Typical cost in Irving
Irving Spiral Staircases builds curved staircases in Irving, including circular stairs that follow a round foyer wall, elliptical and flared stairs, freestanding helical stairs and straight flights that finish in a curved turn. Unlike a spiral, a curved stair has no center column, and its tapered treads are checked against the winder rules of the 2024 IRC, so each one has to give a full step where people walk.
These are drawing-first projects, for custom builders, for remodelers replacing a straight stair and for owners rebuilding a tired foyer stair. Our service area for curved work covers Irving and nearby Coppell and Southlake.
A circular stair keeps one radius from bottom to top, so every tread has the same taper and the handrail bends on a single, even arc. Under section R318.7.5.2.1 of the 2024 IRC, each tread must be at least 10 inches deep on the walkline, 12 inches in from the inside of the turn, and at least 6 inches deep anywhere within the clear width. A tight radius shrinks the narrow end fast, which is why the stairwell size is settled before the stair is drawn.
An elliptical stair changes radius as it climbs, wider at one end and tighter at the other, which suits a foyer that is longer than it is deep. A flared stair opens out over its first few treads into a wide starting step. The handrail can finish in a volute or turnout over that lowest tread, one of the places the code lets a rail leave its 34-to-38-inch height range.
A helical stair turns like a spiral but has no center column. Two curved stringers, in rolled steel or laminated wood, carry the treads and leave an open well in the middle. That makes it a structural piece rather than a kit, designed with a structural engineer’s input and shop drawings before anything is fabricated. It takes more floor than a spiral. Whether a particular helical design is reviewed under the spiral or the winder rules depends on its shape, so we confirm that with Irving Inspections before the drawings are final.
Not every stairwell has room for a full curve. A straight flight can finish in a quarter or half turn of curved or winder treads at the top or bottom. The code lets consistently shaped winders share a flight with rectangular treads, so the straight part keeps its regular treads of 10 inches or more while the turn meets the winder rule at the walkline.
The handrail on a curved stair is bent or laminated to the stair’s radius and runs continuously from above the top nosing to above the bottom one, 34 to 38 inches above the line of the nosings. Balusters on the open side are spaced to pass the code’s sphere test, in iron, turned wood or a mix of both. Curved glass is possible, but every glass panel in a railing must be safety glazing, and structural glass panels need an attached top rail.
Three numbers set a curved stair’s geometry: floor-to-floor height, the size of the stairwell opening and the radius. Getting them right at framing is far easier than fitting a stair to finished drywall, so on new homes we work from the architect’s or builder’s plans. In Irving the stair is part of the permit set, since the city asks for a plan of the proposed work for most permits and inspects against it.
A curved foyer stair that only needs new balusters, rails or treads belongs with staircase remodeling and railing replacement. If a full curve will not fit, spiral stairs for lofts and attics take far less floor. Every service is summarized on the Irving Spiral Staircases home page.
Send the floor-to-floor height, the stairwell size or plans if you have them, and whether this is a new build, a replacement or a remodel. Say which materials you have in mind for treads, stringers and railing. We'll get back to you soon with an estimate or any questions we have. Estimates are free and there's no obligation.
Call (469) 351-6754