Ducon Concrete stairs for home?

there is an example of a concrete staircase in this house, might give you a design idea
http://www.daft.ie/imagebrowser.daft?type=sale&id=399203&photo=1

I expect that underside will not be exposed to view. Threads and risers will most likely be covered with carpet. Only concrete element you could see is side of staircase which you could plaster and paint or cover with wood. If you plan for timber bannisters you need to give consideration to how they will be fixed but will not be a major problem. I would go for the concrete solution.

Seems like very few people out there use a Ducon stairs - anyone out there have one? Deadline day is fast appoaching and we need to make a decision soon

Why are putting in the conrete floor upstairs? Fire? Sound? More solid job? If you put in a wooden stairs all above are lost. you will have a creaky weak stairs that will burn first in the event of a fire. concrete stairs might even work out cheaper. if you don't go with it: you will have to make up a temp stairs for builder, then pay a chippie alot to make the stairs after and then the rail. its an no brainer go with the concrete stairs and dress it nice with timber after. the only job for the life of the house!!

Thahks for the comments Madbuilder and Sallins. Thinking of coming around to your point of view. Vising a friends house in a few days time that have it, and hopefully that will decide me!

Our neighbour put in a concrete stairs and concrete floor on 1st floor. He did it for sound proofing reasons - 3 very noisy children! We also put in a concrete 1st floor but chose a timber stairs. IMO it depends on where your stairs is in the house and whether you want to make a feature of it. We have a large, double height window behind our stairs and chose an open thread so a concrete stairs wouldn't have been a runner. The open thread allows the light to come through to the rest of the hall. We were a little worried about a timber stairs and noise but TBH it's not a problem and everyone comments on the beautiful stairs when they come in.

You need decide before you pour suspended floor.Concrete stairs are heavy and will lkely need support beam at suspended floor level

Just measure twice and cut once.

If you're cladding the stairs in timber for the treads, you need to work it all out in section to scale first, and the depth floor finish at the top and bottom of the stairs must be taken into account.

This is true to a degree for all stairs, but mroe so with a concrete stairs and flor upstairs, particularly if you're thinking of 25mm treads and perhaps 50mm stone on the hallway and only a carpet on 1st floor - you need to work it out properly.

Trip hazards at the top of stairs can be lethal, and at the bottom can lead to stumbles - a real risk as you get older.

ONQ