I am just about ready to start on building a two story 212 degree stairway,
Each floor is 12 ft. The upper level will have a serpentine railing going across its loft.
The numbers worked out nice on this one ….no fudging to get the walking line run large enough. This home had the stairway designed first….then the home around it….the way it should be!
Stan
Replies
Hope you get a chance to "post as you go". This one looks like it'll be fun to follow. I like the ascending windows. Cool stuff.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Everything fits, until you put glue on it.
I think I'd want an elevator ...
Where about might this job be Professor Foster?
This stairway is in Effingham, Il.
I did a curved stairway for this guys brother years ago.....word of mouth once again is the best advertising. I would say that 90% are word of mouth...and 10% are new contacs.
Stan
Precisely what is the maximum distance that you have traveled to fabricate a set of stairs? And do you work alone? I am sure that much of what is done could very well be handled be a single person , but of course time plays a large factor. And there must be some major aspects of the job that would undoubtably require additional assistance.
I do 90 % of the stairwork in my shop,,,,then a few days installing the stairway and railing. I usually work a 100 mile radius at the max,......but have done a few further than that.
The furthest I have done was 180 miles...but I bid it with me setting the stairways in place only...and supplying the curved railing....balusters and newels for a local trim carpenter to install. My bid would be much higher as I do not like to stay overnight on any job.....but there are exceptions of course. If I have to..it just gets pricey.
Otherwise, I am always home no later than 5 p.m.....even if I have a 2 hour drive. I may leave at 5 a.m....but I am usually packing up tools at 2 to 2:30 if I have a long drive.
The only help I have are just a bunch of guys I pay to load the stairway onto my trailer.
That is really some bussiness that you have built for yourself. I think that being able to be home at such a reasonable hour is fantastic. It does surprise me that you can always find that much high end work as close as that to your home base. I should like to think that it were possible to build such a client base where I am as well. If I ever find myself in your region I would be pleased to work gratis for a day or two to learn more of your fine trade. Please when you have the occasion to post the "Best Of Stan Foster" for us to see those pictures. And Thanks again for the great work.... David Forbes
Stan, that looks wonderful - can't wait to watch your pix.
Forrest- glad you're still here
I cannot wait to see what you conjure up, Stan.
Your work is amazing... When is your book coming out ;-)
last week, I almost got to do my first curved stair job; but I couldn't get the stair to fit in the required area so now it's just a boring switchback. How do figure out treads on an elliptical stair anyway?
DC
David- Thanks! I am fortunate to be near Champaign, Il...The University of Illinois is a stabilizing forced for the economy....though that might not be true. Bloomington, Il is nearby and its another college town. I just have a good word of mouth base...and I am always digging for new leads...even when my shop is full of stair projects.
DC- My first elliptical stairway was for congressman Tim Johnson. I measured his foyer...and it was plenty wide...but shallow. I soon realized that you can make an elliptical fit into a tighter space than a circular. If you can stretch out one dimension..either for or aft...or lateral...you can come up with combinations that will mee code whereas a circular one wont.
The formulae for an ellipse isnt that hard. If it comes down to it...I would be glad to lay out one for you.
Stan
Dreamcatcher said "book"....
Are u making a book? That would be great for a coffeetable one. If ya gonna do a book and I'm gonna build a coffeetable and be ready for the book!
he he he, I was just teasing him.But seriously, he should write a book.I was just playing with the "make a book" feature in iPhoto the other day. For $30 you can make a nice professional quality book, bound with a dust cover and everything. I am putting together a portfolio of my own. Stan's would be 1000x better than mine though.DC