Brooklyn Stair Railings fabricates curved railings and handrails for spiral and helical staircases, some of the most demanding metalwork there is. A spiral rail has to follow a helix in three dimensions, so every baluster length and every bend is unique and has to be formed to the curve. We template the staircase, roll and form the top rail and balusters to match the helix in our shop, and weld the assembly to fit the exact stair. The result is a smooth, continuous railing that flows with the spiral rather than fighting it.
A spiral stair rises and turns at the same time, so its railing follows a helix, and the top rail has to be rolled and bent to that exact curve rather than assembled from straight segments. We template the geometry of the stair, then roll the rail and form each baluster to the length its position on the curve demands, since no two are identical on a true spiral. Welding the assembly together so the curve stays fair and continuous, with no flat spots or kinks, is precision work that separates a real fabricator from a shop that only builds straight rails. The finished handrail sweeps up the spiral in one smooth, flowing line.
Spiral stairs have their own code quirks because the treads are wedge-shaped and the walk line is tight to the center pole. The guardrail still runs to roughly 42 inches, and the balusters still have to hold to the 4-inch sphere rule even as they follow the curve, which takes careful spacing on the narrowing inside of each tread. A continuous graspable handrail runs the full rise in the 34 to 38 inch range. We build these dimensions into the templating so the finished spiral rail is safe on every wedge tread and passes inspection, which is easy to get wrong on a stair where the geometry is constantly changing.
Spiral rails can be built from any of the shop metals, and the choice sets the character of what is usually a sculptural stair. Forged wrought iron suits a traditional or brownstone setting and lets us work ornament into the curve. Mild steel gives clean modern lines and takes a powder-coated finish. Stainless steel reads bright and contemporary and needs no paint. Because a spiral stair is often a focal point of the room, we finish the railing to match, grinding every weld smooth so the eye follows the curve without catching on a seam.
Spiral-stair railings take precise templating, which we do all over Brooklyn, including Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene, Park Slope, and Brooklyn Heights.