Dunhill wood 2000 x 3000 7

Spiral Staircases

A design classic with so many great applications

We have a long history of designing made to measure spiral staircases.

The very first stairs we produced were concrete spiral stairs so we are very familiar with this type of bespoke staircase design.

Over 30 years in the industry has made us experts in the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke staircases across the UK with spiral stairs having a special place in our heart.

What is a spiral staircase?

Spiral staircases are designed to rotate around a central column or pole as they rise creating a complete circle, the stair diameter. This makes them a versatile addition to a home as they do not need to be fixed to a wall.

Spiral staircases are fantastic space savers, they can be constructed in either clockwise or anticlockwise directions depending on your requirements and space and can be made in a variety of finishes and materials to give a real wow factor.

Points to consider

Spiral staircase price ranges

Depending on the materials you choose spiral staircases can be a more cost-effective solution than curved or helical staircase designs. You can find example price ranges for different spiral staircase projects by downloading our residential price guide.

Spiral staircases for outdoor use.

Steel spiral staircases and concrete spiral stairs can make a great garden feature but the types of bespoke styles we are describing here are better suited to internal use. See our escape stairs section for more on external spiral staircases.

We will work with you to create a staircase drawing for manufacture and install that meets your requirements. We offer a full in-house made to measure service, with all our bespoke stairs being made by time served craftsmen in our factory in Helston and installed by teams of fitters across the UK.

Building regulations for spiral stairs

There are three main building regulations that relate to staircases generally Part K, M & B. In addition to this more specifically spiral and helical staircases fall under BS 5395 Part II so if you are considering a spiral stair for your building project this is the standard that applies and we adhere to this for all modern spiral staircases.

What is the difference between a spiral stair and a helical or curved staircase?
A spiral staircase rises as it turns around a central axis, a helical or curved stairs is a sweeping arced design without a core pole.

Do spiral staircase manufacturers have to sell spiral staircases that meet building regulations?
Actually no. It is always worth checking with your spiral staircase supplier that the staircase they are installing is building regulations compliant.

What type of materials can spiral stairs be made in?
All our spiral stairs are fabricated in mild steel with a variety of material options for the treads, balustrade and handrail.

Popular contemporary spiral staircase materials for the treads are stone, concrete and timber and you can choose between open or closed risers (the near vertical spaces between one step and the next) designs.

Balustrade is equally varied with choices including parapet styles, balusters, glass or full height steel in a range of colours.

Our handrails are specially curved to the dimensions of the stair and are common in satin polished stainless steel or timber, there is also the option to wrap the handrails in materials like rope or leather.

What is the minimum width of a spiral staircase?
This will depend on how the spiral staircase will be used for instance a category A small private stair is intended for use by a limited number of people who are generally familiar with the staircase. In this case the minimum clear width would be 600mm.

See our technical guidance for more information.

Do spiral staircases meet building regulations?
All our spiral staircases comply with regulation BS 5395 Part II.

Do spiral staircases save space?
Spiral stair designs are often chosen due to their compact nature making an efficient use of space, but it will depend on what width of tread you require as to whether you would consider this design to be space saving.

Can I move furniture up spiral staircases?
Their compact design can make it more difficult to move large objects, such as furniture, between floors.

How accessible are spiral stairs?
Spiral stairs can often be steeper than conventional stairs, and therefore less suitable for people with limited mobility.

Which way do spiral staircases turn?
Spiral stairs can turn clockwise or anti-clockwise the turn you choose will depend on where you want to step on and off the stair.

How many steps can spiral staircases have?
This will vary depending on the height of the spiral staircase, but the regulations allow 22 risers in a single flight without a rest landing.

Glossary

Unsure about staircase terminology? Take a look at our handy glossary of terms.

Spiral Staircase Gallery

Have a look through our spiral staircase gallery for inspiration and to better understand the range of designs and materials we can produce for your spiral staircase.

Materials and Finishes

We love the challenge of finding the right staircase materials to suit your home's interior design and we are happy to supply free samples.

Le Petit fort primary 1 Nanfan primary 1

Technical Information

Download our British Standard specification sheets for the different categories of spiral and helical stairs. These technical drawings help ensure compliance with BS5395 Part II 1984.

Our Process

Our goal is to deliver the luxury staircase design of your dreams. That’s why we work closely with you at every stage of the process to make sure that we fully meet your brief.

Dunhill wood 2000 x 3000 7