FAQ

Your questions, our answers.

All ARKE products are stocked in our warehouses in the US market and are shipped to arrive anywhere in the contiguous United States within 10 days from the time your order is placed and your payment is authorized. Canadian deliveries could take up to three weeks to be delivered due to customs clearance for these shipments.
There are four basic questions you need to answer to determine which product to purchase. These are as follows:
  1. Is the installation for an interior application OR an exterior application?
  2. What is the total size of the space available for the installation? It is recommended that the finished space available is at least two inches greater than the total diameter of the spiral staircase or total width of the modular staircase. This will allow for clear passage of the handrail and eliminate a “pinch point” of the handrail against a wall or upper floor opening.
  3. What is the total height, in inches, for the planned installation? This measurement should be completed from "finished floor" on the bottom level to the "finished floor" on the upper level.
  4. Do you want wood stair treads or metal stair treads?
By answering these four simple questions, you will be able to choose the best ARKE staircase to fit your needs.
It is recommended that the finished space available is at least two inches greater than the total diameter of the spiral staircase or total width of the modular staircase. This will allow for clear passage of the handrail and eliminate a “pinch point” of the handrail against a wall or upper floor opening.
The ARKE staircase kit is a Do-It Yourself project and can easily be installed by the homeowner with common household tools. Most installations can be accomplished in a single day.
The ARKE staircase kits stocked in our US warehouses are only available in a natural, light stain finish with a polyurethane protective coating. You can choose from either European Beech wood or European Red Oak treads depending on the model. Additional stain colors are available on a Special Order basis directly from our factories in Italy. Special Orders generally have a lead time of 12-14 weeks to be delivered from the time of purchase.
Yes, this can be done by building the bottom staircase and securing the landing for structural integrity. The second stair kit can then be built upon that landing.
Yes. The Eureka series of exterior spiral staircase kits is available in three finished colors…Hi-Gloss Black, Hi-Gloss White, or Satin Grey. These are all premium powder coated paint finishes that will withstand the environmental conditions for exterior installations.
The Enduro Steel spiral staircase is protected by a hot-dipped galvanized finish to provide years of maintenance free use. It is not recommend to paint the Enduro Steel model, but instead choose the Eureka finish painted spiral staircase for your exterior project. However, if you must paint the Enduro Steel model, the following steps should be followed:
  • Allow the Enduro Steel model to be installed for at least 6 months to allow it to oxidize.
  • Remove the oxidation from the steel.
  • Paint the unit with an industrial grade primer. We recommend a minimum of two coats of an industrial grade primer.
  • Allow at least one week for the industrial grade primer to dry completely.
  • Finish paint the unit with finish metal paint. We recommend a minimum of two coats of finish paint of the color of your choice.
  • Regular maintenance by touching up with metal paint of any nicks and scratches will help to prevent rusting.
Additional handrail options and wood tread stain colors are available on a Special Order basis directly from our factories in Italy. Special Orders generally have a lead time of 12-14 weeks to be delivered from the time of purchase.
All of the ARKE 5’ 3” diameter spiral staircase kits will meet the currently established IRC building code requirements. However you should always check with your local building authority regarding any possible codes that are specific to your geographic area or municipality.
The standard spiral staircase kits are designed to make a complete 360 degree turn. Therefore, the first step will be directly underneath the landing. You can use our stair builder configurator program on our website for the model of your choice and print a document on your printer to show you the position of each stair tread for the height and dimensions of your project.
The triangular landing design of our standard staircase kits is designed to be a universal landing that will fit a round, rectangular, and/or a mezzanine style opening. Additional style landing are available on a Special Order basis directly from our factories in Italy. Special Orders generally have a lead time of 12-14 weeks to be delivered from the time of purchase.
Yes. The Kalypto Child Safety gate is available for your purchase and can be installed on any of the ARKE staircase kits for interior installations.
ARKE offers only one length of support pole for the Kompact staircase kit. Generally, in most installations this is the only additional support that is needed. However, in some installations if additional support is needed or desired, you can have this manufactured by a local supplier to the height desired. ARKE offers that necessary connection part that will allow it to be attached to the metal structure of the staircase at this additional support position.
All the stairkits come with concrete molly anchors. If you are securing the kit into wood, please replace those with similar sized lag bolts. The "tools needed" page of our manual show strange looking metric drills. These are masonry bits for concrete. If you are securing into wood use a regular drill appropriate to the size of the lag bolts you just purchased.
Most people will pour a pad the same diameter as the stairkit. This allows for the 8 3/4" diameter base plate to be secured, as well as the FO1 "foot" holding in place the very first baluster on the bottom step. The depth of the pad would depend on frost and climate conditions in your area, and might require checking with your local inspector.

 

Glossary of Stair Terms

    • Tread going: The step that you walk on
    • Tread rise: The vertical height between the top of one tread to the next

    • Pitch line: The angle of the stair measured from the front of each tread shows how steep the stair is. Particularly relevant for modular and spacesaver stairs.

    • Staircase going: The overall length of the staircase along the floor

    • Floor to floor height: The height the staircase will rise from each finished floor to the next

    • Floor to ceiling height: The height from the finished floor to the underside of the ceiling

    • Stairwell: The opening in the floor in which the staircase will be situated

    • Clear tread width: The walking width between handrail to handrail or handrail to center column

    • Baluster or spindle: The vertical post connecting the tread to the handrail

    • Landing balustrade: The balustrade protecting the stairwell

    • Landing tread Balustrade: The balustrade on the landing tread

    • Stairwell balustrade: The balustrade protecting the stairwell

    • Diameter: The overall width of a spiral staircase (outer edge to edge)

    • Landing tread: The top step of a spiral staircase connecting the landing to the centre column

    • Winder: A shaped tread which forms a turn in a straight staircase. Usually three or four treads create a quarter or 90 degree turn.

    • Modular: A straight staircase which can also have one or two quarter turns inserted, supplied in component form.

    • Spiral stair: A circular staircase where the treads rotate around a centre column

    • Helical stair: A circular or curving staircase where the treads rotate around a central void

    • Dog-leg stair: A straight staircase with one quarter turn

  • Riserbar: A bar or strip which is inserted between the treads of an open plan staircase. This should ensure that the gap between the treads is less than 100mm (4″) to comply with the Building Regulations gap rule