STAIRCASE STYLES

Fabricated Tube Stairs

Fabricated tube style staircases use custom-welded steel box sections rather than standard hollow structural section (HSS) tubing, enabling design flexibility and integrated features beyond what off-the-shelf profiles can provide. Each stringer is fabricated specifically for the project, with steel plate welded into closed tubular forms that can incorporate built-in risers, custom dimensions, machined light pockets, specialized mounting systems, and concealed weld seams. This approach delivers the clean geometric character of tube stringers while accommodating unique design requirements and architectural details that demand fully custom solutions.

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Design Features

The defining advantage of fabricated tube stringers is complete dimensional and functional customization. Unlike standard HSS tubing available in fixed sizes, fabricated sections can be built to any proportion—extra-wide bottom flanges for specific load distribution, asymmetric profiles for architectural effect, or non-standard depths to meet unique span requirements. The fabrication process allows welds to be executed inside the closed section before final assembly, creating seamless exterior surfaces with no visible weld beads or seams that require grinding and finishing.

Integrated design features distinguish fabricated tube from standard tube applications. Built-in risers can be incorporated directly into the stringer structure rather than added as separate components, creating unified geometry and reducing part count. Machined pockets for LED lighting, custom mounting plates for glass guardrails, and specialized connection details can all be fabricated as integral elements rather than added after construction. This integration streamlines installation and creates cleaner visual results.

The custom fabrication approach also enables hybrid configurations—stringers that transition from tube sections to plate sections within a single run, or tube profiles that morph in dimension or proportion along their length. These capabilities support architectural visions that standard profiles cannot accommodate.

Structural Configurations

Custom Box Section Configurations

Fabricated tube stringers work across undermount and side-mounted configurations. Single undermount applications might use a fabricated section with an extra-wide bottom flange to distribute loads across a floating landing, or incorporate stepped internal geometry for specific tread mounting requirements. Double undermount configurations can feature fabricated sections with asymmetric profiles—one side optimized for wall mounting, the other for free-standing support.

Side-mounted fabricated tube stringers can integrate custom glass mounting systems directly into the stringer face, eliminating the need for secondary hardware while maintaining the clean tube profile. The fabrication flexibility allows the stringer cross-section to vary along its length as structural demands change, something impossible with standard tubing.

Built-In Riser Integration

Fabricated tube stringers can incorporate structural risers as integral components of the tube section itself, rather than as separate elements welded to the stringer after construction. This integration creates continuous geometry from stringer to tread support, with no visible joints or added components interrupting the clean lines. Built-in risers can include machined recesses for LED strip lighting, creating illuminated treads with all wiring concealed within the stringer assembly.

The integrated approach also simplifies installation—the riser supports arrive as part of the stringer structure, reducing field assembly time and eliminating alignment issues between separately fabricated components.

Customization Options

Each fabricated tube staircase begins with engineering calculations specific to the project’s structural requirements, then design development to incorporate architectural features and details. Steel plate thickness, section dimensions, and internal geometry are all specified for the application. Exterior finishes include powder coating, paint systems, or brushed and sealed steel for raw industrial appearance.

Tread materials, guardrail systems, and handrail designs integrate with the custom stringer sections through fabricated mounting solutions tailored to each project. The bespoke fabrication approach means connection details, hardware specifications, and finishing requirements can all be optimized for the specific design rather than adapted to standard profiles.

Ideal Applications

Fabricated tube style staircases suit architectural projects where standard profiles cannot meet design requirements or where integrated features justify custom fabrication. High-end residential projects with unique design visions, commercial installations requiring specific performance characteristics, and renovation projects with challenging dimensional constraints all benefit from fabricated tube solutions.

For architects and designers seeking complete design freedom in modern staircase projects, fabricated tube style delivers unlimited customization while maintaining the refined geometric character of tubular stringers.

Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT OUR FABRICATED TUBE STAIRCASE STYLE

Standard tube style staircases use hollow structural section (HSS) steel tubing—off-the-shelf rectangular or square tubes in fixed dimensions like 4″ x 6″ or 6″ x 8″. Fabricated tube staircases use custom-welded steel box sections built specifically for each project, allowing any dimension, proportion, or integrated feature. Fabricated tube enables hidden weld seams (welded inside before closing the section), built-in risers, custom mounting systems, and non-standard profiles that standard HSS cannot provide. Choose standard tube when conventional dimensions work; choose fabricated tube when the design requires custom dimensions or integrated features.

Fabricated tube becomes necessary when standard HSS sizes don’t match structural requirements, when the design requires integrated features like built-in risers or machined light pockets, when visible welds would compromise the aesthetic, or when the stringer profile needs to vary along its length. Projects with unusual span requirements, complex mounting conditions, or architectural designs requiring seamless surfaces often require fabricated tube solutions. The custom approach costs more than standard HSS but enables design possibilities that off-the-shelf tubing cannot deliver.

Yes, one key advantage of fabricated tube is the ability to execute welds inside the box section before final closure, creating seamless exterior surfaces with no visible weld beads. The steel plates forming the tube are welded together in sequence, with welds completed on internal surfaces before the section is fully closed. External surfaces remain smooth and unblemished, requiring minimal finishing. This contrasts with standard tube where any modifications require external welds that must be ground smooth and finished to match the surrounding steel.

Fabricated tube staircases typically require 12-16 weeks from final engineering approval due to the custom nature of the work. The process includes detailed shop drawings, custom steel cutting and forming, sequential welding and assembly of the closed sections, integration of built-in features, surface finishing, and quality control. Installation generally takes 3-5 days depending on configuration complexity. The longer fabrication timeline compared to standard tube reflects the bespoke nature of the work—each component is built specifically for your project rather than adapted from stock materials.

Next Steps for Your Stair Project

Currently planning a custom build or renovation?

Share your project details, space measurements, and design inspiration with our team. We’ll review your requirements and determine whether standard tube or fabricated tube solutions best suit your project goals and budget.

Working with an architect or designer?

We collaborate directly with design professionals throughout the Greater Vancouver area. Request our technical specifications and custom fabrication capabilities documentation to incorporate into your project plans.

Exploring staircase options?

Compare our full range of modern staircase styles, including standard tube style, plate guard, C-channel industrial, I-beam, and profile cut plate designs. Each offers distinct aesthetic and structural characteristics for contemporary spaces.

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