Frequently Asked Questions

Whichever leaves the most sightline intact, which usually means a mono stringer or a cantilever. A double stringer is the sturdier choice for a wide run and can still be detailed slim. We look at where the stair sits relative to your windows before recommending one.

The whole city, from the North End and Green Lake down through the central neighborhoods to West Seattle, plus the shoreline areas at Alki. We are based in Kent just to the south, so getting anywhere in Seattle is straightforward, and near the water we finish fences for the extra salt and moisture.

It depends on your priorities:

  • Glass: best for uninterrupted views and a high-end modern aesthetic
  • Cable: best for an open look with a lighter feel and lower visual footprint
  • Metal: best for durability, design flexibility, and a wide range of styles

It depends on your priority. Glass gives uninterrupted views and the most high end modern look. Cable keeps things open with a lighter visual footprint. Metal offers the most durability and the widest range of design options. Since we fabricate the railings ourselves, we can match any of the three to the stair.

Cable and powder coated metal, comfortably. They need occasional cleaning and, on cable, a tension check in the first year. Glass is the higher maintenance option in a climate this wet, since rain spotting shows readily on exterior panels and wants regular washing to stay looking right.

Powder coated steel or stainless with metal infill takes contact best and is the usual specification for a commercial stair. Glass looks excellent in a lobby but shows fingerprints and needs regular cleaning in a public space. Cable is better suited to lighter traffic areas. We match the system to the actual use rather than the look alone.

A double stringer, generally. Two steel stringers give the rigidity a wider run needs and produce a more substantial architectural feel underfoot. A mono stringer can span a wide stair but requires heavier steel to do it, and a cantilever depends entirely on what the supporting wall can carry.

A mono stringer, usually. One central spine takes up less width than two stringers set under the treads, which matters in the narrower stairwells common in Tacoma's older houses. A cantilever also leaves the open side clear, but depends entirely on what the supporting wall can carry.

Much of Redmond's recent residential construction is contemporary, with open floor plans and clean lines, and glass railings are the natural fit for that style. On an open-tread stair or a loft overlook, glass keeps the sightlines uninterrupted in a way wood balusters cannot, which is usually the whole reason the home was designed that way. Builders and homeowners across Education Hill, Grass Lawn, and the newer infill developments specify glass for exactly that reason, so it has become close to a default rather than an upgrade in this part of the Eastside.