Whether you are planning to renovate your home or build an addition, you are bound to make some choices. Some of them will revolve around finding convenient ways to access the new or improved areas of your home. If you don’t have room for a conventional stairway, you might want to consider building a spiral staircase.
Here are a few tips to help you build one and make sure you avoid these common mistakes!
It Starts With Planning and Design
As with any successful construction project, building your spiral staircase starts with planning and design. Every spiral staircase is built around one center pole (or column) that rests on a point at the base. In design, you need to be mindful of your staircase’s safety and the national building code that regulates the spiral staircase dimensions you should adhere to.
It requires that each tread must be at least 7 ½ inches deep and 26 inches wide. You need to have at least 6 feet and 6 inches of headroom above each step, and the handrails must be about 34 to 36 inches above the tread nose. A 4-inch ball shouldn’t be able to pass through your railing balusters.
The Top Deck
This is a key element in any staircase building project. You need to make sure it has ample room so it is comfortable to use. Keep in mind that it needs to be at least as wide as your top step, but you can make it even wider than that if you have enough space. Be mindful of the screen door you will choose for your staircase as it will help you better plan your spiral staircase dimensions.
The Center Column and Treads
In addition to it being a crucial staircase element, the center column is also the first thing people notice in a spiral stairway. When you are planning its dimensions, you should also decide if you want to add any decorative features to it. Once you have done the math for your column, it is time to do the same for the treads.
For example, if you have a 146-inch long column (approx. 12 feet), you can have 15 steps (108 inches total) and about 36 inches for the top guard railing, plus 2 extra inches for the sake of appearance.
Don’t Forget About the Finish
Once all the welding is done and you have ground and polished the welds, it is time to give your spiral staircase a nice finish. Choose a good primer and paint, and feel free to add any decorative finishes that would make the stairway truly unique. Add the handrails of your choice, bolt everything in place, and you are good to go!
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of building a spiral staircase yourself, you can just pick one of our ready-made options.