T C Rowan designs, fabricates and installs bespoke internal steel staircases for homes, extensions and self-builds across Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties. Whether you want an open-riser floating stair as the centrepiece of an open-plan space, a compact spiral to reach a loft, or a steel-and-timber flight that pairs structure with warmth, we handle the whole job under one roof: in-house design, fabrication in our own Banbury workshop, and installation by our own team. The same firm that draws your staircase is the firm that fixes the final tread, which is what keeps a feature stair true to the design rather than compromised on site.
Types of internal steel staircase we make
A steel structure lets a staircase do things timber alone cannot: longer unsupported spans, slimmer profiles, open risers and dramatic cantilevers. We make the full range as a one-off to suit your home.
- Straight, dog-leg and quarter-turn stairs. The everyday workhorses, built around a steel stringer or central spine for a clean, modern line.
- Floating and cantilever stairs. Open-riser treads that appear to float, either fixed to a hidden wall-mounted steel structure or carried on a single mono-stringer. The visual lightness comes from steel doing the heavy lifting out of sight.
- Spiral and helical stairs. Space-saving spirals for lofts and tight openings, and sweeping helical feature stairs where the staircase is meant to be seen.
- Steel-and-timber stairs. A steel frame, stringer or spine with timber treads, combining a strong, slim structure with a warm, tactile finish. This is one of our most popular residential combinations.
- Stairs with glass balustrades. We fabricate the steel staircase and the supporting steel for frameless or part-framed glass, for an open, light feel on the flight, landing or void edge.
- Metal spindle staircases. Traditional or contemporary staircases with metal spindles, in black, powder-coated or stainless steel, with the spindles made and spaced to meet the guarding and gap rules of Part K.
If your project also involves a balcony or an external flight, our wider custom steel staircases and balconies service covers the full architectural range.
Steel and timber, and glass balustrade combinations
The reason steel suits modern interiors is that it carries the load while staying visually slim, which frees up the finish. Pairing a steel structure with timber treads gives you the strength and span of steel with the warmth of oak, ash or walnut underfoot, and the two can be detailed so the steel is either a feature or almost hidden.
For balustrades, a steel-framed glass balustrade keeps sightlines open across the stair and any landing or void, while still giving you a robust, code-compliant guard. We fabricate the steel posts, base channels and fixings the glass needs, and detail them to sit cleanly with the staircase. Where you want a more traditional or industrial look, a steel balustrade with bar or mesh infill is equally at home. Our dedicated steel balustrades and handrails page covers the balustrade options in more depth.
From design to install: how we work
Every staircase follows the same disciplined path, because a feature stair has no margin for a mismeasured opening or a balustrade gap that fails inspection.
- Design and survey. We start from your architect’s or designer’s drawings, or carry out our own site survey to capture the real opening, floor-to-floor height and fixing points rather than assumed ones.
- Fabrication drawings and sign-off. We produce detailed fabrication drawings, confirm the stair type, treads, balustrade and finish, and agree it all with you before any steel is cut.
- Fabrication. Cutting, forming, welding and finishing in our Banbury workshop by qualified, coded welders.
- Installation. Our own erection team installs the staircase and ties in the balustrade, with any final welding finished in place where needed.
Working with a single fabricator from drawing to install closes the gaps where bespoke stairs usually go wrong: openings that do not match the steel, balustrades that clash on site, and the delays that come with remedial fabrication.
Finishes
Because the staircase is on show, the finish matters as much as the structure. Steel can be powder-coated in a wide range of colours, painted to a specified shade, galvanised, or supplied in a clean stainless finish for an exposed architectural look. Timber treads are finished to suit your interior, and glass is specified to the right thickness and type for a balustrade. We confirm the full finish specification with you at design stage so the staircase that arrives is the one you signed off.
Building Regulations
Internal domestic staircases are covered by Building Regulations, primarily Approved Document Part K (protection from falling, collision and impact), which governs things such as pitch, the going and rise of each step, headroom, guarding heights and the maximum gaps in a balustrade. The exact figures that apply depend on your specific layout and use, so rather than quote dimensions blind, we design your staircase to meet the relevant requirements and coordinate with your building control body. For structural openings or where the stair affects load-bearing elements, your project may also need input from a structural engineer.
For an idea of what drives the price of a bespoke stair, see our steel staircase cost guide, or contact us for a quote on your project.
Frequently asked questions
Do you make metal spindle staircases?
Yes. We fabricate staircases with metal spindles, from black or powder-coated steel spindles in a traditional or contemporary pattern to bar and panel infills. The spindles are made and spaced to meet the guarding and gap requirements of Building Regulations Part K, then fitted as part of the staircase by our own team. Send your drawings or rough measurements and we will price the flight and spindles together.
What types of internal steel staircase can you make?
We make straight flights, dog-leg and quarter-turn stairs, open-riser floating and cantilever staircases, spiral and helical feature stairs, and steel-and-timber combinations. Each one is designed around your opening, your floor-to-floor height and the look you want, then fabricated in our own Banbury workshop and installed by our own team.
Can you combine steel with timber treads or a glass balustrade?
Yes. A steel stringer or spine with timber treads is one of our most popular residential combinations, pairing a strong steel structure with a warm finish. We also fabricate the steel frame and supports for glass balustrades, so you can have frameless or part-framed glass alongside a steel staircase or landing for an open, light feel.
Do internal staircases need to meet Building Regulations?
Yes. Domestic staircases are covered by Building Regulations, chiefly Approved Document Part K, which deals with pitch, going, headroom, guarding and gaps. We design to those requirements and coordinate with your building control body, but the specific figures for your stair depend on your layout, so they are confirmed during design rather than quoted blind.
What does an internal steel staircase cost and how long does it take?
Cost depends on the type, span, finish and balustrade, so a floating stair with glass differs from a simple straight steel flight. We price every stair from your drawings or a site survey rather than a fixed list. For the factors involved see our steel staircase cost guide, or contact us for a quote on your project.