When we told our builders we wanted to use a curved staircase, they rolled their eyes and told us it would be very expensive (at least 15k).

Not to be put off, we got an estimate from Staircase and Millwork (used their online form) for a curved free-standing stair. After a few phone calls to refine the quote, we were in the 10k range (including delivery to the job-site) for a mostly free-standing, oak-tread stair with handrail and iron ballusters. We haven't built yet, so I can't comment on quality or delivery.

Good luck.

oak

Does the 14K include the rails, pickets, newells, and installation of the entire thing too? Can you provide more details - how many steps curved, how many straight steps, rails on each side, how many pickets and newell posts, what type of wood are the steps, risers, pickets, and posts? The details really matter when you are trying to figure out how much stairs costs - let alone curved ones.

I have 2 curved staircases in the house we are building. The main staircase has 17 steps, 8 of them curved. The second has 15 steps, 7 curved.

The rail package (installed) for both stairs was over 8 grand - and that was for basic no biggy painted pickets. When I wanted to upgrade the pickets to something a little nicer, the price jumped to over 11 grand because I needed a different type of rail to support the pickets.

The curved rails (4 pieces, 17' long each) accounted for 7 grand. The installation of the rails and pickets was about 2900 total for both stairs. The rest was stair parts.

I never saw the invoice for the stair cases since this was part of the base price of the house, but I believe that each staircase was 10 grand each. Each staircase was massive - all straight and curved steps integrated into 1 package and installed at one time by 8 guys.

So my total for 2 stairs plus the railings is probably in the 31K range. The steps and risers are made out of red oak. The pickets are poplar and painted. The newells and posts are red. This total did not include staining or finishing (add another 1600 or so for both stair cases)

Curved staircases are very expensive, but i found the railings were even worse. I would check into the cost of the mahogany rails. I bet you that this piece alone is between 1 to 2 thousand. The labor invloved in making curved rails is high - and you have chosen an expensive wood.

If the 14K is all inclusive for staircase, rails/pcikets/posts, and installation - then I am not surprised by this price.

Hope this helps.

It isn't too far off. Curved staircases are expensive no matter how you do it. If they are supported, they are a bit cheaper to construct. Floating curved stairs are even more.

For ornamentation - pickets are cheaper and easier to work with. Panelized metal railing on a curved stair case gets really really ugly.

I would estimate about 15-20K for curved staircase with pickets. Sometimes they are cheaper, but the average prices for the good curved stair manufacturers are about that price. Curved Metail panels with custom exotic wood handrail can easily send one stair case to about 40K+. . .

Thanks so much for the info. Don't you just love it when your builder rolls their eyes at a request you have?

We're undaunted as well, and I've already called Staircase and Millwork. (Nice folks, btw.)

Thank you again and good luck with your build. :)

Wow! Thanks so much for all of the help.
Maybe they are not so far off after all.
I knew it was going to be expensive. I think I might have been a little unrealistic.
I did find out that the mahogany hand rail does have a lot to do with why it is so much.
I think it is about 18 steps.
I also need to find out if this will include the hand rail and balausters on the balcony and the loft area over the Great Room. If so, it might not be a bad price for all of that...
Thank you all for the additional info. I just wanted to make sure costs do not get too out of hand.

To build a radius staircase in volves much more work than a traditional straight staircase the frame has to be built on a radius this involves gluing quarterage pieces of plywood Tewgether takes approximately 20 hours to build the frame all the treads have to be cut into a pie shape wider on one and then the other boards against the wall which is your skirts have to be bent into place same with the outside skirt your hand rails have to be glued on the job This tags approximately 10 to 15 hours

12 year old post..........................

How long is a piece of string...?

I wonder how many curves the OP envisioned...

That stair looks like it costs both arms, both legs, and your soul.

but worth it, minus your soul

Did you finish the stair? :)