Finding The Right Stair Manufacturer For Your Project

Finding The Right Stair Manufacturer For Your Project

When you are considering a custom stair project for your home or business, there are a lot of options available. What makes Great Lakes Stair different and the best choice for your project?

We are a bricks and mortar company who have had the same physical address, same phone number, and same email and website addresses for over 35 years. Our employee retention has been very high for the last 20 years. We are very good at what we do. When you combine our experience and longevity in the industry, what we bring to your project far exceeds a carpenter who comes to your house and tries to fabricate something in place, or an internet-only company who is just a middleman selling prefabricated staircases.  

When you work with Great Lakes Stair you are buying our 35-year education in design, fabrication, and installation of custom stairs. We have seen so many projects we can guide our customers on what will work best for their situation and help avoid making the mistakes we have already made in our long history. We can show you different ways of doing things that someone who doesn’t specialize in designing and installing custom stairs doesn’t know about.

We try to educate our customers in laymen terms, so it is easy to understand the options available. Due to our long history we can help explain the options with photo examples from our extensive project photo galleries so you can see how our approach will work in your home. This helps our customers visualize how the finished product will work and look in their space. Additionally, we can provide 3D CAD drawings where they can see the staircase and view it from different angles.

Whether you are 3 miles away, or 3,000 miles away, our process is the same. We engage with our customers throughout the process. If you visit us at our facility, or we have a virtual meeting, our approach is consistent.

Why Choose Great Lakes Stair?

With over 35 years in the business, we’re unmatched in designing, building, and installing custom staircases. We ask the right questions—ones you might not even think of—to make sure your staircase is everything you dreamed of and more.

Our experience saves our customers both time and money. We’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and how to help you make the best choices for your project.

Ready to get started? Give us a call at 330-225-2005 or fill out the Free Project Review form on our site. Let’s build something extraordinary together.

Call Today: 330-225-2005

Free Project Review!

    We’re affiliated with:

    Space Saving Features of Spiral Stairs

    Space Saving Features of Spiral Stairs

    Spiral Stairs can offer considerable space saving features in certain situations. At Great Lakes Stair we have over 35 years of experience in designing and building both external and internal spiral staircases. With external spiral stairs what we often see are customers who have an outside deck which leads down to the ground, or a lower deck which then leads down to the ground. In these cases, installing a straight staircase would require a lot of framing and posts, and has the tendency to become a monstrosity and distraction from the overall look of the area. Additionally, a non-spiral staircase in this situation, because of its size can block the view from the deck.

    Alternatively, a spiral stair in this situation is concurrent with one pole from top to bottom, which leads to reducing the amount of area that the staircase requires. Thus, this creates a more pleasing appearance and really opens up the views from the deck. Additionally, utilizing a spiral stair in these types of situations is often more cost effective than building in a straight staircase to cover multiple levels. Aesthetically the spiral stairs create a level of architectural intrigue and uniqueness to your outdoor area.

    Many of these design and space saving advantages can be applied to internal spiral stairs as well. Often, we have customers who want an open area with a stair that leads from a finished basement up to the 2nd floor. A spiral staircase would be ideal in this situation, provided it is functioning as a secondary staircase. Internal spiral stairs can’t be used as a primary staircase in most situations although there is an ongoing effort to get these building codes changed due to the cost savings per square foot of utilizing a spiral staircase.

    Great Lakes Stair, Your Best Choice for Spiral Staircases

    With over 34 years of expertise in the spiral staircase industry, Great Lakes Stair stands unmatched in the design, fabrication, and installation of custom spiral staircases. Our extensive experience and strong reputation enable us to ask insightful questions that customers might not have considered, ensuring the success of every project. We help our customers save time and money by leveraging our knowledge of what works best and what doesn’t, providing valuable guidance throughout their custom spiral staircase project.

    Call today at 330-225-2005 or fill out the Free Project Review form on this page to get started.

     

    Call Today: 330-225-2005

    Free Project Review!

