Travel Area - Using Stairway
The travel area on a stairway is the path that users follow to go up and down the stairs. The picture below provides you with an excellent example of the travel area for this particular set of stairs. If you walk down a set of stairs, you're walking down the main travel area for that particular stairway.
What's The Purpose Of A Travel Area?
The travel area is the basic path used by people in buildings. There are
low traffic areas like your living room, garage, bedrooms and closets.
There are moderate traffic areas like your bathrooms and kitchens and
high-traffic areas like your hallways and stairs.
Still, what's the big deal and why do we need to learn about a home or
buildings travel area. If you are planning on installing a certain type
of flooring, the travel area is going to be something you need to
seriously think about.
I've seen hallways and stairs that were carpeted and literally looked
like crap, within a short period of time, because of the amount of
traffic, in these areas. I've actually seen paths worn into the
carpeting.
If you understand the high-traffic travel areas in your home, you can
usually compensate for them, by installing a higher quality of flooring
or one that's more durable. It's not uncommon to find wood
finished
stairs and tiled hallways, instead of carpeting.
Stairs / Stair Glossary
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