A staircase is one of those jobs where a small mistake is felt every time you use it: one step a little higher than the rest so you trip, stairs so steep older guests won't use them, or a handrail that wobbles because it is only screwed to a lightweight wall. So Rong measures the real site first and divides the height into steps that are exactly equal all the way up.
On site he looks at the height from floor to the level you want to reach, how much floor space the stair can take (which decides how steep it will be), what the top and bottom fix into (a beam, a concrete slab, or which kind of wall), who will use the stairs every day, and for outdoor stairs, how much sun, rain and salt air they will get.
Common mistakes: squeezing a stair into too little space so it ends up too steep, treads too shallow to put your whole foot on, outdoor steps with a surface that turns slippery in the rain, and cutting an opening in an upper floor without checking whether it goes through a beam. If an existing floor or beam needs cutting, Rong will advise getting a structural engineer to look first.
For a quick opinion, send on LINE a photo of where the stairs will go, the top and bottom fixing points, a rough height and a location pin.
- Jobs start from
- 10,000 THB
- Team experience
- 30+ years
- Site survey
- Free
- Steel grade
- Your choice
Designs and options
Straight indoor staircase
Simple to build and comfortable to climb, if you have enough length. It takes up a long strip of floor. Force a straight stair into a short space and it becomes too steep.
L-shaped or turning stair with a landing
For tight spaces or tall floor heights. A landing gives a place to pause and makes the climb feel less steep. It uses more steel and welding than a straight stair, but it is the safer choice in homes with children or older people.
Stairs to a roof terrace or mezzanine
Often steeper than a main stair because they are used less and space is tight. They still need a handrail the full length. If a roof or roof-deck opening is involved, waterproofing around that opening has to be planned at the same time.
Outdoor stairs or fire escape
Exposed to sun, rain and wind all year, so treads must stay grippy when wet, the frame needs especially good rust protection, and the base should sit where water doesn't pool. For a fire escape on a building with specific requirements, such as a guesthouse or resort, an engineer or the local authority should confirm the details first.
Materials: the honest pros and cons
Structural steel (stringers, beams, posts)
Near the sea: depends on specPros
- Strong and can be shaped to fit the space
- Fits into an existing house without pouring concrete
Worth knowing
- Needs rust primer and paint everywhere, including welds and under the treads
- Outdoor stairs need repainting from time to time
Outdoor stairs at a beach house take salt air directly, so choose the rust-protection system carefully. You choose the steel grade, sizes and protection; Rong explains the pros and cons and it goes in the quotation.
Checker plate or steel grating treads
Near the sea: depends on specPros
- Very hard-wearing
- The raised pattern or grating grips, and grating lets rain drain through
Worth knowing
- Noisy to walk on
- Can rust and needs repainting
Suits outdoor stairs, roof access, and stairs in shops or warehouses.
Timber treads on a steel frame
Fine near the sea with upkeepPros
- Warm look that suits a home
- Quieter underfoot than steel
Worth knowing
- Real hardwood is expensive and needs watching for termites and damp
- Not suitable where stairs get rained on
Best for indoor stairs. Outdoors, Rong will usually suggest something more water-resistant.
Fibre cement or composite wood treads on a steel frame
Good near the seaPros
- Won't rot or rust and handles humidity
- Easier on the budget than real hardwood
Worth knowing
- Needs support spacing as the manufacturer specifies, or treads sag or crack
- Some surfaces are slippery when wet, so choose the finish carefully
The treads handle salt air, but the steel frame and screws still need rust protection.
How the price is worked out
Work starts from 10,000 THB, but there is no fixed price and we cannot give a real figure in advance. It depends on the site, the height, the stair shape, whether there is a landing, tread material, handrails, any floor cutting or new footings, and steel and material prices at the time, which change constantly. Rong does a free site survey first, then gives you a written, itemised quotation based on material prices at that time. Remote or boat-access locations such as Ko Lanta or Ko Phi Phi carry a travel fee, which is stated in the quotation before you agree to anything.
There is no fixed price. It depends on your site and on steel and material prices at the time. The site survey is free.
