Conference 7.286::home_work

    What do you mean by "Can I do it myself"?  You can erect it yourself
    but it would be difficult to design and build it yourself.  
    
    I put one in from my basement to my second floor.  It's the only
    thing that would fit.  From the basement to first floor is 4 1/2'
    diameter and the top half is 5' diameter.  The cost was $1800 and
    it's all wrought iron.  The $1800 included 10 feet of railing along
    the second floor balcony.  I checked around with a lot of companies.
    There are a lot which make expensive wood ones.  If you want wrought
    iron I recommend the company I used.  A salesman comes to your house
    to take measurements, and they ship it to you in pieces.  I put
    mine up myself (just me, alone).  It was tricky to do but only took
    1 day for the whole thing.  The company is Mylen Industries and
    they're in the Boston phone book.  I believe the salesman's name
    in this area is Peter Colossi or something like that.
    
    One more thing...  My building inspector was very picky about
    spiral staircases.  If you're getting a building permit to do this,
    (I wouldn't bother), then make sure the building inspector knows
    the diameter of the staircase, the distance between ballisters,
    and the size of each step well in advance.
    

    I designed and built a wood spiral staircase for my house. About
    $200 total. Its a one story, 8', affair with steam bent rail. Fine
    Woodworking has had several articles on spiral and circular stair
    building. Not the kind of wood work done by Rough Carpenters with
    sledge hammers, but not impossible for carefull workers.
    
    However, I would seriously question putting a spiral stair as the
    main stair to the second floor of a house. Have you ever thought
    of carrying things, like a mattress maybe, up a spiral stair? Also
    lots of people find them very intimidating to climb, (my mother
    was very proud of herself for getting up and down mine) and I dont
    think most people would feel comfortable with small kids around
    them. 
    
    Ron, always ready with an opinion, Ginger
    

    Hello,
    
    I'm new to the conference because I'm going to be a home owner (three
    family) for the first time in the near future.  My first question
    revolves around spiral staircases (external).  The property that
    I am buying has an awful (= ugly) set of stairs leading up to the
    third floor apartment.  Has anyone ever built or purchased such
    a beast, a spiral staircase that is.  Does anyone have plans for
    same said?
    
    Craig

    I bought and installed one.  It was made in Peekskill,NY by Mylen
    Industries.  It goes up for 2 stories.  I installed it by myself,
    which was interesting.
    
    I checked out a lot of brands and this was the least expensive.
    I think I paid around $1500 for it.
    

	Is this to be *THE* stairway to the apartment, or just an emergency
	type of affair?  In general spiral stairs are not recommended for
	a general purpose stair as they are not really as safe as a 
	conventional stairway.  The width of the tread varied along the
	length of the step and tends to create a very narrow tread where
	you actually put your foot.  I was looking into spiral stairs
	myself just recently and after much talking and reading decided
	against them.

	I did find a place in Vermont that will custom make spirals for
	you if you are interested.  Three stories sound like a pretty long
	walk on a spiral stair.

	Just my .02�

	-gary

    I have a spiral staircase as the only stairs to the second floor
    of my house.  I have them because the house is small and they take
    up less room than straight stairs.  It's very hard to bring furniture
    up spiral stairs.  In my case, that's not a problem, because I have
    a balcony which looks down over the first floor and I can lift
    furniture up that way.
    
    In your case, I don't think a spiral staircase is the way to go,
    because of the other Note you entered about how economical certain
    apartment improvements are.  It would be very expensive to put in
    a 3 story spiral staircase.  It's probably close to $4000 installed.

    I don't know what a carpenter would charge to rebuild your wood
    stairs out of pressure treated wood, but probably less than half
    that.
    

    We had a spiral staircase made for our loft area in our contemporary
    home. A wonderful manufacturer, located off the Southeast Expressway
    in Boston, designed and fabricated it to our specs. The process
    was that we supplied the measurements, i.e. height from finished
    floor to door opening a of opening, etc. The fabricator
    then produced shop drawings for our approval and verification. The
    stairway was then fabricated and assembled in their plant (so they
    know everything fits exactly). It was then dissembled, painted,
    and packaged for shipment. I picked it was with a light Toyota truck.
    My wife and I assembled it in about 3 hours. Instructions were very
 straight forward, and all parts were stamped with a part number so
    that stairs trea installed in the proper sequence. 
    
