San Diego Custom Iron Works fabricates and installs structural exterior metal stairs for apartment complexes, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and multi-family HOA communities across San Diego County. From heavy-duty C-channel steel stringers paired with weather-resistant precast concrete treads to complete exterior egress replacements arising from inspection findings, every project is built by father-and-son fabricators Luis Lazalde Sr. and Luis Lazalde Jr. — combining 30 years of master craftsmanship with generational continuity. Explore our complete custom fabrication capabilities as a licensed C-23 San Diego stair contractor.
Plan phased stair replacements, address corroded steel stringers, or resolve city and insurance inspection findings. Work directly with Luis Sr. and Luis Jr. on code-compliant structural steel staircases throughout San Diego County.
Replacing corroded, unsafe exterior walkways and stair flights on occupied two-story and three-story residential communities. We handle the structural demolition, haul-away, C-channel steel fabrication, precast tread setting, and dual-rail safety barrier installation with minimal disruption to tenant access.
Fabricating primary public entry stairs, mechanical penthouse access runs, loading dock stairways, and heavy-duty egress systems designed to IBC Chapter 10 and OSHA 1910.25 standards.
When replacing exterior stairs on San Diego multi-family properties, material selection directly determines operational lifespan and maintenance overhead. Thin sheet-metal pan stairs filled with wet-poured concrete often trap moisture beneath the tread surface, leading to hidden internal rust and early structural failure.
Our primary specification for commercial multi-family exterior stairs pairs structural steel C-channel stringers with heavy-duty precast concrete treads:
San Diego’s coastal climate presents severe environmental challenges for exterior steel structures. Atmospheric airborne chlorides, high relative humidity, and UV exposure rapidly oxidize unprotected carbon steel, causing paint flaking, base-plate rot, and structural section loss.
Building codes for commercial stairways exist to prevent catastrophic falls and ensure rapid, unobstructed egress during emergency evacuations.
| Compliance Metric | IBC Chapter 10 (Public & Multi-Family Egress) | OSHA 1910.25 (Industrial & Workplace Access) |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Riser Height | 7.0 inches (18.0 cm) max | 9.5 inches (24.1 cm) max |
| Minimum Tread Depth | 11.0 inches (28.0 cm) min | 9.5 inches (24.1 cm) min |
| Dimensional Uniformity | Max 3/8" variance across entire flight | Standard industrial tolerance |
| Minimum Clear Width | 44 inches (>50 occupants) / 36 inches (<50) | 22 inches minimum clear width |
| Maximum Vertical Rise | 12 feet (144") before intermediate landing | Landing required for extended runs |
| Headroom Clearance | 80 inches (203 cm) continuous vertical clearance | 80 inches continuous vertical clearance |
Safety research demonstrates that pedestrians negotiate stairways primarily by gait rhythm, visually inspecting only the top three and bottom three steps of a flight. Inconsistent step geometry causes three primary stumble mechanisms: understep (striking the riser), overstep (ball of foot slipping off nosing), and air step (completely missing a tread).
We can address these safety liabilities through three engineered features:
Commercial outdoor stairways require two separate safety barriers working in unison: a 42-inch high structural guardrail to prevent high-level perimeter falls, and a lower 34-to-38-inch graspable handrail for continuous physical leverage during travel.
During our on-site evaluation, we assess the condition of existing steel framing and treads to determine the safest, most practical solution based on visible corrosion and your property's inspection findings:
Surface rust on handrails, localized tread brackets with minor surface oxidation, or individual cracked precast concrete treads where the main C-channel stringer retains solid wall thickness.
Individual concrete treads can be unbolted and replaced in under an hour without disturbing the structural steel frame.
When structural corrosion penetrates the primary steel stringer web or when base-plate anchors lose solid concrete embedment, localized spot welding is often insufficient to restore structural integrity.
In these severely compromised cases, replacing the flight with a new C-channel steel stair assembly restores safety to your property's exterior egress.
Read how Luis Sr., Luis Jr., and our certified crew deliver meticulous iron craftsmanship, prompt communication, and dependable service across San Diego County.
Clear, expert answers to common commercial stair engineering, cost, and code questions.
Most multi-family exterior stair replacements are completed in 3 to 5 business days on site following shop fabrication. On-site demolition and structural C-channel stringer erection typically take 1 to 2 days, followed by precast tread setting and handrail anchoring. Shop fabrication and hot-dip galvanizing require 2 to 3 weeks prior to jobsite mobilization.
Precast concrete treads provide a solid, whisper-quiet walking surface that eliminates the hollow metallic clatter of steel treads. More importantly, precast concrete treads do not trap standing water beneath sheet-metal pans, preventing the hidden underside rust that causes premature pan failure. If a precast tread is ever damaged, it can be unbolted and replaced individually in less than an hour.
IBC Chapter 10 governs public commercial and multi-family egress stairs, enforcing a strict 7-inch maximum riser height, 11-inch minimum tread depth, and 44-inch minimum clear width. OSHA 1910.24 governs private industrial workplace stairs (factory floors, equipment platforms), allowing steeper 9.5-inch risers and 9.5-inch treads on compact 30° to 35° inclines.
Yes. While San Diego Custom Iron Works does not perform statutory inspections or issue inspection reports, we specialize in fabricating and installing the corrective structural metalwork, steel stringers, precast treads, and code-compliant guardrails specified in your engineer's or inspector's corrective report.
For coastal properties, we recommend ASTM A123 hot-dip galvanizing, which bonds a protective zinc alloy layer to the steel that resists salt-air corrosion for 30 to 50+ years. We also use Type 316 stainless steel mounting hardware and non-conductive neoprene isolation barriers to prevent galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals.
Providing turnkey fabrication, replacement, and installation for commercial properties, apartments, and HOAs in every San Diego community:
Luis Lazalde Sr. started working in his father’s metal shop at 13, continuing a documented lineage through generations of “Herrera” — the Spanish trade designation for metalworker. Today, working alongside his son Luis Lazalde Jr., the family brings dual quality control, certified structural welding, and generational continuity to every project. We visit your property across San Diego County for precise laser measuring, code clearance verification, and accurate written estimates within 24–48 hours.
