Steel Stairs
Viewrail is a leader in the manufacturing and design of steel floating staircases. All steel stairs are prefabricated and delivered direct to you, eliminating the extra cost of on-site fabrication. Our metal stringers paired with luxurious wood treads creates a stunning modern staircase fit for any home.
Features
Metal Stair Stringers
Traditionally, stringers are made from construction lumber and are installed in threes: one stringer on each side of the stairway, and one in the center for support. Wide stairways required a few extra stringers for structural support.
In these traditional and conventional stair systems, the stringer was actually built inside the walls, hidden in drywall or paneling. In this way, it became part of the structural membrane of the house.
Modern homeowners are moving away from this traditional staircase design. Single metal stair stringers are beginning to replace the boxy, outdated wood stringers of the past. Instead of being hidden inside the walls, metal stair stringers are crafted to be seen as the backbone of design within the modern home.
What is a Metal Stair Stringer?
The metal stringer tube (that large, visible piece of metal holding up the treads) is likely what comes to mind when you see or think of a metal stair stringer. Its main function is to support the floating staircase.
Most steel stair stringers weigh around 300 pounds, and they often require an arduous installation process. On the other hand, Viewrail steel stars are exceptionally versatile and can be installed in several different configurations, even when paired with stainless steel railing. This is because they ship pre-assembled. Our metal stringers come disassembled to keep the system lightweight and make install easy, allowing you to complete the project on your schedule. Plus, they can be powder coated in a variety of colors to best suit your design style.
Metal Stringer Bracket
A small, but critical component, metal stringer brackets are designed to hold each stair tread in place. The bracket must be securely fastened to both the steel stringer and the stair tread.
Traditionally, stair brackets are welded onto the metal stair stringer prior to installation. However, this can cause issues during the shipping process, because the stringer has to be shipped with all the brackets pre-welded onto the stringer.
Additionally, welding distorts the metal on the stair stringer, causing a scar where the bracket and stringer are joined together. It takes some serious strategic design to cover the metal where it has been welded.
Flow-drilling (or friction drilling) eliminates the weld entirely. First, we use a flow drill to create a long hole in the metal stair stringer. Metal is displaced by the friction of the flow drill’s quick movement, causing it to bend in toward itself — creating a circular tube. We change out the drill bit, then repeat the process to add threads to the circular tube so that a bolt can be inserted. Flow drilling also creates a rim around the top of this circular tube, where the bolt rests.
A bolted stringer is easy to ship and looks great. Instead of shipping the steel stairs with all of the welded brackets, we can ship the stringer and brackets separately, and the customer can easily bolt them together on the job site.
Floating Stair Treads
Depending on the type of stairway, our Modern, Floating Stair treads can be made from wood, metal, or porcelain. They can also be made with non-slip materials for indoor stairways, or thermally modified in order to withstand the elements outdoors.
When we make our thick stair treads, we glue each piece of lumber together to create a strong step for your feet. It looks great, feels great, and is super supportive. Our thick stair treads are built by cutting, planing, and gluing pieces of hardwood together. Crafted from high-quality hardwood, our thick treads have unique wood grain and are capable of withstanding a lifetime of wear. They can be ordered in a variety of stunning finishes.
