Really Cool Stairs #4 - Cable Railing Edition

Within the next 2 years, the clause in the Ontario building code that makes horizontal railing systems like the cable railing illegal, will be erased from the code book.  This means that not only horizontal cable systems are ok, you can now install all the fancy scrolls, laser cut steel panels and contemporary wood patterns!

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Can't Get a Pre-Assembled Set of Stairs Into Your House? No Problem!

Can't get a pre-built set of stairs into your house? No problemo, this is how we get around that! It costs slightly more than a regular stair install however we essentially build the stairs right inside the opening. This stair was installed yesterday in Rosseau (Bala) - Check it out!

Materials: Solid Oak 1-1/16" Treads, Oak Stringers & Risers.
Railing: To be installed next week - Steel Spindles/Contemporary Oak Post

Here is the step by step process when building a set of stairs inside of a house.

#stairs #railings #barrie #stairhaus #cottage #bala #rosseau

 

Really Cool Stairs #3 - Log Stair/Railing Edition

Here at Stairhaus, we are always blown away with what some people can do with a log.  There are some really skilled woodworkers/carpenters out there that can turn an ordinary logs into a masterpiece.  Timber Frame/Log staircase & railing systems are cool and look awesome...........in the right house that is!  Check it!

#stairhaus #stairs #railings #barrie #logstairs #timberframe #logs

 

Stairs, Railings and the Building Code

With respect to the Ontario Building code, which is a branch of the Canadian Building Code, there are some VERY important guidelines we must follow so that your stair and railing systems pass inspection.  When building a new house, sometimes your architect misses a few things which can complicate your stair and railing layout.  If you are in the middle of a full scale renovation, it is important to know what the current code requires. 

There are minimums and maximums with respect to the rise and run,  height of railings, material thicknesses and railing spans.  Handrails and guards are what keep you from falling off of a balcony or down a set of stairs.   Inspectors sometimes mix up exterior vs interior code, so it is important you have someone who knows their code and makes sure things are done properly.

Here at Stairhaus, we deal daily with inspectors and know what is legal.  Whether it be headroom clearance, railing height or rise/run, it is our job to make sure your stair & railing system will pass code.  If there are issues that will make your system fail, we will let you know how to rectify the problem. 

Stair and railing codes are in place for your own safety.  Think of it this way:  It is important a firefighter can make it up and down your stairs in case of an emergency.  They wear a lot of gear and need to be able to get up and down the stairs with ease.

Let Stairhaus make sure your stairs are built properly and that they exceed what our building code demands.

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Really Cool Stairs #2 - Craftsman Edition

Craftsman style is classic!  Painted stringers, risers and spindles with stained treads, rail and posts.  We suggest if you are going to go with a fully painted post, you consider using a stain grade cap as they are contact points (kids hang their jackets, swing around them).

This is very common and looks awesome!

#stairhaus #barrie #railings #stairs

* Please click on the image to move to the next one.


How to safely rip a barn beam...............SAFETY FIRST!

We are on Instagram!  If you add us, we will promise that we will blow your mind and keep things interesting!

Working with reclaimed materials can be very dangerous.  All of our barn board comes denailed however we sometimes come across surprises like buck shot, broken nails and staples.  Its kinda the "nature of the beast" when working with very old materials, so it is important you take the necessary steps to ensure you don't injure yourself or anyone around you (including your tools).

Check out the custom cradle Dylan (Owner/Design Professional) built to make sure it was done safely and ripped straight as an arrow!

#stairhaus #barrie #railings #stairs #barnboard #barnbeams #reclaimed

Really Cool Stairs #1

I love searching Google for crazy new stair ideas/concepts.  There are some really creative people out there and we LOVE seeing people push the envelope with respect to stair & railing design.   Here is the first installment of many "Really Cool Stairs".  I plan to do this weekly/bi-weekly and showcase some really cool projects that I searched out on the web.

Enjoy

* These are not jobs we have completed.  Simply stairs & railings I think are beautiful and are what inspire us everyday here at Stairhaus.

#stairhaus #stairs #railing #barrie

Custom Woodworking? We Do That Too!

Things come up sometimes that you probably didn't plan for.  In carpentry, these types of issues are common.  Well -  have no fear, Stairhaus is here!  Whether it be a custom trim piece or a newel post you liked in a picture you saw, stop by or email us a picture and let us source this for you.  If we can't manufacture it here in our own custom shop, let us help source the best place to have it made for you.

Custom 1-3/4 x 1-3/4 Oak outside corner with a 1/4" reveal.  We manufactured these pieces for a large construction company in Toronto who are taking care of all the custom woodworking/millwork in a newly remodeled condo building.

Our custom shop's turn around is roughly 1-2 weeks based on quantities and scheduling.  Give us a call today and let us help you finish your next project.

#stairhaus #stairs #railing #custom #millwork #barrie

How Do You Protect Your Stairs From Damage Once Installed?

This is a very common question and we want you to know that we have this covered!  Every set of stairs leaves our production facility wrapped and protected.  We highly recommend that your new stairs be installed just after drywall, however sometimes the stairs are installed before.  In a new build, you will have trades constantly using the stairs to get up and down, so it is crucial that the wood is protected.

As you can see above we have 3 layers of protection.  The first layer is a plastic/poly sheet which keeps the dust, dirt and sand off of the treads which is then followed by a layer of cardboard.  This is all held down with a strip of 1/2" particle core.  The strip is stapled down using 18g staples which are easily removed.  Once you are ready to finish the stairs, the protective strips are removed and the small staple holes are filled using a wax pencil (this process should be done by a professional finisher).

Let us know if you have any questions.  The protection aspect of our stairs can be modified based on how much protection you want.  For example, if you have a pine set of stairs, we will cut the protective strips the length of the tread so that none of the soft wood is exposed. 

#stairhaus #barrie #stairs #railing

 

Stairhaus is Hiring!

We are looking to get some more help in our shop - the 4 of us are in need of some serious back-up! If you are looking for full-time work and have some experience in a wood shop, we will definitely consider you.  Please feel free to tell anyone you know, we need help sooner than later!

Please have them email a resume to:

matt@stairhaus.com

Have an awesome week!