Spiral Stairs

Spiral stairs are a often confused with curved stairs. Although, both types of stairs follow a helical arc (like the shape of a spring), spiral stairs usually are made very compact and the treads radiate around a center pole.

Advantages of Spiral Stairs:

• One of the key advantages of spiral stairs is their compactness. They are very popular on beach front decks where space is at a premium. They are also used extensively on city lofts for the same reason.
• Spiral stairs can be attractive and there are may variations on railings styles which can have a major impact on the overall appearance of the stair.
• Since the center pole and landing typically provide the structural support for the stairs, they do not need much in the way of extra support structures making installation easier than many other types of stairs.

Disadvantages of Spiral Stairs:

• Spiral stairs are more difficult to navigate than other types of stairs. It is for this reason that codes do not allow them to be used as the primary access to a full second floor of a home. Walk ability improves as the outside diameter gets larger so if you have the space, you may want to consider going a bit larger. We recommend going 5 feet in diameter if you can.
• It is difficult to carry large items up spiral stairs.
• Only one person can go up or down the stairs at the same time.