Wreath Piece — Glossary entry
Category: Glossary entry
Curved element of a handrail or stringer to resolve changes of direction.
A wreath piece is a curved component in stair construction – mostly a section of the handrail, occasionally of a stringer – used to resolve direction changes on landings, at the bottom and top of the staircase and within curved flights. Instead of an angled joint, the result is a flowing, ergonomic line. Standing wreath pieces describe a curve in the vertical plane, while lying wreath pieces act in the horizontal plane; both can be combined. They are produced mostly as bent-laminated components, where thin wood lamellas are glued around a form under pressure, or as block-laminated parts using thicker layers. After gluing, the blank is marked from a template, sawn out and profiled. Wreath pieces are among the most demanding components in stair construction and are considered a hallmark of high-quality wooden staircases.
Handrail Wreath Piece: The handrail wreath piece is a curved section of a handrail that resolves changes of direction at landings, in curved flights or at the top and bottom of the staircase. It creates a flowing, ergonomic transition instead of an angled joint and is a mark of quality on high-end wooden staircases. Wreath pieces are mostly produced by glue-laminating several thin wood lamellas (bent-lamination or block-lamination); they are then marked from a template, sawn out and profiled. Typical forms are standing and lying wreath pieces, as well as combinations of both.
Wreath Piece Production: The production of a wreath piece is one of the most demanding tasks in stair building. Depending on the shape, wreath pieces are either cut from solid timber, laminated or glue-laminated. In glue-lamination, thin wood lamellas are bent around a form and bonded under pressure, creating a dimensionally stable, harmoniously curved component. Thicker layers bonded in a cross pattern are used where particularly high loads need to be carried. After gluing, the outer contour is profiled, connection surfaces are machined and the piece is fitted into the stringer or handrail.
Related terms
Related terms: Handrail, Helical Stair, Stairwell Void, Tread Flaring — Overview for Curved Stairs, Marking (Stair Construction).