fitting risers to open tread stairs

[mari]

I have read somewhere of an architect adding polycarbonate/acrylic type risers to open tread stairs.As I don't want to lose the light on my open tread staircase, can anyone tell me if this works and if so, any stockists.

 

[wood wizard]

why do you want to close the risers off then if they are going to be transparent?
i have seen what you are talking about so it does exist, check on web and you'll find it somewhere. sorry i can't be of anymore help.

 

[big-all]

i dont know the answer

but i assume its for safety or vanity reasons and not to strengthen the treads

 

[Scrit]

I assume that you're talking about retrofitting in which case you'd need something bent into an inverted J shape and drilled/countersunk (assuming you need a one piece). Can't see anyone doing them ex-stock as stairs tend to be all sorts of widths/rises, but it's the sort of thing a local retail stabnd manufacturer might be able to handle (bending plastics requires specialisd gear). If you don't mind seeing a wooden lip you could always just get a plastics merchant (e.g. William Cox, Amari Plastics, etc) to supply the plastic sheet, cut it to size, drill and screw to a 20/25 mm square strip of timber down one edge then screw the timbers beneath the risers and finally screw to the backs of the risets below. There's a good section on handling acrylics over at the Ultimate Handy Man site - the webmaster works onthe industry and knows his stuff

Scrit

 

[Deluks]

Sorry for butting in, but after seeing that Screwfix ad on TV all the time, I'm wondering what the term 'ex-stock' means. I worked out that it means 'always in stock' but whats the ex- bit for??

 

[big-all]

ex in this respect means" was" stock "from" stock somthing you had in stock

 

[NMB]

I am designing a new staircase for my house and have this problem.in order to meet current building regs a 100m sphere(representing a childs head)must not be able to pass through the open riser.I am considering either perspex,toughened or lam glass,i think polycarb may scratch to easily

 

[masona]

How about running a couple of stainless steel bar , best to check with the building regs, if allow.

 

[PE]

Hi

We did this recently but with wood and created half risers by screwing down through stairs with some hefty fittings. Very cheap and easy and suitable for us as we were having carpet fitted on stairs - we have not lost hardly any light either which was a main consideration for us in finding a safe solution.

I take it as you want a glass look, you have wood finished stairs and so unless you can match the wood exactly this may not be an option?