As you prepare your outdoor deck for gatherings with friends and family, you may be considering adding an outdoor spiral staircase to your upcoming renovations. Outdoor spiral staircases add functionality and their contemporary, modern designs offer space-saving solutions to homeowners.
In a previous post, we dissected the components of a spiral staircase to better understand how it’s constructed and what’s entailed in customizing your very own staircase. Whether you plan to install your new deck spiral staircase yourself or enlist the help of a professional deck builder, like UglyDeck.com, there are two measurements you should keep in mind before you begin construction on your spiral staircase.
Height of the Spiral Staircase
Wherever you plan to install your staircase, the most influential measurement you’ll need is the overall height, as the height determines the number of treads (i.e. steps) and affects the angle of rotation of your staircase. While spiral staircases can be installed either by coming off of a deck or coming through an opening in the flooring (i.e. well opening), the same approach can be taken to measure the height. Using a tape measure tool, measure from the ground floor to the top of the deck flooring to calculate the overall height.
The height of your space will give you a better idea of how many treads your spiral staircase will require. At UglyDeck.com, we offer several common height measurements and number of treads that meet building code requirements; however, we can also customize your outdoor spiral staircases if these common measurements don’t work for your outdoor space and needs:
- 88” –95 ¼” height (9 treads)
- 95 ¼” – 104 ½” height (10 treads)
- 104 ¾” – 114” height (11 treads)
- 114 ¼” – 123” height (12 treads)
- 123 ¾” – 133” height (13 treads)
- 133 ¼” – 142 ½” height (14 treads)
Diameter of Your Staircase
Once you have determined your outdoor spiral staircase’s height measurements, it’s helpful to get an idea of what its diameter will be, so you know how much space it will take up. The diameter of your staircase is simply the overall width of the entire staircase unit. For example, if you have a well opening in your deck floor, the width of your staircase will need to fit within the width of your well opening. If you don’t have a well opening and want your spiral staircase to come off your deck using a platform, you may have more flexibility in how wide your staircase can be. Depending on your desired location of the staircase, you may have walls or other obstacles to consider when determining the width.
The diameter of a deck spiral staircase determines the tread size, as well. For example, the smaller the diameter of the staircase, the smaller the step size.
Consider your space and use a measuring tape to get an idea of the maximum diameter your staircase can be. We offer several common diameter widths for our UglyDeck.com customers, but we can always customize an outdoor spiral staircase to meet your needs if these diameter measurements don’t work for your space:
- 48”
- 54”
- 60”
- 66”
- 72”
UglyDeck.com’s Virtual Stairbuilder
As you begin to renovate your deck space, consider taking advantage of the stairbuilder feature on our website to help you customize your design. Using the height and diameter measurements you determined from above, you can create a spiral staircase that’s truly a perfect fit for your space. The stairbuilder feature offers easy customizability, allowing you to choose from a variety of color options and styles that complement your home.
If you are considering enhancing your deck with a spiral staircase, our professional UglyDeck.com team is here to help! We can offer our expertise at any stage of construction/installation, all while ensuring every decision meets deck safety and building requirements. You can get style inspiration and ideas from our photo gallery of the outdoor spiral staircases we’ve installed for many satisfied homeowners.
For more information, contact us today, and let us help you create a relaxing outdoor deck you, your friends, and your family can truly enjoy.
