WANTED.... Ideas? HELP!

There are definitely a lot of blacksmiths that do wrought iron work, custom that should work real nice for you, just dont know about pricing. Down the road, Ill probably try to learn some blacksmithing myself, but its not always worthwhile to do everything yourself. That copper idea sounds real good to me to, but as with everything, im sure you need a few tools to make it happen.

Hey, Jon! :D

We sorta put the tread protectors on the back burner... well, actually the treads themSELVES, too! Still operating on our construction stairs for the time being... so we still have time to look/think/make contacts.

Nope, we've managed to stay off Renovator's mailing list somehow... though it seems like we're on every OTHER list in the country! :lol: Are you saying they have something that might work?

Oh, and I think I did hear from Rik and Isabelle after this post. Isabelle and I corresponded about granite counters, and she sent a couple of photos of their basement kitchen. Looks great! But not sure if they got any log work done this summer, since I've not heard since construction weather started.

Drop me a note with the news from your end, Jon.

Sara :D

Hi Sara,
First look at the forum for three months or so. Why not see what Sara's looking for.

Find a solution to your stair treads?

I just got a new catalog from Renovator's a couple of days ago. www.rensup.com That's probably the one you mentioned. I'm surprised you escaped their list. They seem to send at least quarterly.

Any luck contacting Rik? I think I've got an email address.

Cheers,
Jon
Class of Oct '98

Cadillac Jack,

Thank you for the tip. We will give them a try. I have seen American Chopper on a few occasions but do not remember the company you have referred.

I am pretty sure somebody around our area will fabricate the stair treads we are looking for, but I am really surprised we have not been able to find them in stock somewhere. It seems to me cast iron stair tread nosing would still be popular with all the hardwood staircases being installed these days.

Anyway, thanks again for the tip on Orange County Ironworks.

Jeff Ambarian

Why not try Orange County Ironworks in New York. Rock Tavern New York to be exact. If you watch American Chopper series you know who I'm talking about. Sounds right up their alley.

Are you KIDDING, Steve?

I wrote to every Skipster I knew the DAY I got the notification, just to make SURE they also had heard! : ) I know a couple have joined, but except for Rod and Peg Weeks, none have participated so far. Have NOT heard from Rik and Isabelle since then, but I'll try to contact them again and see if I can "raise" them. :wink: Rik's a real hard-core wood "artiste" from the start they made on that house!

Also, I may still have some photos of their house around here. I'll hunt for you, Steve. :D

Sara

We are always reading everything! :lol: Heheh.

I don't remember them myself, but it sounds exciting. How about sending them an e-mail and letting them know about the forum? It's been really great having you and other members who have built already around here! Unfortunately Skip taught so few classes in the last 10 years (usually only one a year) so you folks who have built recently are hard to find. :)

Steve

Hello Andrew and Debbie!

Thanks for the suggestion! I think that angle iron might well work in our application, functionally, and I think it would be harmonious style-wise as well.

Another advantage in our particular home is that it would help delineate the edges of the steps visually, because we have solid drywall stair "railings" (what to you call the pony wall along the stairs if it's not open? I can't think what that would be?). And while we do have nice lights that shine from the wall down on the stairs for when it's actually dark in the house, with everything stained the same color, it could potentially be not that hard to "lose" a stair anytime if you weren't paying attention.

But the product Jeff's actually looking for is I THINK, a bit more than "just" a stair nosing. I can't recall where I've seen them in an old building (maybe New England or the Pac-Northwest somewhere?),but I DO remember seeing a patterned wrought iron sort-of nose/tread combo. I don't recall the details of how much of the step it covered or how it was recessed in or anything else. I just do remember looking down and noticing them somewhere, and I THINK that was actually the kind of product Jeff originally had in mind.

We'll look forward to hearing more about the house you're building (what part of Maine? my family has property in northern New Hampshire, so I'm familiar with Maine-- and love it there!)

Oh, and Steve and Ellsworth, if you're still reading this thread... speaking of cool stair details... do you guys know Rik and Isabelle, Skip grads from a number of years back who are building in north-central Washington somewhere (maybe Chelan/Cle Elum?) Last they sent me an update they were living in their basement, and hadn't started their logs yet... but it's been probably a year since I heard real news. Anyway, Rik's a hardcore craftsman, and he put in the COOLEST one-piece stacked slab stairs from the basement up to the first-floor-to-be. They have the look of solid stone steps in a castle. Never saw anything like them. :D

Sara

:?: While I am not completely sure of what you are looking for . The thought that comes to my mind is angle iron. It can be easily cut to length and pre drilled to accept fasteners of your choice. If the corner is too sharp a couple of passes with an angle grinder would quickly remidy that. :idea: It would also resemble wrought iron if finished in black. Let me know what you think!

:lol: Grafik Feat! :D

Thanks everyone for an interesting discussion!!!!

Steve White-- Jeff contacted the place in Connecticut, and they said, basically "Don't have 'em, have no idea where to get 'em."

