Cantilevered Stair Treads from Arden Architectural Stairs

Cantilevered treads: design

Thinking of using cantilevered treads for your staircase? Here are some brief design notes.

The strikingly minimalist aspect of a cantilevered tread staircase is certain to provide enduring appeal in a modern architectural setting. Without a stringer to distract attention, the treads project from a supporting wall without extra support. The result is a clean and geometric: an 'engineered interior sculpture' that will attract attention and comment.

Design options
Cantilevered tread designs usually do not incorporate full risers, in favour of either a fully or partially open design. That being said, a cantilevered full tread and riser assembly is possible, and sometimes considered by interior designers wishing to make a unique statement. The classic cantilevered staircase design would be fully open (i.e. no risers at all), complemented with a frameless glass balustrade, such as the Arden F8 style. The appeal of partially cantilevered constructions in timber is the interesting geometric details that result from the fine joinery necessary to achieve them.

Treads
Careful specification of the treads in terms of texture and material is of great importance, since they are the focal point of the design. Australian renewable or recycled hardwood timbers are naturally an excellent choice. For those wishing to take the modern theme to its logical conclusion, laminated toughened structural glass may be suitable. However, some form of skid-resistance finish is recommended for pedestrian safety (AS/NZS 4586).