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- Product Description
- Height & Layout
- Fixing
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- Staircase FAQs
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The Karina is the world's best selling space saving staircase kit. It is made by an Italian company called Arke and has been in production for well over a decade. It's easy to assemble and most people manage to do this in a single day using standard tools.
The Karina space saver staircase can be arranged into many different formats such as a straight flight, an L shape, a U shape or anything in between. For more information please read the height and layout tab. Otherwise the most common queries about the Karina space saver staircase kit are:
What comes in the box?
Treads
Carriage modules (to form the steel structure) with top and bottom fixing plates
Balusters
Hand grips
Written installation instructions and a DVD
What are the main parts made from?
The treads are made from beech (a good quality hardwood). They come with a primer coat of either clear varnish or varnish mixed with a dark stain.
The balusters, carriage modules and fixing plates are made from steel. They are powder coated and coloured either white, grey or black.
The hand grips are made from plastic and are black in colour.
How is the delivery made?
The Karina space saver staircase is supplied in kit form. It is shipped in a large plywood box on a wooden pallet and depending on the number of treads ordered there may be a few smaller cardboard boxes as well. The delivery is made using a large vehicle with a tail lift and a pump truck because the main box is too heavy to be lifted by hand. The driver will take the goods off the lorry and deliver them to the roadside outside your property, or as close as possible if you live on an unmade road. From there you will need to provide the means of bringing them into the building. If you need to do this by hand you can do so only by opening the box and carrying in the pieces inside. It is not possible to move the complete box by hand as it will weigh at least 145kg.
How can I tell if it will fit my house?
You need to take a few measurements and then carefully read the information we give on heights and layout and fixings. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call our technical sales team on 0800 098 8778. We're here to help!
Will my new staircase meet building regulations?
The short answer to this question is no - the Karina does not meet the requirements of Approved Document K from the Building Regulations as a suitable means of access to a habitable space. That's because the Karina is not really an alternative to a conventional staircase. It's for use in spaces that are so small that the only alternative is a ladder. Of course the Karina is much safer and more comfortable to use than a ladder! If your installation needs to comply with the Building Regulations then you need to use a different type of staircase. Please contact our technical sales team on 0800 098 8778 if you need help. Remember that it's your responsibility to determine whether or not your installation is subject to the Building Regulations.
Accessories for the Karina Space Saver staircase
In addition to the Karina Space Saver staircase kit there are some accessories available which you might need to finish your job. They are:
Riser bars for the Karina Space Saver staircase kit by Arke
Riser bars are "L" shaped steel tubes which fit between the treads for the safety of small children.
For more information on riser bars for the Karina Space Saver staircase kit please click here
Second side raking balustrade kit for the Karina Space Saver staircase kit by Arke
The Karina Space Saver staircase kit comes with enough balusters to go along one side of the staircase only. If you need balustrade on both sides of your stair then you need to buy one of these kits as well as your staircase.
Landing balustrade kit for the Karina Space Saver staircase kit by Arke
The Karina Space Saver staircase kit comes with enough balusters to go along one side of the staircase only. It does not come with any balustrade to sit on the upper floor. The collective name for the handrails, balusters etc that sit on top of the upper floor is landing balustrade. If you need landing balustrade you must buy it seperately. It is sold in kits 1.2 metres long.
Before you buy a Karina space saver staircase kit you need to check that it will fit the space you have available for it. Please read through the information below before you place your order and also take a look at the accessories which are available for the Karina space saver staircase kit, just to make sure you have everything you need to finish the job properly. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact one of our technical sales people on 0800 098 8778, we’re always happy to help!
Staircase Height
The correct way to measure the total height of your new staircase is to measure vertically from the top of your floor on one level to the top of the floor on the next. The measurement is known as the floor to floor height. Different buildings have different floor to floor heights and so the Karina space saver staircase kit is adjustable so that it can fit the exact floor to floor height on your site.
What is the floor to floor height?
The floor to floor height should be measured vertically from the top of one floor to the next.
Floor to floor table
This table allows you to work out how many treads and risers you will need to be able to reach your floor to floor height. The term “riser” refers to the height of each step and the tread is the surface you stand on. There is always one more riser than there are treads because the last riser is the step up from the top tread to the upper floor.
| Floor to floor | No. of risers | No. of treads |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 - 2350mm | 10 | 9 |
| 2090 - 2585mm | 11 | 10 |
| 2280 - 2820mm | 12 | 11 |
| 2470 - 3055mm | 13 | 12 |
| 2660 - 3290mm | 14 | 13 |
Staircase Layout
The Karina can be arranged into a number of different formats to suit your needs. Once you have determined the number of treads that you need to use you also need to check whether or not an appropriate layout can be formed to suit your site. The drawings below show some of the most common layouts for a typical 11 tread (12 riser) staircase. Of course your installation may well need more or fewer treads than this so if you want us to make a specific drawing for you please call our technical sales team on 0800 098 8778. Please bear in mind that the staircase must positioned so that it is at least 25mm clear of any surrounding walls.
