Steel Spiral Staircases – Penthouse Refurbishment, Glasgow

Five Bespoke Steel Spiral Staircases for a Glasgow Penthouse Development

We  supplied five bespoke steel spiral staircases in Glasgow as part of the refurbishment of a period property in Maryhill. The development incorporated penthouse accommodation with mezzanine floor levels, requiring compact staircases together with complementary guarding around the elevated landing areas.

Each of the five spiral staircases was manufactured at 1800mm diameter, providing a substantial staircase while retaining the space-saving footprint associated with a spiral design.  This diameter met the requirements as a category B spiral or a ‘main domestic staircase’.

White Steelwork with Oak Treads and Handrails

The staircase design combined painted steelwork with natural oak to create a clean contemporary finish within the refurbished property.

All of the steel components were powder coated white, including the central columns, tread structures and balustrade. The steel treads were finished with 30mm solid oak tread tops, introducing warmth and contrast against the white structure.

Rather than using vertical balusters, the staircase guarding incorporated horizontal steel bars running parallel with the oak handrail. This detail continued the strong horizontal lines of the mezzanine levels and gave the five staircases a consistent architectural appearance.  Normally this type of balustrade is frowned upon in the UK as it poses a climbing risk.  In this instance the building inspector was happy as long as the gaps between than did not exceed 100mm.

Mezzanine Landing Balustrade

In addition to the spiral staircases, we supplied approximately 12 metres of matching landing balustrade for the mezzanine decks within the penthouses.

The landing guarding followed the same white steel and oak design language as the staircases. However, the lower section incorporated steel mesh panels. These provided additional protection against the lower part of the balustrade being used as a foothold or climbing point while allowing the guarding to remain visually connected with the staircase design.

Using the same materials and finishes across the spiral stairs and mezzanine balustrades helped create a coordinated installation rather than treating the staircase and upper-level guarding as separate elements.

Spiral Staircases for Refurbishment Projects

Spiral staircases can be particularly useful in refurbishment and conversion projects where the available floor area and the position of existing structural elements can restrict the options for a conventional staircase.

For this Maryhill, Glasgow refurbishment, the 1800mm diameter steel spirals provided access to the mezzanine levels while also becoming a prominent feature within each penthouse.

The combination of white powder-coated steel, horizontal bar balustrading and solid oak gave the stairs a contemporary appearance that contrasted with the character of the original period building.

Project Details

Location: Maryhill, Glasgow
Project: Period property refurbishment / penthouse development
Staircase: Bespoke steel spiral staircase
Quantity: 5 staircases
Diameter: 1800mm
Treads: Steel with 30mm oak tops
Balustrade: Horizontal steel bars
Handrail: Oak
Steel finish: White powder coating
Landing balustrade: Approximately 12 metres
Additional guarding: Mesh panels to lower section of mezzanine balustrade