Spiraling Up
One of the very cool features of my new studio is the spiral staircase that connects the camera room with the offices upstairs.
Back in early July Mike Gill and Matt from A-1 Construction puzzled through the instructions and assembled it. This was the first spiral they’d built, and like everything done for the first time it took a little figuring to get it right.
We ordered the staircase from The Ironworks, a Pennsylvania outfit, and it arrived by truck in three big boxes and a long steel pole. One box had the steel risers and railing uprights, one had the oak treads, and the third had the aluminum handrail coiled like a piece of pipe.
The guys calculated the position of the pole on the floor and bolted it in place. Then they lowered all the stair treads over the pole.
Next step was to bolt the upper landing to the wall and to the pole, establishing the top. Divide the distance to the floor by eleven, measure, and fasten a riser into position with set screws. Repeat until done.
The handrail was a little tricky to uncoil and then bend to just the right angle to match the uprights.
Overall, it took about a day and a half to install. Then I removed the oak treads, applied a Swedish finish to the wood, and reinstalled them.
The finished staircase looks great. I’m just waiting for the right person or group to photograph on it. In the meantime, we love going up and down and everyone who’s been in the studio so far loves it.
Oh yeah, studio construction is finished and I’m open for business. Come on by for a visit! We’re at 4682 Wynn Road, just off Slater Road at I-5.