Staircases,
sculpted in steel.
Vancouver Stairs is a CWB-certified steel staircase fabricator in Burnaby, BC, building custom mono stringer stairs, floating staircases, and commercial stair systems across Metro Vancouver since 2007. BC Building Code coordination and full installation, from first sketch to finished install.
Vancouver Stairs is a CWB-certified (CSA W47.1) steel staircase fabricator based in Burnaby, BC, serving Metro Vancouver since 2007. The shop designs, fabricates, and installs custom mono stringer stairs, floating staircases, commercial egress stairs, cable railings, and glass railings for residential, commercial, and institutional clients. Notable completed projects include Surrey Memorial Hospital, BCIT Burnaby, Collingwood School, and Guildford Town Centre. Every project includes site review, shop drawings, engineer coordination under the BC Building Code, and full installation, from a single residential stair flight to multi-storey commercial stair packages.
Modern stairs, durable railings, practical steel.
Each stair type has its own structural requirements, finish system, and code considerations. We fabricate and install the right one for the building.
Residential Metal Staircases
Feature staircases, interior railings, exterior replacements, and custom steel details for modern homes.
Commercial Railing & Tenant Improvement Fabrication
Railing replacement, strata programs, and tenant improvement metalwork for offices, retail, and institutional buildings. For commercial stair fabrication specifically, see the commercial stairs hub.
Steel Structures and Miscellaneous Metals
Platforms, canopies, gates, brackets, structural connections, and custom steel components.
Measure once, coordinate early, fabricate cleanly.
Custom stairs fail when the important decisions are left vague. We bring structure, treads, guards, finish, and installation access into the same conversation before fabrication starts.
- WeldingCWB-certified
- FabricationResidential and commercial
- CodeBC Building Code coordination
- DrawingsShop drawings + engineer coordination
Previous institutional work includes Surrey Memorial Hospital, BCIT Burnaby, Collingwood School, Queen Mary School, and Guildford Town Centre. About the shop →
Custom stairs built for Vancouver homes.
Every stair type below has a dedicated Vancouver page with cost ranges, code notes, finish options, and recent project photos.
Residential Staircases in Vancouver
Custom steel staircases for Metro Vancouver homes, mono stringer, floating, straight-run, and feature stairs built to BC Building Code Part 9 and installed by a CWB-certified shop.
Mono Stringer Staircases in Vancouver
A single central steel beam with open treads, built for clean modern interiors and engineered connections.
Floating Staircases in Vancouver
Open-riser stair systems with concealed or minimized steel support for a lighter architectural look.
Spiral Staircases in Vancouver
Compact steel spiral stairs for secondary access, lofts, exterior decks, and tight architectural spaces.
Cable Railings in Vancouver
Stainless cable infill with fabricated steel posts for decks, stairs, balconies, and view properties.
Glass Railings in Vancouver
Frameless and semi-frameless glass guard systems, $225 to $575/linear ft. installed, with fabricated steel or stainless details matched to BC Building Code.
Detailed guides: custom steel stairs in Vancouver, floating staircases in Vancouver, commercial stairs in Vancouver, mono stringer stairs, spiral staircase Vancouver, and metal stair fabrication. Cost ranges in our 2026 stair cost guide. In-depth articles and code references on the Vancouver Stairs fabrication blog.
Building outside Vancouver? See our Vancouver stair builders page or pages for Burnaby, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, and Coquitlam.
Steel has to read clearly from the first sketch.
Every stair starts as a line drawing. Structural decisions, stringer type, tread depth, connection points, are locked in before fabrication begins.
Selected fabrication work.
Modern Floating Stair, Vancouver
Open-riser steel stair with a clean black finish and coordinated railing details.
Commercial Stair and Railing Package
Code-conscious stair and guard fabrication for a high-traffic commercial interior.
Steel Platform and Access Work
Custom fabricated access steel with practical site installation planning.
Built carefully, remembered clearly.
“The stair became the feature everyone notices first. The measurements were careful, the finish is clean, and the installation crew treated the house with respect.”
Custom mono stringer staircase, Vancouver
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Reviews help other Metro Vancouver homeowners and contractors find fabricators they can trust.
Latest from the workshop.