Greg and GF-- Copper sounds like it could be a really great (and CHEAP-- I LIKE that!) material to consider. It's properties and wearing characteristics seem like they might be quite practical and attractive. Unfortunately, most of the hard architectural elements in this house are black or cast iron, and most of the hardware items are antique bronze, so the copper would probably look out of place in this house. I think the only other copper things in the whole place would be the bottoms of my pots and pans......... and come to think of it, they're often black as well! :oops: :lol: :lol:

Ellsworth and Steve L. -- Thanks for the contact info for ironwork/smithies (Steve, I owe you a PM. :D ) I think that IF we end up doing ANYTHING, we'd probably want to do something iron and black/dark. (Although when Jeff re-counted the number of actual steps he'd need to nose, I'm thinking that the "hundred-years'-wear" look might be growing on him again. :wink: )

I think that because we're both fond of the "this house has been here awhile" look, floor and stair wear is not a huge problem REALLY for either of us. We are happy with the minimally-finished spruce floor (which believe me got HEARTILY RUSTICATED during the construction process!) I think it's as much a matter of a potentially cool and unusual design element as it is Jeff's determination to NEVER replace a stair tread once they're in. (And Steve W., I do agree that we PROBABLY wouldn't ever have to.... besides, the more they start looking like New England stairs, the happier I'll be, and I think ACTUALLY Jeff might be, too. :wink: )

So THANK YOU ALL for all the great possibilities to think about! Great having this big "think tank" close at hand! :D

Take care, everybody--
Sara :D

Maybe copper flashing tacked down w/ brass "brads"? It is very mallable... In time may even take shape depending on traffic.

Personally I think worn wood looks better. Nothing reads user friendly to me than used. I liken protective hardware to plastic on sofas. But thats my opinion.

The copper pipe idea is intriguing: it could create a very nice “bull nose” effect. After a while it would develop a great patina too.

You could something similar with channel iron or angle iron. Angle iron would be the easiest I think. As a finish you could paint it flat black so it fits in with the decor, or get it powder coated :)

You could also use metal and just put it in the rain so it rusts. Once it is all rusty (looking nice and antique / ancient) then put on a coat of clear, hard epoxy or plastic. A local metal artist uses a thick coat of epoxy on his work, seals it just fine and holds up well from what I’ve seen (over several years). It comes out looking a little shiny on the surface, but you can see the rusted metal clearly and it's pretty neat. I believe the product he uses is made by Glow, and it is sold at Tap Plastics in Bellevue Washington (425) 861-0940.

Sara, I've been thinking this over, because I'll be using pine or half-logs for treads, as well; MAYBE :roll: you could cut a length of copper pipe in half or quarters lengthwise (any machine shop can do it on a bandsaw; I cut copper pipe with a mitre saw/100 tooth blade) and countersink some screws and glue it down. You'd have to rabbet and round the surface to accept the metal, so there wouldn't be a proud metal edge.. A router bit could do it one pass (beading bit). Copper and wood look nice; I have a deck railing of hewn log and copper pipe baluster; looks great.. and CHEAP! wow.. :lol:

Greg

Thanks, all, for brainstorming this through with us. :D I knew we'd get some good ideas from you all.

You have the little wheels turning in my brain now (don't mind the smoke! :wink: ), so we'll see what we can come up with.

I guess the FIRST thing we need to do, though, is replace the construction stairs with the permanent ones? :lol: I know Jeff's DREADING that! But the other day I think I saw him writing the list up for the guy who'll mill the stuff for us.

Thanks again. :D

Sara
(Who doesn't have hot running water yet, but DOES have indoor temporary cooking now that the gas company has hooked the service up! :D )

Hello Ambarian, what part of CA do you live in? I've lived both north(Mt. Shasta) and south(Kagel canyon). This is a longshot, but I worked with a guy(CA) who did welding/ornamental iron work as his side business. He was always doing rather unusual work. He build some "hangers" I requested for building a treehouse inbetween four trees. I still have his phone # doesn't hurt to call and ask. Also, just as Ellsworth and Steve mentioned, a "smithy" or someone who works with Iron may be you answer, check locally you may find someone! Steve L.

You could certainly have a blacksmith make you something that looked very nice, old and rustic.

Here in Seattle there are a few small forge shops where local blacksmiths work. Black Dog Forge is one of them and I've heard they do good work http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/pacificnw/2001/1209/living.html

I believe there are also some blacksmiths in Portland too. Perhaps http://www.americanblacksmith.com could help you out, or point you to someone closer to where you live.

Hmmm, that's a tall order. ;)

I went and poked around and found pretty much the same stuff you did -- all industrial/school looking stuff. You might have to have something made custom by a blacksmith or shop antique stores until you find what you are looking for. The good news is that it will take a long time for the stairs to wear down to "replacement" age. ;)

You might try United House Wrecking in Stamford, CT. They have all sorts of weird antiques and antique building materials. I've been there many times and it's exactly the sort of thing they would have...

http://www.unitedhousewrecking.com/

If anyone happens to be in Stamford and has a few hours to kill, I'd highly recommend visiting the store, even if you aren't looking to buy anything. They have lots of fascinating stuff, and they don't charge admission. ;)

Hope this helps...

Steve

Thanks, Reb. Good idea.

Personally, I don't have any trouble embracing the worn look. To me, the steeper and more worn the stairs, the more they remind me of happy times in old houses.

Jeff's okay, in PRINCIPLE, to accept curved stairs, too, probably. But I think his real ISSUE is the possibility of them wearing so much that he might have to actually REPLACE treads (depending on the wood we use, etc.). God forbid! :D

Sara

Contact Fine Homebuilding Magazine and see if they know of a supplier.

Though personally, the worn-down stairs in old homes are always my favorite thing. :) Embrace the curved step look! :)