Commercial Stair Types We Fabricate in Toronto
Every commercial stair below is drawn in CAD, reviewed by your engineer and architect, and welded in our Etobicoke shop before it reaches site, the same shop behind our residential custom staircases and railings in Toronto.
Retail Egress
Single and double-flight exit stairs for retail units, plazas and second-floor tenants. Usually pan-type steel with concrete-filled treads, abrasive nosings and 300mm handrail extensions. $18,000-$32,000 CAD.
Multi-Flight
Exit stairs through several storeys in mid-rise, rental and mixed-use buildings, built inside fire-rated enclosures. $45,000-$95,000.
Industrial Mezzanine
Steel stairs and guards for warehouse and manufacturing mezzanines, with checker plate or grating treads and industrial guards. $28,000-$65,000.
Hotel Feature
Design-led stairs for hotel lobbies, restaurants and showrooms: steel spines, hardwood treads, frameless glass or custom metalwork, following IIDA and ARIDO standards. $65,000-$185,000.
TSSA Guards
Guards and access stairs around regulated equipment, built to the requirements your mechanical engineer sets.
Fire-Rated Assemblies
Stair and guard assemblies inside rated exit enclosures, detailed so the fire separation stays intact.
Case Study: Willowdale Manor Rental Portfolio
We worked with the Willowdale Manor rental portfolio on Yonge Street to replace worn exit and common-area stairs across several buildings in 2023 and 2024. Each building got its own CAD drawing set, and every stair was fabricated and pre-assembled in Etobicoke so tenants lost access for as little time as possible. Temporary stairs kept exits open, and installs were scheduled around move-ins. The property manager kept us on for the full program.
We also did The Kingsway Estates on Bloor West, a custom curved staircase with hand-forged detail across the main foyer, and ended up on the property manager’s referral list for more buildings along Bloor West.
When to Bring Us In
- At design development, so stair dimensions, structure and finishes are coordinated before tender.
- When a stair package keeps slipping because an overseas fabricator’s lead time moved.
- For occupied buildings that need night or weekend installs.
- For feature stairs where the stair is part of the brand and needs a fabricator who can build what the designer drew.
Stair Construction Options Compared
| Type | Typical use | Treads | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pan-type steel | Exit stairs | Concrete-filled pans | Durable, quiet, easy to finish |
| C-channel stringer | Retail, industrial | Checker plate or grating | Fast to fabricate |
| HSS stringer | Feature and exterior | Steel, wood or stone | Clean modern profile |
| Steel spine | Feature stairs | Hardwood or stone | Design-led, needs P.Eng review |
What Moves a Commercial Stair Price
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Flights and storeys | More flights, more steel and install days |
| Stair type | Pan and channel lower; spine and feature stairs higher |
| Finishes | Hardwood, stone, glass and custom metal raise cost |
| Engineering | P.Eng stamped drawings itemised separately |
| Access and hours | After-hours and occupied-site installs add labour |
Code and Detail Notes
We fabricate to OBC Section 3.4 exits and Section 3.8 barrier-free design: uniform risers, continuous handrails with 300mm extensions, guards at code height, abrasive nosing and tactile walking surface indicators where required, and fire separation details for rated enclosures. Welding follows CWB certified welding practices, and structural elements are reviewed and stamped by a P.Eng where the design calls for it.
Commercial railings only? See our metal and iron railings and glass railings. Replacing a stair and railing together in a multi-residential building? Ask about our full staircase and railing replacement programs.
