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Notes from the workshop
Guides and opinions on steel staircases, fire escapes, balustrades, balconies and gates, written from jobs we have fitted around Kent, Surrey and London.
4 October 2026Metal driveway gate prices 2026: what steel gates cost
What metal driveway gates cost in 2026 according to the main UK price guides, what moves the figure, and how a made-to-measure gate goes from a photo estimate…
11 September 2026Creating better spaces with metal fabrication in the UK
Why metalwork made for the building, rather than picked from a catalogue, gives a home or workplace a staircase, balcony or gate that works and looks right.
2 September 2026How to choose the right external staircase for your building
How to pick the right layout, finish and guarding for an external staircase, and what Building Control and planning will expect before the steel is cut.
26 August 2026Outdoor staircase ideas in steel for safety and style
A fabricator's guide to choosing an outdoor steel staircase, from straight flights and spirals to galvanising, guarding heights, planning consent and what a…
18 August 2026Staircase renovation with steel stairs and metal balconies
When to renew treads and balustrades, when to replace the whole flight in steel, and how a metal balcony, galvanising and the Building Regulations fit into a…
12 August 2026How steel staircase manufacturers design and build stairs
A fabricator explains what a steel staircase manufacturer should do at each stage, from survey and Building Control drawings to galvanising and installation…
6 August 2026Garden staircases designed for stylish outdoor spaces
A fabricator's guide to garden staircases: when a steel flight makes sense, how to choose its shape and finish, and what the regulations ask of it.
30 July 2026Garden staircases that make more of your outdoor space
A fabricator's plain guide to planning a garden staircase that joins the levels of a sloping garden safely and stands up to the weather.
23 July 2026External metal fire escape stairs: a fabricator's guide
A plain guide to external metal fire escape stairs, covering who needs one, Approved Documents B and K, galvanising, planning consent and how the site survey…
13 January 2026How an external staircase improves access to your property
An external steel staircase can give a first-floor flat its own front door, link a raised ground floor to the garden or add a second way out, provided it is…
5 January 2026Custom galvanised steel staircases for awkward spaces
A fabricator's guide to galvanised steel staircases for spaces a standard flight will not fit, from what the zinc coating does to the survey, drawings and…
22 December 2025A guide to proper fire escape staircase installation
A fabricator's guide to getting a fire escape staircase surveyed, drawn, approved, built and fitted so it does its job when it is needed.
8 December 2025Planning a safe, functional and attractive garden staircase
What makes a garden staircase safe underfoot, comfortable to climb and good to look at, from consistent step heights and 1100 mm guarding to galvanised and…
28 November 2025Why an external metal staircase is a smart property upgrade
An external metal staircase gives a building a second entrance, opens up upper floors and gardens, and in galvanised steel it stands up to the weather with…
27 November 2025Why metal staircase design is gaining popularity in UK homes
A fabricator explains why steel staircases are replacing timber and concrete in homes and commercial buildings, and the rules that shape the design.
21 November 2025Metal garden staircases for sloping and split-level gardens
A fabricator's guide to steel garden staircases for sloping gardens, covering treads, guarding heights, galvanising, powder coating and how a free survey works.
13 November 2025Elegant garden staircase ideas for every home style
Which garden staircase suits your house, from slim glass-sided flights for modern builds to plain bar balustrades for Victorian terraces, and what to check…
31 October 2025Avoiding costly mistakes in external staircase projects
Most expensive external staircase problems start before fabrication, so here is what to check on levels, guarding, fire escape rules, finishes and fixings…
17 October 2025How a metal balcony adds beauty and value to your home
A steel balcony gives an upstairs room outdoor space, light and a better outlook, and this is what to weigh up before you commission one.
10 October 2025External steel staircases made to measure and installed
What goes into a made-to-measure external steel staircase, from the first phone photo to the day the galvanised flight is bolted into place.
10 October 2025How to get an accurate quote for an external steel staircase
A fabricator explains what goes into pricing an external steel staircase, from a same-day estimate off a phone photo to a free survey and fixed quotation.
Free quote
A photo, a rough height and a few words. Priced today.
Attach a phone photo of the spot, or a drawing, tell us roughly how high, and we ring back the same working day with a figure. Architects and builders can attach a PDF or email a tender package instead. Once you like the figure we survey free of charge, anywhere within reach of Westerham Hill.