September 9, 2024December 5, 2022 by Eddie Ping

With the current state of the economy, many people are opting to extend their existing property rather than move house.

Loft conversions are a popular way to do this, providing space for a guest bedroom or even an office.

However, access to your new loft room will require staircase installation. If you choose a traditional, straight staircase, it’s likely that you’ll lose a substantial amount of square footage on your landings, or worse, from an existing bedroom.

In this blog, we discuss the advantages of space saving stairs for loft conversions.

Loft conversion stairs ideas

Space saving paddle stairs are one of the best solutions to benefit from a loft conversion without losing too much existing space on the floor below.

These are constructed using alternating treads, and get their name from their shape, which resembles a rowing oar or paddle.

Ideal for use as space saving stairs for loft conversions, paddle stairs are only about half the length of traditional staircases. This means they are perfect for even the smallest of landings.

To find out more about the advantages of space saving paddle stairs in your home, take a look at our blog, “Why should you use paddle stairs?”

Another frequently adopted method of installing space saving stairs for loft conversions is to opt for a spiral staircase. These staircases build on top of themselves, which again saves square footage on your landings.

Space saving stairs dimensions

Of course, safety is of paramount importance when designing any staircase. So, whilst saving space is a chief concern when installing stairs for a loft conversion, it’s also vital that they’re comfortable and completely safe to use.

Space saving stairs for loft conversions that are not wide enough could lead to a risk of falls, due to a lack of room to climb. Additionally, if your staircase is too steep, you could lose your balance.

Whilst legally there is no minimum height and width for space saving stairs for loft conversions, there is a maximum angle for the pitch of 42°.

We recommend using sensible judgement calls to make sure that your space–saving staircase is an appropriate size for the layout of your home and your lifestyle.

At Abbott Wade, we have years of experience in making such judgement calls, and will be able to help you decide on the best space saving staircase design for your home.

Space saving loft stairs building regulations

All staircases in the UK must conform to building regulations, including space saving stairs for loft conversions. Paddle stairs must conform to a specific section of K1 building regulations. Summarised briefly, this section states that paddle stairs must:

Be built in one or more straight flights. This means if a change in direction is needed, a landing should be included.
Only be used for access to one habitable room. If you plan to use your space saving stairs to access more than one room, then paddle stairs cannot be used.
Feature uniform steps with parallel nosings.
Have balustrades that comply with general staircase building regulations.
Have a tread going of at least 220mm, with a maximum rise of 220mm.