Blog > Steel Stair Stringers - Everything You Need To Know

Steel Stair Stringers - Everything You Need To Know

Are you on the hunt for a durable and reliable set of stairs for your commercial or domestic property? If so, you need to think carefully about what materials to use in your stair stringer.

To help you select a staircase that suits your needs and preferences, we’ve put together a quick guide detailing all you need to know about steel stair stringers.

A stair stringer is the support frame to which the treads and risers of your stairs will be attached. Different stringers can be used with different types of treads, meaning you can choose from an almost endless array of stair designs. 

Some staircases feature an inner stringer attached to a wall, as well as an outer visible stringer. Other stairways may be placed in the centre of a room and feature two outer stringers.

The stair stringer forms the foundation of your staircase, which is why it's so important to choose strong and durable materials for your stringer. It's possible to build stair stringers from many different types of materials, including hardwoods, softwoods, and metals.

At On the Spot Fabrication, we specialise in creating steel stair stringers for our clients. The stair stringers we design and fashion are tailored to your needs and built to last.

• Steel stair stringers are incredibly versatile. We can design stair stringers to fit almost any style and size of staircase.

• Steel boasts excellent anti-corrosion properties making it the ideal material to use when constructing structures for industrial settings where hazardous materials are handled.

• Steel is modern, easy to clean, and aesthetically appealing. No matter what style you want to achieve, steel can suit your build.

Stair stringers can be fashioned from a range of materials such as wood and aluminium. If you’re looking for a strong and durable staircase, however, steel stringers may represent your best option.

Steel is an alloy comprised of carbon, iron, and other materials. Galvanized steel is typically coated in zinc to prevent corrosion and ensure that the material remains strong and attractive. 

Steel stringers are often used in businesses, homes, and outdoor industrial sites. If you plan on carrying a range of heavy objects up and down your stairways or anticipate high levels of foot traffic, steel stringers will ensure the infrastructure of your building remains solid. Other advantages include:

• Steel stringers are easy to shape into virtually any form, meaning you can use them in spiral staircases and cutting-edge architectural designs. 
• They are easier to install than wooden alternatives as you can simply bolt them together. In fact, it is possible for amateur operatives to mount steel stringers, meaning you can install them without having to hire a professional.
• Steel stringers are less expensive than aluminium alternatives, making them a great option for those on a tight budget. 
• They are fire resistant and adhere to strict safety regulations. 
• Steel stringers are very easy to maintain in both indoor and outdoor settings. They can withstand extreme weather conditions and pests.
• Steel stair stringers are heavier than wood stair stringers. In most contexts, this doesn't matter, but it's important to factor it into your designs.

There are many different types of frames for steel stair stringer frames, each looking different and possessing different properties. It's important to understand what types of steel stair stringers you could use in your designs and when each frame type is most suitable. Some of the most common steel stair stringer frames include:

• Single stair stringers: These are one of the most common types of stair stringers, featuring a single stringer outside each tread.

• Double stair stringers: Commonly used in industrial and commercial settings, double stair stringers feature two stringers outside each tread. This increases the strength of the stair and makes them ideal for use in egress stairs in commercial buildings.

• Centre beam stringers: These are a type of stringer used in feature staircases in hotels, offices, and other high-end buildings. Centre-beam stringers use a single beam that sits underneath the centre of the staircase. They're very visually appealing but often more expensive to construct.

• Open stringers: More common in residential staircases, open stringers leave the edge of the tread exposed, which many people think is more visually appealing. However, this is more difficult to build and often comes with additional expenses.

It's important to choose a style of stringer frame that's going to suit your property's requirements. Think carefully about how much support you need and what your project budget is.

You can also choose various different finishes for your steel stair stringers. Finishes can change the look of your stair stringers and also increase the durability of your stringer. Some of the most common finishes for steel stair stringers include:



• Powder-coating, which creates an attractive finish that is tougher than traditional paint
• Zinc-plating, which can increase the anti-corrosive properties of your stair stringer
• Painted finishes, which are available in a huge range of tones and colours

If you’re on the hunt for the best steel stringers on the market, On the Spot can help. Our stringers are entirely compliant with the Building Code of Australia and other regulations that could affect your commercial or domestic property. 

We only use the highest quality steel supplies for our fabrication and are happy to offer comprehensive advice before taking on your project. Get in touch to find out more and discuss your project!