Flights and Landings

• A flight of stairs refers to an uninterrupted set of steps with no landings or other breaks in the treads. A wooden staircase might have one or many flights of steps. Landings occur at the tops and bottoms of stairways and at the end of a series of steps and give the user clear access to the stairs or area to rest momentarily before continuing on her way, or provide the means for a change in the stairway's direction.
  
  

Balusters and Newels

• Balusters, vertical wooden members that fill in the open spaces between handrail an the steps, help support the weight of the railing and guard against young children falling off the staircase. Newels, vertical posts that come at the end of a balustrade or at the top and bottom of a staircase, often have a more ornate and decorative appearance than the balusters and give the railings a look of solidity and strength.
  
  

Bullnose and Volute

• A bullnose step typically occurs at the beginning of many wooden staircases and has a greater width than the other treads. The bullnose winds back around the newels on either one side or both sides, depending on the construction. The volute, a curved shape on the handrail at the start of the steps, adds a stylish, decorative element to the staircase. The design of the volute goes back thousands of years and was used by the ancient Greeks in their public buildings.
  
  

Winders

• The winder, a tread that has non-parallel edges, facilitates changes of direction in a staircase without resorting to use of landings. Frequently seen in smaller homes, winders and winding stairs make an excellent way to fit a stairway into a limited space. A spiral staircase consists of uniform winders that create a curved set of steps, often around a vertical pole that acts as a support for the stairs.