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Frequently asked questions
With an extensive history deep rooted within the building renovation industry, through design, supply and installation, we have gathered some common enquiries throughout our years of operation which hopefully will inform your choices or provide necessary information in accordance to your need.
If you still have any questions, you can contact us here and our team will be more than happy to provide you with further details.
Does a stainless steel system have to be installed by professionals?
In theory, no. We provide our products in installation kits which come with the essentials that you require to effectively mount your product. Additional drilling may be required but majority of our products slot in and glue together. Anyone with decent knowledge in DIY should be comfortable with working our products.
Do you offer fitting services?
Yes, as design, manufacturing and fitting service company, our team includes qualified carpenters and joiners required to correctly construct your stairs.
Do you supply without installation too?
Installation is not mandatory with our orders. As with all of our products we offer fully fabrication and delivery upon request. This is ideal for passing on our product onwards to third party contractors.
Do you offer fitting services?
Yes, as design, manufacturing and fitting service company, our team includes qualified carpenters and joiners required to correctly construct your stairs.
Will measurements be performed within my property?
As design, manufacturing and fitting service company, we are adamant on ensuring all measurements are correctly undertaken. We offer free on-site measurements up to 50 miles from our offices in Lymington.
What finishes are available?
Our stainless steel products come with a brushed finish straight from the manufacturer. All of our products are galvanized and powder coated for additional production and smooth finish.
What spacing should you work with for balustrades?
The required spacing between balustrade posts differs from materials used and the thickness of materials used. Stainless steel offers a range of section widths, ranging from 800mm to 2400mm each at 1050mm in height.
What grade of stainless steel do you provide?
There are different grades that a steel can be composited from. As this is a material that corrodes naturally, the industry standard grade that is used by us is 304 for interior and 316 which is more resistant to corrosion and more recommended for outside use.
What grade of stainless steel do you provide?
There are different grades that a steel can be composited from. As this is a material that corrodes naturally, the industry standard grade that is used by us is 304 for interior and 316 which is more resistant to corrosion and more recommended for outside use.
What height should my balustrade be?
The height of your balustrade is calculated from the finished floor level. For internal placement such as stars, floors and ramps the limit is 900mm whilst exterior placement goes up to 1100mm for balconies and roofs.
What height should my balustrade be?
The height of your balustrade is calculated from the finished floor level. For internal placement such as stars, floors and ramps the limit is 900mm whilst exterior placement goes up to 1100mm for balconies and roofs.
What glass thickness do you recommend?
The thickness of glass required is subject to everyday use and occupancy of the property. Once secured, glass panels should not move over 25mm once a level of force is applied to it both within interior settings. Exterior products such as balconies and juliet balconies are allowed additional space over 25mm. Although we recommend contact our support team, the general advice is as follows:
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Internal/external stainless steel posts - 10mm toughened glass
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Frameless glass for internal use - 12mm toughened glass
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Frameless glass for external use - 12mm toughened glass with drop less than 500mm
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Frameless glass for external use - 15mm toughened glass with drop more than 500mm.
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Frameless glass for external use - 15mm toughened glass with drop less than 500mm with handrail.
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Frameless glass for external use - 17.5mm toughened laminate glass with drop more than 500mm without handrail.
Are your balustrades cut to size?
Yes, all of our products have to option to be customized in length.
What glass balconies do you offer?
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Glass Bottom - Gorgeous alternative to traditional balconies, French balconies are fitted to first floor windows, outside a set of doors with an inward-opening to improve safety. We use 21.5MM toughened laminate glass for this product.
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Frameless - Supported by slim yet strong side profiles, frameless balustrades offer a simple yet effective design that utilizes a single glass pane to provide an aesthetic, safe and clear aspect to any building; domestic or commercial. This balcony is able to go up to 3.0M with when accompanied with French doors. We use 21.5MM toughened laminate glass for this product.
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Circular Handrail Juliet Balcony - The orbit Juliet uses top and bottom round stainless steel balustrades to hold up the glass panel, ultimately not taking away from the view. We use finished brushed stainless steel for our balustrades with 10-12MM toughened glass.
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Steel Juliet Balcony - The best of both worlds, adding a luxurious and modern twist to regular Juliet balconies, steel or glass railings outline the panels on windows and doors. We use finished brushed stainless steel for our balustrades with 10-12MM toughened glass.
What are my size options with each balcony?
The maximum width for steel balconies is exactly 7 meters. The maximum width of individual glass panes go up to 2.7 meters. As to avoid attaching additional poles on wider balconies, we allow small air gaps between each glass pane.
What measurements should I send over?
Rule of thumb is to add 300mm width in window or door openings to get the correct measurement for your Juliet balcony measurement.
Which glass thickness do you recommend?
