What is a scheluwe staircase (stair with a winding start or finish)?
A scheluwe trap is a Dutch term for a staircase that turns slightly at the bottom or the top. Most of the flight is straight, but the first or last few treads fan out as winders, so the stair changes direction by a small angle. As a result, the treads are not parallel to each other.
In a double scheluwe staircase, both the start and the finish turn. Because the stair turns, one stringer is shorter than the other.
It is not the same as a skewed stair. In a skewed stair the treads are parallel to one another but are not at right angles to the stringers.
Fanning the treads through a turn is known in Dutch as verdrijven (balancing the winders). Well-balanced winders have the same going along the walking line, so you can keep a steady rhythm.
Application
This type of stair is a practical solution when a straight flight almost fits but not quite, for example because the stairwell opening and the starting point are slightly offset. A small turn at the bottom or top lets the stair meet a hallway or door without building a full quarter-turn stair.
Points to watch:
- Safety: the narrow end of a winder is harder to walk on. Keep the going equal along the walking line and fit a continuous handrail.
- Regulations: domestic stairs must meet the building regulations in your country (rise, going, headroom and handrail requirements). Check them before you build, or have a stair maker design it.
- Bespoke work: these stairs are almost always made to measure. Measure the stairwell, floor-to-floor height and connections carefully.
Related Terms
- Staircase
- Winders
- Spiral staircase
- Quarter-turn stair
- Stringer
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