Spiral & Helical Staircases
Bespoke steel spiral and helical staircases - a striking, space-saving way to connect floors, made to measure for homes and commercial spaces.
A spiral staircase makes a real feature while taking up a fraction of the footprint of a standard flight. We fabricate bespoke spiral and helical stairs in steel, with options for timber or steel treads, glass or steel balustrades and a finish to match the setting.
Spiral or helical?
A spiral staircase winds around a central column, with each tread fixed to it. It takes up the smallest area, so it suits loft conversions, mezzanines, roof access and small rooms.
A helical staircase curves around an open centre, with no central column. It needs more space but makes a bigger statement, and is often chosen for entrance halls, restaurants and shops.
Where they're used
- Loft conversions and mezzanine floors where a straight stair won't fit.
- Feature stairs in homes, bars, restaurants and shops.
- External access to roof terraces, balconies and first-floor flats.
- Plant room and roof access in commercial and industrial buildings.
Treads, balustrades and finishes
Treads can be steel (plain, chequer plate or grating), timber in oak or another hardwood, or steel pans ready for stone or carpet. Balustrades can be steel spindles, flat bar or glass balustrades, with a steel or timber handrail.
External stairs are hot-dip galvanised, often with a powder coat on top. Internal stairs are usually powder coated in the colour of your choice.
Sizes and regulations
Each staircase is designed around your floor-to-floor height, opening size and the relevant building regulations for going, rise and guarding. Whether it is an internal feature stair or an external access stair, it is built to last.
The size that matters most is the diameter. A bigger diameter gives wider, more comfortable treads. Small diameters suit occasional access, while a stair used every day, or by the public, needs to be larger.
Spiral and helical stairs are designed to BS 5395-2, which Approved Document K refers to. Where the stair is a means of escape, for example in a loft conversion or a commercial building, building control will check that a spiral stair is acceptable. Our fire escape regulations guide explains more.
How it works
We template, fabricate and install, so the stair fits first time and is finished to a standard we are happy to put our name to.
- Survey — we measure the opening, floor-to-floor height and fixing points.
- Design — drawings show the diameter, number of treads, entry and exit directions, and balustrade.
- Fabrication — made in our Peterlee workshop to UKAS-approved EN1090-1.
- Finishing — galvanising, powder coating or primer.
- Installation — fitted by our own team, usually within a day or two.
Frequently asked questions
How much space does a spiral staircase need? It depends on the diameter you choose. The floor opening is usually a little larger than the stair's diameter, and we confirm the exact size once we know your floor-to-floor height and where you want to step on and off.
Can a spiral staircase be used in a loft conversion? Often, yes. Building control decides whether it's acceptable as the escape route for that layout, so check early with your designer.
Can you match an existing balustrade or colour? Yes. We make the balustrade and finish to suit, and can match RAL colours in powder coat.
Do you make straight stairs too? Yes. See our steel staircases, or get in touch with your opening size and floor height.