Stairs are often the focal point of a building project. Whether visually central or just structurally necessary, one flight or several, stairs are an important component. Residential building projects may include wooden stairs, spiral stairs, or custom stairs. Commercial buildings sometimes include steel stairs or outdoor stairs.
Building stairs is a particular craft that is not accomplished by just any contractor. Spiral staircase kits are not difficult to assemble, but building wooden stairs requires some craftsmanship. Custom stairs help solve design and floor plan issues, but again, should not be undertaken by just any contractor.
Spiral stairs are space-savers but also create limitations. Moving furniture up spiral stairs is virtually impossible, so they are not the best choice for a single access second floor space. Some typical applications for spiral stairs are:
1. Attic stairs, where there is little space
2. Outdoor stairs, where a straight run would require a longer support wall
3. Loft stairs, where the distance from one floor to another is shorter than normal
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Learn the staircase lingo
You need to understand the language used by contractors and salespeople when they discuss various stair components and construction details. You can't choose the right stairs for your project if you don't know what they're talking about.
I recommend: StairSupplies offers an online guide to the anatomy of a staircase.
Choose a style of spiral stairs
For attic stairs or other space-saving applications, spiral stairs can be purchased as a kit and easily installed. The key is to find the right look for your project when there are so many different styles available.
I recommend: The Iron Shop features spiral staircase kits for
steel stairs and
oak spiral stairs, as well as
custom kits for building stairs to your own specifications.
Order the right supplies for stairs
If you're not building your stairs from a kit, you'll need to order the right supplies. First determine what you want the finished stairs to look like. Then, use some online tools to get it right.
I recommend: StairSupplies provides an online ordering guide to ensure you have all the pieces you need, and you can purchase a custom railing system from
Ultra-tec Cable Railing System.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Stairs are an important structural and visual element of any building. Take your time and shop around before making a decision about what style and construction to go with. Notice the stairs in various buildings you visit throughout the day to get ideas about how you want to finish the stairs in your project.
- Shop around for the right contractor to build your stairs. Hire someone with plenty of experience building the type of stairs you are using in your project, and then take his advice about how to proceed.
The official source of Stairs is the Stairs page at Business.com
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Related Resources from Business.com
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