HOLIDAY HOURS - VICTORIA DAY

We can not believe that it is already May! 2023 is just flying by!

We are not able to thank everyone enough for all the continued support throughout this year so far! Stairhaus will be closed on Monday May 22nd to allow our team to have a much deserved break through this busy time. We will return to the shop and office on Tuesday May 23rd for normal business hours. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to us while we are away, please do not hesitate to leave a voicemail or send us an email and we will follow up as soon as we can when we return.

We hope you enjoy this long weekend with family and friends!

Cheers,

The Stairhaus Team

HOLIDAY HOURS - EASTER

2023 is moving quickly and Easter is already here! We wish everyone a happy Easter holiday and we hope that everybody is able to enjoy it with their family and friends.

Stairhaus will be closed Monday April 10th for Easter Monday. If you have any questions or are looking to reach out to us during this time, please do not hesitate to send us an email or leave us a voicemail, and we will follow up when we return!

Happy Easter!

Cheers,

The Stairhaus Team

INSTALLATION GUIDELINE AND TIPS

Starting a new build or a renovation project can be very daunting!

When first starting a new project there are many different aspects and components to consider. One of the most important factors to think about is planning ahead! This is important as it will ensure that there is plenty of time to meet each and every deadline that will pop up.

Knowing and considering how every aspect of how a project ties together is important to take into account. You will need to think about what flooring you are planning to use in your home as it will dictate which type of wood species would be best to use on the stairs and railings. With flooring in mind it is important to note that it is best to install the stairs, nosings, and railings prior to the installation of any flooring.

One last factor to consider is that specific stair openings and layouts will allow and accommodate different styles of stairs, railings, or glass based on the design. It is important to assess your project and what may be possible early on in the design process. This will ensure that changes can be made if necessary.

As the industry continues to increasingly get busier each and every day it is crucial to plan ahead and for different steps in the process in advance! Providing yourself with ample amount of time for each step of the project to be planned and installed seamlessly.

If you have any questions or concerns about how to get started on your next renovation project or a new build, please reach out to us and we would be more than happy to help!

Check out our social media pages for design inspiration!

Cheers,

The Stairhaus Team

DESIGN FEATURE - TREAD CAPS

Have you been looking at your stairs recently and think that they are in need of being refreshed but the structure is still in great shape?

Tread caps are a great way to refresh a set of stairs that are still in good structural shape and are cost effective. Tread caps are installed directly over existing treads! This ensures that the staircase layout and design structure is not changed. By capping a set of stairs allows for a cost effective refresh to occur when the frame and stability of the current stair structure is not the issue.

Along with the addition of tread caps, new railings can reconstruct a space. Combining different materials, such as wood, glass, and steel can create an exquisite railing system to be created into any and all designs.

Check out our social media pages for more inspiration and ideas on how to refresh your home!

Cheers,

The Stairhaus Team

HOLIDAY HOURS- CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS 2022!

It is very hard to believe but it is that time of year where the holiday season and a New Year is just around the corner!

This year has been a busy one in both of our Stairhaus & Steelhaus shops. We owe all of this year's successes to our loyal customers who have provided us with ample support during this busy year and are extremely grateful for your business!

We will be adjusting our office and shop hours around the week of Christmas and New Years to give our outstanding team a little break. Our normal hours of operation will resume on January 3rd. The adjusted hours are as follows:

CHRISTMAS:

December 23rd: OPEN 8am to 12pm

December 26th: CLOSED

December 27th to 28th : OPEN 8am-5pm

December 29th: OPEN 8am to 12pm

December 30th: CLOSED

NEW YEARS:

January 2nd: CLOSED

January 3rd: OPEN 8am to 5pm

Do not hesitate to reach out during those times through sending us an email or leaving us a voicemail and we will follow up when we return. We would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Cheers,

The Stairhaus Team

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS 2021!

It seems hard to believe that the year is coming to an end and the holidays are right around the corner!

Things have been busier than ever in both our Steelhaus & Stairhaus shops and we owe it all to the loyalty and support of our customers who have partnered with us throughout these challenging times - We are extremely grateful for your business!

We will be adjusting our hours slightly during the week of Christmas to give our team a well deserved break. We will resume our regular business hours on Tuesday, January 4th. Our adjusted Hours will be as follows:

CHRISTMAS:

  • December 24, 2021: OPEN 8 AM to 12 PM
  • December 27, 2021: CLOSED
  • December 28, 2021: CLOSED
  • December 29-31, 2021: OPEN 8 AM to 5 PM

NEW YEARS:

  • January 3, 2022: CLOSED
  • January 4, 2022: OPEN 8 AM to 5 PM

Feel free to reach out to us by email or voice message while our office is closed and we will be happy to follow up when we return. We hope that everyone enjoys this time with their friends and family!

Cheers,

The Stairhaus Team

Canada Day Update!

It's hard to believe that July is almost upon us!