Steel Stair or Wood Stair: Choosing During a Vancouver Renovation
How steel and wood stairs differ on span, opening size, lead time, noise, and finish, and which questions actually decide it during a renovation.
When an Exterior Steel Stair Is Past Repainting
How to tell whether a corroding exterior steel stair in Vancouver needs paint, repair, or replacement, and where corrosion hides before it shows.
Concrete-Filled Pan Stair Treads: Where They Make Sense in Vancouver
How pan treads are built, why they are quieter and heavier than grating or plate, and the drainage and corrosion questions that decide indoor versus outdoor use.
Custom staircase FAQ.
The questions Metro Vancouver homeowners ask before a stair project starts.
Do you design and install custom metal stairs?
Yes. Vancouver Stairs is a CWB-certified shop (CSA W47.1, Division 2) that runs the full custom-stair workflow: site measurement, feasibility review, shop drawings, structural coordination with a Schedule B engineer where required, fabrication, finishing, and install. We do not stamp our own structural drawings, that letter comes from the project engineer, but we provide the connection details, weld procedures, and field-measured geometry that the stamp is based on.
How much does a custom metal staircase cost in Vancouver?
In Metro Vancouver, a residential custom metal staircase typically costs $18,000–$55,000 installed, depending on type. Mono stringer stairs run $18,000–$32,000 for a standard flight. Feature floating or cantilevered stairs with glass or cable railings run $32,000–$58,000. Curved or helical sculptural stairs start around $60,000. Railing type, tread material, finish, and site access all move the number. Every project is quoted after a site visit.
What is a mono stringer staircase?
A mono stringer staircase uses a single central structural beam, typically an HSS rectangular tube, to carry the treads from beneath. Treads cantilever equally to either side of the spine, creating open risers and a light visual profile. It is distinct from a double stringer (two side beams), a closed stringer (treads pocketed into a panel), and a cantilevered stair (treads anchored into a wall with no stringer visible).
What is the difference between a floating staircase and a mono stringer staircase?
Floating is a visual category, not a structural method. Any open-riser stair where treads appear unsupported reads as floating. A mono stringer is one structural strategy that produces that look, a single central beam beneath the treads. Other floating strategies include cantilevered (treads anchored into a wall), suspended (treads hung from rods above), and hidden double-stringer. Each has different framing, engineering, and budget implications.
Do I need a building permit for a new staircase in Vancouver?
Usually yes. Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, and North Vancouver treat a new or altered staircase as a structural change requiring a building permit whenever the opening, framing, or load path is modified. A like-for-like replacement inside an existing single-family home may be exempt, but interpretations vary by AHJ. Confirm with the building department before committing to a fabrication schedule. Vancouver Stairs provides drawings and certifications for the permit package; the homeowner or GC pulls the permit.
Do metal stair projects need engineering in BC?
Almost always for custom geometry. Most Metro Vancouver municipalities will require a Schedule B engineer's letter if the stair is cantilevered, floating, mono-stringer, or open-riser, or if it changes a structural opening. Part 3 commercial buildings always require engineering. Vancouver Stairs coordinates with your structural engineer, providing field-measured geometry, connection details, and CWB weld procedures, so the stamp can be issued before fabrication starts.
How long does a custom steel staircase take to build?
A residential custom steel staircase takes 8–14 weeks from signed contract to installation. The phases are: site measurement and shop drawings (1–2 weeks), engineer review (1–2 weeks), shop fabrication (3–5 weeks), finish (1 week), and installation (2–4 days). Galvanizing or duplex coating adds time because parts leave the shop for the coater. A railing-only replacement on existing structure is typically 3–5 weeks. Commercial stairs run 12–20 weeks.
What is a cantilevered staircase?
A cantilevered staircase has treads anchored directly into a structural wall through embedded steel plates or welded brackets, with no visible stringer below. The wall carries all tread loads. Because the armature must be built into the framing before drywall, cantilevered stairs require early coordination, the steel design and engineering must be resolved while the building is still being framed. They are the most visually minimal floating stair option.
More questions answered in the full staircase FAQ, cost, permits, engineering, finish, and timeline.
Ready to plan a stair or metalwork package?
Send drawings, photos, or a rough scope and we will help define the practical next step.