      We’re affiliated with:

      Spiral Stair Makeover

      Spiral Stair Makeover

      At Great Lakes Stair we often hear from customers who are looking for a “spiral stair makeover”. The term makeover can be interpreted in a lot of different ways but generally speaking it refers to someone who wants to take the existing spiral stairs that they have and try to bring it up to date. This can be done a lot of different ways – it can be as simple as painting certain portions of the spiral stair all the way to taking it down to the “bones” of the framework. The latter might include putting a new handrail or spindles on the spiral stairs. If it is an all-metal spiral stair, sometimes we can enhance it by putting wood treads to give the stair more appeal. We can do as much or as little as a customer is comfortable with to do a makeover of their spiral staircase. We can install all the products mentioned here as well. A spiral stairs makeover is really taking what you have and bringing it up to a more modern look.

      Sometimes it is worth considering abandoning some of these older spiral stairs because the makeover may end up costing more than a new spiral staircase with all of the latest aesthetic and performance improvements that is up to date with today’s codes and standards.

      Great Lakes Stair, Your #1 Manufacturer for Spiral Staircases

      With over 35 years of longevity and industry experience in spiral staircases, Great Lakes Stair is unparalleled in the design, fabrication, and installation of custom spiral staircases.  Because of our significant background and reputation in the spiral staircase industry, we know what types of questions to ask our customers, questions you have not even thought of to ensure a great project.

      We can save our customers time and money because in our 35 years, we’ve seen what works best, and what doesn’t and can help educate and guide our customers on their custom spiral staircase project. 

      Ready to start a conversation? Call 330-225-2005 or contact us to discuss your production stair project!

      Call Today: 330-225-2005

      Free Project Review!

        We’re affiliated with:

        Spiral Stair Builders

        Spiral Stair Builders

        When you’re on the hunt for the best team to craft your custom spiral staircase, Great Lakes Stair is the name to know. For 35 years, we’ve been building, designing, and installing spiral stairs with a blend of expertise and artistry. Whether you dream of an all-wood masterpiece, a sleek metal design, or a stunning mix of wood, metal, and glass, we’ve got the know-how to make it happen. Over the years, we’ve worked with a variety of wood species and metals, including stainless steel, to bring unique visions to life.

        From classic to contemporary, we’ve tackled countless spiral staircase styles. Really, the only limit is your imagination. For a bit of inspiration, take a peek at our Spiral Stair Gallery.

        When choosing a stair builder, experience matters. You want folks who’ve been around long enough to understand what customers need and how to deliver it. At Great Lakes Stair, we often hear, “Can you actually build what I want?” And the answer is almost always, “Yes!” Price may come second but knowing we can turn your vision into reality is what truly sets us apart. From straightforward, functional designs to intricate, one-of-a-kind creations, we’ve done it all—and we’re ready to do it again.

        Our 40,000-square-foot facility is home to a talented crew of master artisans who’ve been crafting spiral stairs for decades. We’re not some fly-by-night operation; we’ve been in the same spot with the same phone number for over 30 years. When you call us, you won’t get shuffled through endless forms or automated systems. Instead, you’ll talk to a real person who’s ready to listen, understand your project, and guide you every step of the way.

        Why Choose Great Lakes Stair?

        With over 35 years in the business, we’re unmatched in designing, building, and installing spiral staircases. We ask the right questions—ones you might not even think of—to make sure your staircase is everything you dreamed of and more.

        Our experience saves our customers both time and money. We’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and how to help you make the best choices for your project.

        Ready to get started? Give us a call at 330-225-2005 or fill out the Free Project Review form on our site. Let’s build something extraordinary together.

         

        Call Today: 330-225-2005

        Free Project Review!

          We’re affiliated with:

          Spiral Stair Fabricators

           

          Spiral Stair Fabricators

          Looking for top-notch spiral stair fabricators to bring your custom staircase dreams to life? Great Lakes Stair has been at the craft for over 35 years, designing, building, and installing spiral stairs that stand the test of time. Whether you’re after an all-wood beauty, a sleek metal design, or a blend of wood, metal, and glass, we’ve got the skills and experience to make it happen. Over the years, we’ve worked with a variety of wood species and metals, including stainless steel, creating staircases that are as unique as the folks who walk on them.

          When it comes to design, the sky’s the limit. From modern showstoppers to classic charmers, we’ve done it all. If you’re in need of some inspiration, take a gander at our Spiral Stair Gallery—it’s brimming with ideas to spark your imagination.

