The staircase is one of the key features to set the design tone in a house, says Spiral Construction md Eric Nicholls. “Located centrally, the staircase is normally the first feature that is seen when people go into a home and the choice could significantly influence potential purchasers. With a wide choice of designs and material options, developers have great freedom to create visually attractive features. “Clearly as an integral part of the house construction, the staircase is unlikely to ever be change – unlike, say, a kitchen or bathroom which may be upgraded several times over the life of the home. <br><br>It is therefore a key, permanent design feature and one which developers at the upper end of the market are increasingly incorporating to differentiate their designs.” Spiral or helical staircases are still the preserve of mid to upper price housing developments due to a cost premium of up to three times that of installing a traditional one, says Nicholls who adds that it is actually easier to comply with Part K of Building Regulations using a spiral or helical design. “Paragraph 1.21 of Part K states that spiral and helical staircases comply with Building Regulations if they are …