Things have been busier than ever in both our Stairhaus & Steelhaus shops and we owe it all to the loyalty and support of our customers who have partnered with us throughout these continued uncertain times- Thank You. Our team is actively working to ensure that all projects are completed as efficiently and meticulously as possible. We appreciate your understanding and are grateful for the many opportunities we currently have on the go.

We will be adjusting our hours slightly during the week of Canada Day to give our team a well deserved long weekend break. Our hours will be as follows:

OPEN:

Monday June 28 to Wednesday June 30 - 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

CLOSED:

Thursday July 1 and Friday July 2

We will resume our normal business hours on Monday, July 5, 2021.

If you have any questions or concerns while we are away, feel free to reach out via email or leave a message at our office and we will be happy to follow up with you when we return.

We hope you have a great weekend and a wonderful Canada Day!

Sincerely,

The Stairhaus Team

canada_day_fireworks-725x435-c.jpg

Gallery Updated!

We are constantly trying to take decent pictures of every project we complete so you can see what we are up to!  I try to update our gallery once every week with some fresh material for you to see!  We have quite a few followers now and we can't thank you enough for showing interest in what we love to do.

Have a great weekend!

Glass is in!  All we have to do is cap the top with a contemporary maple railing and we are finished.  Love how this job turned out.

1-3/4 x 2-3/4" Wormy Maple standard railing, 3-1/2 Chamfered Contemporary Post, 1-5/16 Chamfered Wormy Maple spindles.  Job Location: Toronto, Ontario

Open Part 1 Side Oak Stairs.  We had to build half of this stair on-site and notch it around the steel jack post which will be cladded on a later date.  Job Location:  Snow Valley, Ontario

Live Edge Slabs

Live edge slabs are where the carpenter incorporates the natural edge of the wood when milling the material.  The use of slabs in the furniture industry has exploded in the last 10 years.   A lot of the wood used for slabs is usually graded not suitable for conventional milling (D4S or nominal lumber).  Table tops are probably the most common use for the slabs these days as they looking amazing and have character like no other! 

Usually the slab is milled using a modified chainsaw which is mounted to a frame/track which helps you cut the slabs out evenly. 

One of the most important steps when milling slabs is the drying time.  The slabs we have access to have been air dried for 2 years and then finished off in a kiln.  If the slabs are not properly dried, they will check (crack) and basically fall apart.  Sometimes "bowtie/butterfly" keys are built into the slab where there is checking present to help stabilize the wood.  I love the look of the keys and they are usually made out of a wood that contrasts the main slab so they stand out.

Here at Stairhaus, we have access to some large libraries of slabs which are air/kiln dried and ready to go.  We can provide you with a finished table top or give you the slab and let you source your own legs.  Epoxy finishes seem to be very poplar these days as they add a thick layer of protection while giving you the ability to see the entire slab clearly under the finish.  Below are a few pictures that may get you excited about slabs as they are very beautiful.


Wood Finishing - Protect Your Investment!

Easily one of the most rewarding processes when completing a stair & railing project, or any other wood working project.  Finishing can make or break a job.  There are two main reason why you finish wood:

1) Protection: It is important you seal the materials so you can stabilize the materials with respect to the environment where the wood materials will reside.  Protecting/sealing the wood will provide your materials with "armor" against wear and tear and anything else that could harm the materials (sunlight, spills, bugs etc)

2) Colour: Staining materials gives you the ability to match the colours of your wood to others that might be in your house (match the stairs to your flooring).  Every species of wood has a different staining ability.  It is important you take this into consideration when determining what colour you end up going with as you may not be happy with the finished result.  For example, Maple is a very dense wood which is very difficult to stain, especially dark.  The materials should be "conditioned" prior to finishing which will give your materials a much more consistent look. 

Finishing can be expensive!  I find that most people do not allow enough in their budget when it comes to protecting their stairs & railings.  This process is VERY labour intensive and can take up a few days due to the time it takes for some materials to cure.  Probably the most important step and the one that takes the longest is the preparation of the materials.  Sanding & taping take lots of time however they are key if you want a consistent and beautiful finish. Stains and clear coats can be either sprayed or manually applied, both have their pros and cons.

It is very important that you do not look over this step as protecting your investment is very important.  A poor finish can ruin a project, we have seen it many times.  PLAN PLAN PLAN!  We offer professional finishing services here at Stairhaus, let us help you protect your stairs & railings.


Really Cool Stairs #6 - The "Fun" Edition

This #blog entry is dedicated to stairs that are quirky and fun.  Generally designed around what kids think are cool, a few of these stairs definitely make going "down" really fun.  I think the slides will start anyone's day off on the right foot!

 

Really Cool Stairs #4 - Cable Railing Edition

Within the next 2 years, the clause in the Ontario building code that makes horizontal railing systems like the cable railing illegal, will be erased from the code book.  This means that not only horizontal cable systems are ok, you can now install all the fancy scrolls, laser cut steel panels and contemporary wood patterns!

Read More