Shopping
for
Pre-Built
Stairs This pre-fabricated
circular stair from
Challis Stairways
(Sandy, Utah) turns
about 180 degrees
and terminates
in a volute.
The laminated
curved stringers
are mitered to fit
against the risers.
by Bill Penrod
We turn out over 10,000 sets of stairs
each year from a small shop in
Winooski, Vt. Each stair we make is
custom-built to match field measurements,
but there are really only a few
basic types to choose from. For traditional
stairs, there are box stairs, which
are fully enclosed, and open stairs,
which have the stringers partially or
fully exposed. For a price, open stairs
can be made in a sweeping curve, called
a circular stair (not to be confused with
a free-standing spiral stair). For a contemporary
look, any stair