less convenient, but requires a smaller area for its location.
Self-supporting
- The steps of such a ladder are designed to be mounted on load-bearing beams located on both sides of the structure. In the second embodiment, one support beam is provided, which is installed in the center of the structure. Such a beam has a gear shape with platforms for placing steps. This design has a very light appearance, and it seems that the staircase is suspended in the air. Decorative railings from various combinations of ornaments do not burden the general appearance of the element, however, they securely fix the edges of the steps.
Curved
Such designs are distinguished by the highest manufacturing complexity, which only specialists with sufficient experience in performing such work can handle. Such a staircase is represented by semicircular shapes, composed by the number of running steps and having an upper platform, necessary for the full joining of the constituent elements. This option will become an indispensable element in a house with a vintage staircase.
Nature of application
In the planning of private buildings, they often prefer spiral vintage staircases, the design of which allows them to fit ergonomically into the interior design, while at the same time saving floor space in comparison with marching designs.
Despite the complexity of manufacturing such design elements, the general assembly of the structure does not cause any special difficulties, taking up not very much time. In the case when the room has a limited area, all fastenings are made directly to the wall.
An important component is the ability of this type of stairs to combine design. Thus, most often wooden steps are attached to the base with metal stops and railings.
DIY vintage staircase: features
Such a design is quite possible to do it yourself. Having made the choice of the size of the stairs to the second floor in a private house using a sketch or a successful photograph, which allows to realize the customer’s desires as much as possible, one can proceed to calculations and ways to design the appearance of the proposed structure.
The complexity of the proposed products can only regulate the professional capabilities of the performer. For the manufacture of some components, it is necessary to have sophisticated equipment, available exclusively in specialized workshops. The vintage staircase of the wine cellar perfectly complements the design of such a room.
Principles of material selection
Having made all the related calculations, the specialist will be able to compile a list of required materials. Usually it is worth using the services of a professional who is able to make a calculation for a vintage staircase created by yourself. Then, you should give importance to the material from which the railing is supposed to be made. This is to ensure ductile structures, repeating the interior configuration.
As a consumable, it is allowed to use various metal products, including steel profiles having different sections. However, the most acceptable is a material whose section thickness does not exceed two millimeters. As additional insurance, the railing and steps of such a ladder are tied to the wall plane with the help of special brackets. The selection of the latter is carried out taking into account the total weight of the structure. The staircase in the house to the second floor, the dimensions of which are already precisely calculated, will not require a large supply of source material.
Essential tool
Before proceeding with the implementation of the desired project, the necessary instrumental base should be prepared. Indeed, the specificity of such products involves the implementation of several required steps. It is imperative to have a gas welding machine on hand, as well as a grinder, fixing elements and personal protective equipment.
After the acquisition of the material has been made and the entire list of necessary tools, including protective equipment, has been prepared, a work site of the appropriate size should be prepared, located in one flat plane.
Among the measuring instruments it is worth arming yourself with a building corner, two water levels, one of which will have a length of 40 centimeters, and the other will exceed 1 meter in length. In addition, it is necessary to keep a journal to record readings and prepare a protractor capable of measuring the angles of long sections. Finally, it’s important to remember that roulette is best for taking readings from current sizes.
Fabrication of construction
First of all, remember that all current sizes must be recorded in the workbook. First of all, all initial indicators of the room in which the product is supposed to be installed are entered in this list. Then the whole structure is divided into basic components, which are divided into smaller elements, from which the general structure is modeled.
Upon receipt of the shape and dimensions of each element, it is necessary to produce all the workpieces with maximum accuracy, which will subsequently make up the overall design. This is a rather complicated task, and it is necessary to approach its implementation with maximum accuracy. In the process of forming structural components, it may be necessary to adjust using percussion instruments.
Forged ties, of course, are best done using a hearth, which can heat the surface to a temperature of 1400 degrees. However, a positive effect can be achieved in another way, using the ability of the metal to deformation.
For this, an element that has lost a straight line in the axis is clamped in a vice and, using levers or gas keys, is bent to the desired configuration. After all the elements have been tested for evenness, they should be compared with each other and, in case of inconsistencies, finalized with a sledgehammer.