    They manufacture a complete line of exterior as well as interior
    stairs. It was a neat experience to see everything fit EXACTLY.
    I can look up his name and number if you are interested.
    
    

    I have a catalogue from i place called:
    
    	The Iron Shop
    	P.O. Box 128
    	400 Reed Road
    	Broomall, PA  19008
    	(215) 544-7100
    
    I have never bought anything from them, but they have a wide selection
    of interior and exterior spiral and straight staircases that appear
    to be of good quality and easy to install. You might want to get
    a catalogue��rom them just so you could compare prices with some
    of the other places that have been suggested.
    
    - Ram

    I bought a stairway, {not spiral}, from the IRON SHOP.  They offer
    very good consultation.  I spoke to the owner's son , Neil, I believe.
    
    I am very satisfied with the quality.  Their booket is very
    informative. When you acll, make sure you have all your measurements
    ready.  I steered away from a spiral, because it was to go to a
    dormer, and seemed too confined.  If I had the room, though, I may
    have gone for one of their Large spirals.
    
    Good Luck in your decision.
    
    Bruce

    O.K. ... to continue the  discussion on spiral stairs 
    
    I'll be finishing my attic soon (hip roof - foursquare) and the only
    means of a primary staircase (without serious rearraingement on the
    second floor) is a  3'6" spiral in the hallway. Now, with a 3-6, the
    clear walk space between pole and rail is 1'6". I'm estimating that the
    usable living space in the attic (open floor plan bedroom and 1 bath)
    will be in the 300 - 350 sq ft. range. 
    
    I'm willing to put a second egress (exterior fire ladder / platform)
    off the back of the house.
    
    Now the question ... is this going to meet code in Ma. ?

    This is the kind of question that only your building inspector
    can answer.  I have a spiral staircase as my only means of egress
    for 3 bedrooms.  Different inspectors interpret the code differently.
    Besides the pole to rail distance, you have to have a 7" wide step
    at a distance 12" from the pole.  Then you have to have a 9" max
    distance between ballisters.  
    
    My guess is that your staircase is too narrow.  A fireman carrying
    a hose over his shoulder needs 22" to go up a staircase.  You've
    only allowed 18".  
    
    BTW, how do you plan to get any furniture up there?
    

    I'll look in the Mass building code tonite, but I have two reactions:
    
    1) How are you going to get anything into the attic with stairs
    that narrow?  (Bed, dresser, etc).  You may need that outside staircase
    just to get anything bigger than yourself into that room.
    
    2) Even if the codes permit it, (and if I had to guess, I'd say
    no), would YOU want a narrow winding egress like that as your
    sole exit with the house filled with smoke and the lights off?

    re -.1
    
    Furniture will be mostly in the form of built-ins (platform for
    a matress, window seat in dormer, etc.) Building materials and
    major fixtures will come in through the large opening I'm 
    planning to have when framming the dormer.
    
    If I go with a Iron Shop prefab spiral, I can always knock it down
    for any major flow of material up or down.
    
    The 9" max distance between ballisters is no problem, the 7" wide
    step 12" from pole is something I'll have to calculate.
    
    Well, looks like I'll be calling town hall with this one.

    Custom spiral staircases were discussed in last years This Old House. 
    If you can borrow someones taping of last years shows, or contact the
    station, you can get the information from the manufacture of the
    custom stairs.

 A want to build an out-door spiral staircase connecting an upper
 and lower deck. The height is 10 feet.  Each stair has a length
 of 32 inches, giving a 6 foot diameter. The project will be
 built using Pressure Treated Lumber. Does anyone know where I
 can locate some plans for such a beast. I have been to my local
 library and have not found anything. A found a article in Family
 Handyman October 1987 that list manufactures of spiral staircase
 kits. I contacted one company that makes an outdoor mahogany
 kit. Its on the way. Is mahogany a good wood for outdoor use? I
 would appreciate any suggestions, ideas comments, references for
 books, ect.