Metal fabrication makes a better space when the steelwork is made for the building rather than chosen from a catalogue. A staircase cut to the exact opening, a balcony detailed to suit the facade and a run of railings that follows the true line of a boundary all do their practical job while adding to the character of the place. Metal fabrication in the UK also has to satisfy the Building Regulations and, on some sites, the planning system, so a good design starts with those requirements and works towards the finished appearance from there.
What bespoke fabrication changes
Off-the-shelf staircases and balustrade kits are made to average dimensions, and buildings are rarely average. Floor-to-floor heights vary, openings are seldom square and the ground outside a rear door often slopes. When steel is cut, welded and finished for one specific location, those quirks are absorbed in the workshop rather than fudged on site with packers and oversized fixings.
The result is metalwork that sits where it should, at the right height, with even risers and clean junctions to walls and floors. That accuracy is what makes a practical item look intentional, and it is why architects specify architectural metalwork rather than catalogue components when the design matters.
Where fabricated steel earns its place
Homes
In a house the metalwork is close to eye level and seen every day. An internal steel staircase with timber treads and a glass or slender bar balustrade can open up a hallway. A Juliet balcony gives a first-floor bedroom light and air without projecting from the wall. Outside, a galvanised and powder coated garden staircase links a raised terrace to the lawn and copes with weather far better than softwood.
Flats and rental property
Landlords tend to want metalwork that stays safe with little attention. External access stairs, fire escapes, communal balustrades and entrance gates must stand up to constant use and the occasional knock. Galvanised mild steel with a powder coated finish suits this well, and a stainless steel handrail resists the wear of many hands.
Shops, offices and workshops
Commercial buildings often expose their steelwork on purpose. A mezzanine stair, a mesh-infill balustrade or a set of security gates can be part of the look as well as the function. Loads are higher and traffic heavier in these settings, so sections are chosen to suit the use rather than the minimum that will pass.
Regulations first, then the design
The Building Regulations shape what a stair or balcony can be, and it is far easier to design within them than to correct a structure afterwards.
- Approved Document K covers stairs and guarding. For a domestic staircase the guarding should be at least 900 mm high inside and 1100 mm high on external landings and balconies, and in a home the gaps should not let a 100 mm sphere pass through.
- Approved Document B deals with means of escape. It sets out where an external escape stair may be used, how it should be protected from nearby windows and doors, and where it must lead.
- Planning and heritage. A balcony, a prominent external stair or new gates on a listed building or in a conservation area may need consent before any steel is cut, and the design will usually be expected to respect the original building.
Where Building Control needs to see calculations, Steel Stairs and Gates prepares scaled drawings and structural calculations so the application rests on the actual design.
Materials and finishes that last
Mild steel is the workhorse of structural metalwork because it welds cleanly and carries load well, but bare steel rusts. Outside, the sensible route is hot-dip galvanising, where the finished assembly is dipped in molten zinc so every edge, weld and inside face is coated. Powder coating over the galvanising then gives colour in any RAL shade, from a discreet anthracite to a tone picked to match the window frames.
Stainless steel suits handrails and exposed sites where a brushed finish is wanted without paint. Glass infill keeps a view open. Timber treads and handrails soften a steel frame indoors. The choice is partly taste and partly exposure.
How a project runs
- Photo and estimate. A phone photo of the space, with a rough dimension or two, is enough for a written estimate the same working day.
- Free site survey. The opening is measured, floor levels checked, fixings assessed and the options talked through on the spot. See the surveys page.
- Drawings and fixed quotation. Scaled drawings show exactly what will be made, and the quotation is fixed to that drawing.
- Fabrication. The steel is cut, welded and checked in the workshop, then sent for galvanising and powder coating.
- Installation. The team that measured and made the piece is the team that fits it, which closes the usual gap between fabricator and installer.
Questions worth asking any fabricator
- Will the guarding heights and gaps meet Approved Document K, and who is checking?
- Is the steel galvanised before it is powder coated, or only painted?
- Who prepares the drawings and calculations if Building Control asks for them?
- Does the quotation cover installation and making good, or fabrication alone?
- Has the fabricator seen the site, or is the price based on a description?
Clear answers tell you more than any brochure.
Local work from Westerham Hill
Steel Stairs and Gates works from 4 Fort Cottages on Westerham Hill, on Betsom's Hill, the highest ground in Kent, and covers Kent, Surrey and South London, including Biggin Hill, Bromley, Keston, Croydon, Orpington, Sevenoaks, Oxted and Caterham. The workshop handles steel fabrication for straight, spiral, external, fire escape, garden and replacement staircases, along with balustrades, balconies, gates and railings.
If you have a space that needs a staircase, balcony, balustrade or gate, send a photo to 07861 936 888 or through the quote form and a written estimate will come back the same working day. Someone picks up the phone at any hour, seven days a week, and email reaches info@steelstairsandgates.co.uk.