The thickness of glass required is subject to everyday use and occupancy of the property. Once secured, glass panels should not move over 25mm once a level of force is applied to it both within interior settings. Exterior products such as balconies and Juliet balconies are allowed additional space over 25mm. Although we recommend contact our support team, the general advice is as follows:
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Internal/external stainless steel posts - 10mm toughened glass
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Frameless glass for external use - 12mm toughened glass with drop less than 500mm
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Frameless glass for external use - 15mm toughened glass with drop more than 500mm.
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Frameless glass for external use - 15mm toughened glass with drop less than 500mm with handrail.
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Frameless glass for external use - 17.5mm toughened laminate glass with drop more than 500mm without handrail.
Are your balconies cut to size?
Yes, all of our products have to option to be customized in length.
What wood slabs do you use?
Our solid wood slabs are bespoken to the specifications to each project. Oak, Cherry, and Maple are the most popular types of hardwoods. When stairs are made out of these materials, they are considered “finish grade”. Alternatives can be used and powder coated to desired colour for an appealing appearance. These are finished with a 360 grit sandpaper for maximum smoothness.
Why should we consider staircase specialists?
As a major part of your properties architecture, understanding and specializing in staircases is similar to that of kitchen and bathroom design. Our specialists consider all variables of your property and thoroughly guide to the ideal solutions in terms of integration, budget, form, specifications and functionality.
Why should we consider staircase specialists?
As a major part of your properties architecture, understanding and specializing in staircases is similar to that of kitchen and bathroom design. Our specialists consider all variables of your property and thoroughly guide to the ideal solutions in terms of integration, budget, form, specifications and functionality.
What do I need to consider when implementing a new staircase?
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Space for stairs - Be aware of the amount of space allowed for a properly functioning staircase. This is an important limiting factor as it must follow strict building regulations.
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Stair Regulations - Flights should not exceed 37 stairs without containing a bend or landing. Spindles must be 100mm apart. At least one handrail on either side if the stairs are over one meter wide.
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Dust and disruption - Renovating or changing stairs is a big deal. As they see constant use, they require a timeless design to uphold the never ending use. During the change over process expect a numerous amount of particle dust and inconvenience.
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Materials - Depending on your aesthetic and intended functionality, wood is a fantastic traditional material intended for an "old school" appearance. On the other end, metal materials provide a contemporary piece which are growing in popularity due to recent incorporations with glass.
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Practicalities - Who is using the stairs? The need to be safe and easy to maneuverer is vital when it comes to the elderly and children.
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Budget - Your budget will determine what you may and may not do. Bespoken staircases can set you back by £20,000 whilst made to measure range roughly around £3,000. We constantly maintain a delicate balance between price friendly and high quality products for our customers.
Will you install it for me?
Of course, we offer fitting services both within the UK mainland and Europe with no hassle.
Will measurements be performed within my property?
We are adamant on ensuring all measurements are correctly undertaken and installed properly. We offer free on-site measurements up to 50 miles from our offices in Lymington.
Do you offer supply only?
Installation is not mandatory with our orders. As with all of our products we offer fully fabrication and delivery upon request. This is ideal for passing on our product onwards to third party contractors.
Does stainless Steel rust?
As with any metal, variables can drastically effect the corrosion rate of our products. Our products are coated with corrosion preventative additives to drastically slow down the process.
How soon can you deliver?
Depending on the product specifications, we can have you delivery at your door within a week depending various factors such as work load and location.
How is it delivered?
Unlike other companies, we send out experienced on house delivery crews to drop off your products.
Where can you deliver?
Stainless Steel Systems delivers nationwide within the UK. Furthermore, we also operate within Europe for special bespoken projects with our domestic and commercial partners.
What days do you operate?
We operate seven days a week, giving you the option to choose specific delivery dates for your convenience.
What are your opening hours?
Our phone lines are are open Monday - Saturday 8:00-18:00. Our on site crew and delivery team operate all days of the week from dawn till dusk.
Our order has arrived but its damaged
Notify our team as soon as possible, preferably the same delivery day.
Which system is right for me?
We understand how choosing a specific system may be a daunting experience for anyone. With this in mind, we are fully dedicated to ensuring you are confident about your choice no matter the product in mind. For further information refer to our guide or contact our team for advice.
Additional services
Choose any of our products and our team of experts would be glad to install it for you. However, we understand that on occasion, a simple delivery will suffice. With that in mind, we offer further advice and simple guides provided by our on-site and call support team when it comes to self-assembly.
Advice and project specifications
Customer transparency and confidence is always our priority. Alongside many years of experience designing, manufacturing and installing our aluminum, stainless steel, wood and glass products we are adamant in providing you with a hassle free experience, finding out what you need to know on the spot. Stainless Steel Systems is directly involved with every aspect of the production pipeline, so it goes without saying that any product, no matter the size or cost, will receive up most care and priority.