Why Steel Stair Stringers?
How
does the installation differ from the wood framed method?
Are they more expensive than the traditional 2 x 12 wood
stringers?
Are fitting adjustements possible?
Landings vs winders; which is best? |
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Why Steel Stair Stringers?
| 1. |
Welded recycled steel, sold in attractive easy
to handle packages. |
| 2. |
Save up to 10 hours labor, easy framing & finishing combined. |
| 3. |
Solid and silent. |
| 4. |
Free standing. |
| 5. |
Dimensionally stable, rust, fire & termite resistant. |
| 6. |
Finish stair parts fasten without visible nail or screw marks. |
| 7. |
Wood framing and finishing zinc plated fasteners included. |
| 8. |
Easy framing and finishing instructions included. |
| 9. |
Patented and guaranteed products, registered trademark. |
| 10. |
Online (3700+ stair designs) product selection and information. |
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How does the installation differ from the
wood framed method? [top]
Fasten easily in only minutes to building frames. Finish is done
by invisibly fastening treads from under, risers from behind
and false stringers from inside the stairs. An easy gypsum nailer
method is also found in the installation
instructions.
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Are they more expensive
than the traditional 2 x 12 wood stringers? [top]
Cost comparison in US $ (add 25% in Cdn $) : Stairframe stringers
and accessories for a typical 13 step/14 rise staircase retail @ $225.
to $250 , where as the same shop-cut wood stringers will retail @
$200. to $230.(*)
In short, the StairChart designs the stairs while the Stairframes
do most of the work involved in building quality staircases. So, contractors,
re-modelers and DIYers end up getting way more than their money’s
worth, as total cost of ownership is cheaper for anyone who values
at more than $20 to $40 per staircase the time and skills savings
(let alone the superior quality stairs) that result from using Stairframes
instead of shop-cut wood stringers.
(*)Three
2x12x16 KD boards @ $25. ea. = $75. plus twelve 2x4x8 KD @ $2. ea.=
$24. plus 45 stringer cuts (rise & run) @ $2.50 ea.= $112.50 for
an average total of $211.50. These wood stringers need to be cut in
a suitably equipped facility, from kiln dried lumber, which, if not
dry enough, will warp. Figure on waiting 20 to 30 minutes to get 14
to 15 feet long stringers which are not easy to handle and ship. An
invoice also has to be produced before going to the cash area; there’s
got to be a better way for both the customer and the dealer. Now there
is: Stairframe
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Are fitting adjustments possible?
[top]
Stairframes allow for standard finish stair parts to be adjusted up
to plus or minus 3/4 inch in any straight flight. Note: Many building
codes allow for a maximum 3/8-inch difference between any riser heights
in any flight of stairs. Stairframe recommends that your bottom and
top risers be trimmed on site.
Additional 2% code compliant slope allows for up to plus
or minus 2” further adjustment on regular height staircases.
Ex.: A 118” straight staircase could be framed with either
A15 (116”) or B15 (120”) stringers.
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Landings vs winders;
which is best? [top]
Landings. When it comes to safety and comfort, the two don’t
even compare. With space saving winders, many think they’re
saving money, say 5 to 6 square feet at $75./ sq.ft. in a three winder
90 degree turn; but once you’ve added all the costs involved
in much longer framing and finishing times (let alone the hard to
come by higher skills) and much more expensive finishing materials,
the savings are not only lost but generally turn into greater costs
than compared with easily framed, safe and comfortable landings.
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