Typical layout drawings
As you might expect the Karina space saver staircase kit needs to be securely fixed in a few key places. Before you buy a Karina space saver staircase kit you need to take a close look at your site to see whether or not secure fixings can be achieved. The different types of fixing are:
Staircase plans and instructions
Here you can download drawings and installation instructions for the Karina space saver staircase kit:
Lower floor fixing plate
Underneath the treads of the Karina staircase there is a series of steel modules (one per step) which make up the carriage. The first module has a steel plate welded to it, which needs to be bolted to the lower floor. Below are a few common types of floor and ways of fixing to them. Please bear in mind that if there is an under floor heating system present then you will need to be sure that the area is clear of pipes before you start drilling holes:
Concrete
Drill holes as required and bolt the fixing plate down with the standard expansion bolts supplied.
Concrete under insulation and screed
In this situation there is a danger that the weight of the stair could cause the insulation to compress and damage the screed and floor covering. One solution is to chemically fix threaded rods into the concrete slab and then fit some locking nuts so that the base plate is held just fractionally above the floor. You need to be sure that the threaded rods connect solidly onto the concrete and that you fill the shaft with the resin. The idea is that the load is imposed onto the concrete and not the insulation or screed.
Concrete floors under floating wooden floorboards
You can generally drill some clearance holes in the wooden floor board and then just fix into the concrete using expansion bolts. The only danger is whether or not your floorboards need space to expand and contract. If you are in doubt check with the flooring supplier. In most cases, and especially with laminates and engineered floor boards, they just tell you to leave some clearance around the holes in the wood.
Wooden joists
Replace the expansion bolts with some M10 coach screws and washers so that you can screw straight through the floor board and into the joists beneath. If there are no joists in the required spot lift the floor boards and put some in place.
Upper floor fixing plate
The top module also has a steel plate welded to it which is surface fixed over the apron of the upper floor. The plate is typically fixed as follows:
Concrete
Drill clearance holes in the apron and then drill into the concrete and fix the plate with the expansion bolts supplied.
Wood
Replace the expansion bolts supplied with some M10 coach screws and washers. Screw through the apron and into the joist to secure the plate. Remember to drill small pilot holes first to avoid splitting the wood.
Staircase installation manual and how to videos
Staircase plans and instructions
Here you can downlaod staircase plan drawings and staircase installation instructons
Frequently asked questions for the Karina Space Saving Stair by Arke
Can I specially order the Karina Space Saving Stair in any other colours or wood types?
Can I specially order the Karina Space Saving Stair in any other colours or wood types?
No. The Karina space saving stair kit from Arke is only available in the standard colours. These are white, grey and black for the metal parts and a light or dark colour finish for the beech treads. If you are looking for alternative colours please email us at info@staircasewarehouse.com with your requirements, and we will try to suggest an alternative product.
Will my new staircase conform to the building regulations?
Staircase installations are subject to the building regulations. These are described in Approved Document K of the building regulations. It is important to understand that the regulations vary according to individual site circumstances and therefore you should check with the local authority that the installation you are planning is approved before purchasing a staircase. Staircase Warehouse is not responsible for ensuring the suitability of your installation for Building Regulations.
Should I specify the direction I want the stair to rotate when I order?
No. The Karina space saving stair can rotate in either the clockwise or anti clockwise direction. The direction is determined during the assembly.
The staircase doesn’t reach my floor height - can I extend it?
The modular design of the Karina space saving stair kit allows you to extend the height by adding extra treads to the standard kit. You can also reduce the height by using fewer treads. Please see the assembled size table and stair plan drawing sections on the product information page for more information.
How long does it take to install the staircase?
If you have done your planning and preparation work beforehand, and your structural opening is formed the staircase should not take more than one day for two people to install.
Do I require any specialist tools?
The staircase has been designed to be installed by DIY’ers. No specialist tools are needed to install the Civik spiral stair. The standard tools that you will require are as follows; electric drill/ driver, spirit level, Allen keys 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 12mm, plumb line, spanners, 13, 17, 30mm, measuring tape, hacksaw, Phillips screw driver, mallet and dill bits.
Can Staircase Warehouse install this product for me?
Currently Staircase Warehouse does not provide an installation service. Although depending on your location, we might be able to put you in contact with a staircase installer please email us a contact@staircasewarehouse.com
How long will my stair take to arrive?
The delivery will normally take around 7-10 working days to arrive with you. The stair will be dispatched to you directly from the manufacturer in Italy. Every year the manufacturer closes for seasonal holidays in August and December. Around these periods delivery times will vary. Please contact us if you are in doubt.
| Delivery time | 10 working days |
|---|---|
| Main materials | Wood and metal |
| Balustrade style | Standard |
| Handrail material | Bent balusters |
| Treads | Wood material: Solid Beech, block laminated Thickness: 30mm Graded for evenness of colour: No Finish: Single (primer) coat of varnish Colours: Light or dark Note: There is no landing plate in this stair |
| Centre column | Colours: White, black or grey Finish: Powder coated Material: Steel |
| Handrail | Material:Plastic Colour: Black |
| Balusters | Material: Mild Steel Tube Diameter: 20mm Finish: Powder coated Colours: White, black or grey |
| Instructions supplied | Written and DVD |