          Choosing the right fabricator isn’t just about price; it’s about experience and know-how. You want someone who’s been around the block and understands how to turn your vision into reality. At Great Lakes Stair, the most common question we hear is, “Can you make this happen?” And the answer is almost always a resounding yes. Pricing tends to come second because folks know we’ve got the expertise to deliver, whether it’s a simple spiral or a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

          Our 40,000-square-foot facility is home to a team of master artisans who’ve spent years perfecting their craft. We’re a bricks-and-mortar operation that’s been in the same spot—and answering the same phone number—for over three decades. When you call us, you’ll get a real person, ready to listen and guide you through your project. No endless forms or runarounds here; just a friendly conversation to help us understand what you’re looking for.

          Why Choose Great Lakes Stair?

          With over 35 years of experience, we’ve seen it all and done it all. That means we know the right questions to ask, even the ones you haven’t thought of yet, to make sure your project goes smoothly. Our expertise saves you time, money, and headaches, because we’ve learned what works—and what doesn’t—over the years.

          If you’re ready to start your custom spiral staircase journey, give us a call at 330-225-2005 or fill out the Free Project Review form on this page. Let’s build something extraordinary together.

           

          Call Today: 330-225-2005

          Free Project Review!

            We’re affiliated with:

            Spiral Stair Manufacturers

            Spiral Stair Manufacturers

            When it comes to finding the best spiral stair manufacturer for your custom staircase project, look no further than Great Lakes Stair. We have been designing, fabricating and installing spiral stairs for 35 years! Not only can we fabricate all wood spiral staircases, additionally we can fabricate all metal spiral stairs, or combining wood, metal and glass in our stair designs and builds. We have used a wide variety of wood species as well as different types of metals such as stainless steel.

            From a design perspective we have created many different styles of spiral stairs. The sky is the limit when it comes to the look and feel of a spiral staircase for your home, business or commercial property – review our Spiral Stair Gallery for design ideas.

            With any staircase manufacturer what you want to look for is the longevity of that company that has been around the block a few times so that they can understand the customer’s needs and can understand how to produce that spiral staircase product.

            At Great Lakes Stair, primarily the types of inquiries we get about spiral staircases center around “can you do what I want”. Believe it or not pricing is a secondary consideration to “can this be done” and “are you the company that can do it”. Customers don’t want to waste their time with a company that simply can’t design ad produce what they want. We have delivered anything from a very basic spiral staircase all the way up to infinite custom. That’s what defines a great spiral staircase manufacturer.

            At Great Lakes Stair we have a 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility staffed with master artisans who have been designing and building spiral stairs for many years. We are a bricks and mortar company and have been in the same place for over 30 years, with the same phone number for all of that time. We pride ourselves on answering our phone and talking to customers to learn about their needs. When you call, we don’t have lengthy forms for you to fill out, we ask you for the minimal information that we need to understand what you are looking for and to advise you on the best way to achieve your vision. We’re all about understanding your project and talking with you, rather than talking at you.

            Great Lakes Stair, Your #1 Manufacturer for Spiral Staircases

            With over 35 years of longevity and industry experience in spiral staircases, Great Lakes Stair is unparalleled in the design, fabrication, and installation of custom spiral staircases.  Because of our significant background and reputation in the spiral staircase industry, we know what types of questions to ask our customers, questions you have not even thought of to ensure a great project.

            We can save our customers time and money because in our 35 years, we’ve seen what works best, and what doesn’t and can help educate and guide our customers on their custom spiral staircase project. 

            Call today at 330-225-2005 or fill out the Free Project Review form on this page to get started.

             

            Call Today: 330-225-2005

            Free Project Review!

              We’re affiliated with:

              Spiral Staircase Remodeling

              Spiral Staircase Remodeling

              At Great Lakes Stair we speak to a lot of customers about spiral staircase remodeling. We often encounter some confusion regarding what a spiral stair is compared to a circular or curved staircase. A spiral staircase is a stair that wraps around a pole symmetrically and is made for small spaces to traverse floors. A circular or curved staircase does a sweeping (non-symmetrical) turn.

