What is an open tread stair, and where can it be used?

Open tread means there is no riser plate between steps, so water, snow and debris fall through instead of collecting. It suits cellar access, roof landings, mechanical rooms and other back-of-house stairs; occupied interior stairs open to the public generally need closed risers.

How is the stair attached to the building?

Stringers are welded steel channel or angle, bolted to a ledger or landing at the top and set on a base plate anchored to the slab at the bottom. We field-measure the opening and rise before fabrication so the stair lands exactly where it needs to.

What finish do you put on the stairs?

Interior runs are shop-primed and painted. Stairs headed for a roof, exterior wall or unheated space are hot-dip galvanized so the weld seams and cut edges are protected along with the rest of the steel.

Product

Diamond Plate Open Tread Stairs

Name: Steel Masters NYC
Address: 135 Liberty Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11212, US
Telephone: (888) 577-8335
Price range: $$

Open tread stairs in diamond plate are the workhorse stair for cellars, roof landings and mechanical rooms - no risers to trap water or dirt, and a non-slip surface underfoot in every season.

We fabricate the stringers, treads and railings as one welded assembly in our Brooklyn shop, then set and anchor it on site.

Diamond plate open tread stairs are steel stairs built with a raised-pattern plate tread and no riser between steps, so the run sheds water and debris instead of collecting it. Steel Masters fabricates these stairs for NYC cellars, roof access, mechanical rooms and basement equipment areas where a closed, carpeted stair is not the right fit.

Why NYC Owners and Managers Choose Steel Masters

Welded stringer and tread assembly - channel or angle stringers with diamond plate treads welded on, not bolted, so the stair arrives as one rigid unit.
Non-slip surface, no separate nosing - the diamond pattern itself is the traction surface, so there is no abrasive strip to wear off or peel up.
Open risers shed water and debris - cellar and roof stairs stay clear of standing water, snow melt and shop dust that would sit on a closed tread.
Field-measured to the opening - rise, run and headroom are measured on site before fabrication so the stair fits the actual floor-to-floor height.
Pipe or picket railings included - handrails and guard rails are welded into the same assembly, built to the wall thickness and mounting condition on site.
Primed and painted, or galvanized - interior runs get a primer and finish coat; roof and exterior stairs are hot-dip galvanized for weather.
Fabricated and installed by one crew - built in our Brooklyn shop and set in place by Steel Masters installers, not handed off to a subcontractor.

Where Open Tread Stairs Fit

Cellar and basement access from a sidewalk hatch or interior opening, roof landings off a bulkhead or ladder, mechanical and boiler room platforms, and warehouse or garage stairs all call for an open tread stair. Because there is no riser, these stairs are lighter than a closed-tread equivalent, which matters on hung or cantilevered runs where the supporting structure has limited capacity. They are not the right choice for a stair open to public occupants, where code generally requires closed risers to stop a foot from slipping through.

Fabrication and Fit

Stringers are cut from steel channel or angle sized to the span and load, with diamond plate treads welded across at each step. Welds are ground where they show and the whole assembly is checked for square before it leaves the shop, so the stair does not need to be racked or shimmed into place on site.

On install, the top of the stair is bolted to a ledger, landing or existing framing, and the base is set on a plate anchored to the slab or footing below. We confirm rise and run against the field measurement taken before fabrication so the last step lands flush with the finished floor.

Finish Options

Interior stairs in heated cellars and mechanical rooms are shop-primed and finish painted. Stairs going to a roof, exterior wall or unheated space are hot-dip galvanized, which protects the weld seams and cut edges of the plate along with the rest of the steel rather than relying on a coating alone.

Every job is measured in the field and built to that opening - we fabricate in our own Brooklyn shop and install with our own crew, the same way we have since 1972.

- Steel Masters NYC, Brooklyn shop, 135 Liberty Ave

Related Steel Masters Product Lines

Interior Closed Tread Staircases - the closed-riser stair for occupied interior spaces
Galvanized Grating Fabrication - an open-mesh tread alternative to diamond plate
Switchback Stairs - multi-flight stairs when a straight run will not fit
Pipe & Staircase Railings - railings fabricated to match any stair we build

Serving All Five Boroughs, Long Island & Westchester

Steel Masters fabricates in Brooklyn at 135 Liberty Ave and installs with our own crews across Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island and Westchester. Call (888) 577-8335, send us your plans through shop drawings and plans, or contact us online for a quote on diamond plate open tread stairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Diamond plate gives you a non-slip walking surface without adding a separate abrasive nosing. The raised pattern stays grippy under wet boots, grease and dust, which is why it is the standard tread for cellar, roof and mechanical stairs.