Included
- Site survey: measuring height and space, then proposing a suitable shape and steepness
- Written, itemised quotation
- Steel stair frame with rust primer and top coat
- Treads in the agreed material
- Handrails or safety rails, if listed in the quotation
- Clearing away debris when the job is finished
Not included
- Materials, if you choose a labour-only contract
- Cutting floors or beams, or strengthening the existing structure, unless listed in the quotation
- Structural engineer inspection or certification, if the site needs one
- Waterproofing around roof or roof-deck openings, unless listed in the quotation
- Electrical work and stair lighting, unless listed in the quotation
How a job with us runs
- 1
Send photos on LINE
Photos plus a location pin. Rong tells you early if the idea is realistic.
- 2
Free site survey
He checks the walls, the ground and where the rain will go — the things photos can’t show.
- 3
Written, itemised quote
Full contract (labour + materials) or labour-only. Nothing hidden in a lump sum.
- 4
30% deposit, then work starts
Only once you have agreed the design and price. Payment is by cash bill, no VAT invoice.
- 5
Walk-through before handover
We check every point with you. 1-year warranty under the conditions in the quote.
How long it takes
It depends on height, shape, tread material, and whether floor cutting or new footings are needed. Outdoor stairs may pause during rain, because welding and painting shouldn't be done on wet steel. Rong gives a timeline after the survey and it goes in the quote.
1-year warranty: what it covers
One year, under the site-specific conditions written into your quotation.
Covered
- Workmanship on the stair frame and fixings we installed
- 1-year warranty, under site-specific conditions written into your quotation.
Not covered
- Damage from misuse or later alterations
- Anything the quotation does not list as covered by the warranty.
Steel Staircases: questions we get asked
How steep should stairs be to feel comfortable?
There is no single figure for every house; it depends on the height and space you have. Rong's rule is that every riser is exactly the same height and every tread is deep enough for your whole foot. If the space is so short the stair would be too steep, he will suggest a turning stair or a landing. For dimensions required for a particular building type, ask your local municipality or OrBorTor.
We have elderly parents visiting. What kind of stair should we build?
Go for a gentle pitch, a landing if the height is large, non-slip treads, and a handrail that is easy to grip the whole way, ideally on both sides. The rails must fix into a solid frame, not just a lightweight wall.
What treads won't be slippery on outdoor stairs in the rainy season?
Checker plate or steel grating grips well and drains, but it is noisy and needs rust care. Fibre cement or composite treads don't rust, but you must pick a surface that isn't slippery when wet. Rong will go through the pros and cons for your site before you choose.
Can you add stairs up to my roof terrace if it means cutting the floor or roof?
It needs a site visit first. Cutting an opening may hit a beam, and any opening is a potential leak point. If existing structure has to be cut, get an engineer's advice beforehand; send photos on LINE to ask which parts of the job we can take on.
Can you replace an old rotten wooden staircase with steel?
Send us on LINE photos of the old stair, the top and bottom fixing points and a rough height. Rong will judge whether the existing fixing points can be reused or need rebuilding, then arrange a survey for the quotation.
How does payment work? Can I get a VAT invoice?
We take a 30% deposit before work starts, and the rest is paid as set out in the quotation. We issue a cash bill. We do not charge VAT and cannot issue a tax invoice, so if your company needs one, tell us before you book.
Read this before you build
Hiring a Contractor in Krabi as a Foreigner: A Practical GuideA practical guide for foreigners hiring a contractor in Krabi: comparable quotes, deposits, cash bills vs VAT invoices, warranties and working in English.
Do You Need Permission for a Carport or Extension in Krabi?A cautious general guide to permission for carports and extensions in Krabi: local offices, landlord and village approval, and when to use an engineer.
Stopping Rust on Steel Near the Sea in Ao Nang, Klong Muang and Ko LantaWhy steel rusts fast in Ao Nang, Klong Muang and Ko Lanta, and how to choose steel, coatings and details that stop it. Plus a simple maintenance routine.
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Steel-Frame Storage RoomsA steel-frame storeroom, laundry room or small office built beside the house on its own footings, with walls and roof chosen for how you will use it.