              In speaking with customers, they will send us photos of their circa 1960’s or 1970’s spiral stairs which have missing spindles or an old pipe handrailing and ask us if there is anything we can do with this staircase. Yes there is! We can add a new metal or wood handrailing. We can possibly add wooden treads to the top of the existing metal steps. We can add new decorative spindles to give the spiral staircase a more modern aesthetic.

              Not only do we provide a spiral staircase remodel or makeover, but we also work to bring the spiral stair up to date with all uniform building codes as much as possible.

              We have encountered cases where a remodel of a spiral staircase is more expensive than a new custom spiral staircase. In these cases, we review all of the options with our customers. At Great Lakes Stair we have been designing and building spiral staircases for over 34 years and know all the questions to be asked to make a determination if a staircase is worth remodeling, or if it would be better to install a new staircase.

              At Great Lakes Stair we can do everything from small updates on your spiral stair to a complete remodel makeover. We can price out all the options for our customers’ consideration. We encourage customers to share inspirational photos or other ideas of what they have in mind, and we can give a price range fairly quickly for the different options.

              Great Lakes Stair, Your #1 Manufacturer for Spiral Staircases

              With over 34 years of longevity and industry experience in spiral staircases, Great Lakes Stair is unparalleled in the design, fabrication, and installation of custom spiral staircases.  Because of our significant background and reputation in the spiral staircase industry, we know what types of questions to ask our customers, questions you have not even thought of to ensure a great project.

              We can save our customers time and money because in our 34 years, we’ve seen what works best, and what doesn’t and can help educate and guide our customers on their custom spiral staircase project. 

              Call today at 330-225-2005 or fill out the Free Project Review form on this page to get started.

              Call Today: 330-225-2005

              Free Project Review!

                We’re affiliated with:

                How To Buy Spiral Stairs

                How To Buy Spiral Stairs

                Spiral stairs are unique staircases, and you really need to talk to a professional to discuss your ideas and if a spiral staircase is the right fit for your particular situation. At Great Lakes Stair, we have over 34 years of experience in designing and building spiral stairs and we can help guide you to determine the best spiral staircase solution. We ask you the proper questions regarding what you are trying to do or the problem you are trying to solve with the spiral stair. Are you looking for a staircase that is a beautiful conversation piece, or do you simply need an efficient means of traversing floors in your home. There are different price points for different needs and expectations.

                The best way to buy a spiral staircase is to reach out to a professional staircase company that specializes in spiral staircase design, manufacture, and installation and discuss your needs on what would be the best fit for you.

                There’s not a one size fits all spiral staircase solutions. There are many companies that offer cheap spiral stairs with a “one size fits all” promise. We consistently encounter these types of situations where the customer has learned the hard way that you get what you pay for, and they have a spiral stair that is not meeting their needs and expectations.

                We like to provide our customers with a spiral staircase that is made for what they are trying to do. Give us a call and talk to us about your situation and we’ll see if there is a good fit with Great Lakes Stair. We’ll guide you every “step” of the way in the ordering process! We’ll help you determine the size and which way you want the staircase to turn. We’ll help determine how high the staircase needs to be, and what is it going to look like?

                Great Lakes Stair, Your #1 Manufacturer for Spiral Staircases

                With over 34 years of expertise in the spiral staircase industry, Great Lakes Stair stands unmatched in the design, fabrication, and installation of custom spiral staircases. Our extensive experience and strong reputation enable us to ask insightful questions that customers might not have considered, ensuring the success of every project. We help our customers save time and money by leveraging our knowledge of what works best and what doesn’t, providing valuable guidance throughout their custom spiral staircase project.

                Call today at 330-225-2005 or fill out the Free Project Review form on this page to get started.

                Call Today: 330-225-2005

                Free Project Review!

                  We’re affiliated with:

                  Spiral Stairs: How To Design for The Space You Have

                  Spiral Stairs: How To Design for The Space You Have

                  With over 34 years of experience in the design, manufacture, and installation of spiral staircase systems, Great Lakes Stair is your partner when it comes to designing a spiral staircase for the space you have available. We typically start with a 5’ diameter (the length across the circle) spiral stair and then we can go up or down in size depending on the specific needs of the project. The reason we start with a 5’ diameter stair is because that size typically meets uniform building codes across the United States. Anything under 5’ in diameter for a spiral stair needs to be discussed further as it may cause an issue with building codes.

                  The design of the spiral staircase is really based upon your requirements. For example, if this spiral staircase will have people walking on it all day long (like in an office or building situation) we are going to suggest certain things that will help you facilitate this requirement. We will ask you all the questions that we need to know in order to design a spiral stair for your specific space and needs, with price points and options to help you find the best possible solution. We’ll ask questions about surrounding walls, so we understand which way the spiral staircase needs to turn. We have encountered many customers who have used a spiral staircase kit which is marketed as “reversible” but really isn’t, and you end up walking into a wall at the top!

                  Additionally, one of the biggest issues we find with the design of a spiral stair is making sure you can get this spiral stair into your project area. We have developed our own process in which we can get any spiral stair into any space as long as there is a doorway of standard size that can get us into that area. Our spiral stairs are not completely welded with the need to be lifted over a house and dropped down through a hole in the roof. We don’t take that approach. We create our spiral stairs in modular sections that can easily fit through a door and assemble the staircase in a couple hours.

                  We help you design your spiral stair for your space and for your needs. We’ll be with you every “step” of the way!

                  Great Lakes Stair, Your #1 Manufacturer for Spiral Staircases

                  With over 34 years of expertise in the spiral staircase industry, Great Lakes Stair stands unmatched in the design, fabrication, and installation of custom spiral staircases. Our extensive experience and strong reputation enable us to ask insightful questions that customers might not have considered, ensuring the success of every project. We help our customers save time and money by leveraging our knowledge of what works best and what doesn’t, providing valuable guidance throughout their custom spiral staircase project.

                  Call today at 330-225-2005 or fill out the Free Project Review form on this page to get started.

                  Call Today: 330-225-2005

                  Free Project Review!

                    We’re affiliated with:

                    Industrial and Commercial Use Spiral Stairs and Different Codes

                    Industrial and Commercial Use Spiral Stairs and Different Codes

                    In our long history of designing, building, and installing spiral stairs, the team at Great Lakes Stair has seen some interesting industrial and commercial uses for spiral stairs. For example, we have installed numerous spiral stairs in theater settings on the side of a stage to access light rigging, camera lofts and curtain control equipment. We have installed spiral stairs in excess of 40’ tall for these types of applications. When working in theater applications like this spiral stairs are idea because of their small footprint relative to a straight staircase.

                    We have also installed spiral stairs around grain silos where there is not much room to wrap around the silo, we can go straight up a silo to save space.

                    Generally speaking, spiral stairs in industrial and commercial use situations are good solutions where an area is not accessible by the public; they are used with specific intent to gain access to an area used by the owners or tenants of the property. Anytime a spiral stair is being used by the public the codes will be different. If the spiral staircase is only used by the owner or occupant the codes will be different and more lenient.

                    Also, with commercial spiral stairs you have to meet certain ADA requirements for spiral stairs. For example, in a residential application, a single handrail will meet code for a spiral stair. But in a commercial application, handrails are required (an inner and an outer, or on both sides of the steps) to meet ADA requirements.

                    There are also regulations that take into account indoor and outdoor uses for spiral stairs in commercial applications. For example, in an exterior spiral stair application you will need to have step covers that will dissipate rain or snow easily like a grate rather than a wood cover because the rain or snow can pass through the grate.

                    When considering a spiral staircase for a commercial or industrial application, reach out to the experts at Great Lakes Stair. We can help you navigate the building codes and requirements for your application as well as offer recommendations from our extensive experience in working in commercial and industrial settings. We can show you photos of similar commercial or industrial spiral stair applications to help you visualize your application. There are a lot of considerations in these spiral stair applications, use our experience to get the best outcome!

                    We can save our customers time and money because in our 34 years, we’ve seen what works best, and what doesn’t and can help educate and guide our customers on their industrial and commercial spiral staircase project. 

                    Call today at 330-225-2005 or fill out the Free Project Review form on this page to get started.

                    Call Today: 330-225-2005

                    Free Project Review!

                      We’re affiliated with: