Metal stair contractor serving property managers, HOAs, general contractors, and homeowners across San Diego County. From structural C-channel exterior egress stairs on occupied apartment buildings to custom spiral staircases and architectural mono-stringers — fabricated in our El Cajon shop by father-and-son fabricators Luis Sr. and Luis Jr.
Plan phased stair replacements, address corroded stringers, or resolve city and insurance code inspection findings. Work directly with Luis Sr. and Luis Jr. on code-compliant structural steel staircases throughout San Diego County.
Property managers, HOA boards, and apartment owners who need compliant exterior egress stairs fabricated and installed — including corrective metal stair work arising from SB 721 or SB 326 inspection findings. We coordinate with tenants and property management teams on occupied properties, work in phases on large portfolios, and provide before-and-after photo documentation for remote owners.
Homeowners, architects, and general contractors who need a custom stair system that does what generic kits can’t — negotiating tight radii, irregular grades, hillside topography, and architectural details that demand fabrication from raw steel, not assembly from imported panels.
Most welding operations and handymen arrive with a portable welder in the back of a pickup and a few basic hand tools. San Diego Custom Iron Works is equipped differently.
The El Cajon fabrication facility operates three dedicated metal benders for compound radii, curved stringers, and spiral handrails, a hydraulic ironworker for punching clean anchor holes through structural steel plate, and industrial multi-cut chop saws capable of gang-cutting multiple steel profiles simultaneously — critical for maintaining exact geometric uniformity across repetitive multi-family stair runs.
For commercial exterior egress stairs, we fabricate heavy structural C-channel stringers with welded steel tread brackets engineered to support precast concrete treads. Precast steps provide multi-family properties with maximum weather resistance and allow for simple, modular replacement during future maintenance cycles without requiring wet concrete pours on occupied job sites.
“We can fabricate railings and stairs in large quantities — which is not only something a handyman cannot do, but not something any shop can do.”
What’s equally critical is operational ownership and dual quality control. As a father-and-son partnership, Luis Lazalde Sr. and Luis Lazalde Jr. are personally involved from the first on-site client meeting through gang-cutting in the shop to driving the final anchor bolt. Every welded stringer and tread bracket undergoes two tiers of certified inspection before finishing: “Somebody that understands the liabilities has to be there — and between my son and me, one of us is on every job.”
Four specialized stair services, each with dedicated project pages for scope details and specifications.
Single-flight exterior egress staircases, structural C-channel stringers, precast concrete tread systems, and corrective metal stair work arising from existing SB 721 or SB 326 inspection findings. Fabricated for occupied properties with full tenant safety protocols.
Commercial Exterior Stairs →
Fully welded exterior spiral and circular staircases for view decks, hillside transitions, and tight-footprint lofts. Continuous curved stringers and handrails rolled on our shop benders, transported on flatbed trailers, and hoisted into position with partner crane services.
Spiral & Circular Metal Stairs →
Center mono-stringers, double-channel structural steel stringers, and open-riser stair framing for architectural remodels and luxury new construction. The structural skeleton that makes a floating staircase float — fabricated in raw steel and finished to spec.
Metal stair repair and replacement for rusted stair stringers, corroded ground-level base plates, cracked precast concrete treads, and city or insurance code retrofit requirements. When internal rust has compromised the steel core, we tell you — and replace the entire flight.
Metal Stair Repair & Replacement →One of the most common questions property managers and building owners ask when facing deteriorated stair runs is whether sections can be spot-repaired or whether the entire flight must be condemned and rebuilt.
Luis recently evaluated a project in Pacific Beach — an aggressive marine environment where salt spray is constant. The railings were approximately 50 years old. Under ordinary conditions, that age triggers immediate replacement. But the owner had maintained them meticulously, repainting on schedule for decades. Luis inspected the assembly on-site and confirmed zero structural compromise in the posts, welds, or base anchors. The only issue was outdated picket spacing. The call: weld in intermediate bars to bring the existing system into code compliance. The steel was sound, and repair was the right answer.
Contrast that with the far more common scenario in 40–50 year-old San Diego complexes: ground-level base plate rot.
When stairs are installed before final site grading or where grade settlements cause water to pond at the bottom step, moisture sits permanently against the base mounting plate. Over time, corrosion rots out the anchor bolts, eats through the mounting plate, and migrates directly up the structural C-channel stringer.
“When you see a post or base plate rusted through — even if it’s just a couple of them — the rest are in similar condition, very close to collapsing. At that point, it’s a liability for me to just make a repair. When you touch something, you’re responsible for the whole thing.”
Repair is viable when the steel core is structurally sound and work is limited to code modifications. Replacement is mandatory when ground-level plates or stringer bases are compromised. We inspect both, give you an honest appraisal, and never recommend an unsafe patch.
Property managers and HOA boards don’t have time to manage contractors on site. We operate as a turnkey solution from initial evaluation to final sign-off.
Send photos via text or email. Luis Sr. and Luis Jr. evaluate scope, confirm fit, and provide preliminary feedback within 24 hours — before scheduling an on-site visit.
Precision laser measurements, substrate assessment, and footing layout assistance. For complex geometry — spirals, curves, tight radii — physical custom templates are built on-site before any shop cutting begins.
We check current supplier pricing for structural C-channel and architectural finishes to provide a clear, itemized proposal detailing your exact scope of work before fabrication begins.
All fabrication handled in our El Cajon facility under dual quality inspection. Coastal assemblies receive our dual-barrier finish: hot-dip galvanizing (ASTM A123) plus Super Durable powder coating (AAMA 2604).
Complete removal and recycling of old metal included in every proposal. Before-and-after photo packages delivered to managers and remote owners at completion.
Along San Diego’s coastal corridors — from Imperial Beach, Coronado, Point Loma, and Pacific Beach up to Del Mar and Oceanside — marine fog deposits corrosive salt chlorides onto exterior steel daily. Standard paint and commercial-grade powder pull thin over weld edges, trapping moisture and rusting steel from the inside out.
San Diego Custom Iron Works solves coastal corrosion with a comprehensive three-part defense:
1. Hot-Dip Galvanizing (ASTM A123) — Raw welded C-channel assemblies submerged in molten zinc at 840°F, creating a metallurgical bond that provides sacrificial cathodic rust defense.
2. Super Durable Powder Coating (AAMA 2604) — Sealed with outgassing epoxy primer and electrostatically baked at 400°F by our El Cajon finishing partner. Extends the maintenance cycle to 15–20+ years.
3. Marine-Grade Stainless Steel Fasteners — All coastal anchor bolts and structural hardware are marine-grade stainless steel to prevent anchor-hole rust creep.
| Performance Metric | Standard (AAMA 2603) | Super Durable (AAMA 2604) |
|---|---|---|
| UV Florida Exposure Test | 1 year | 5 years continuous |
| Salt Spray Resistance (ASTM B117) | ~1,000 hours | 3,000–4,000 hours |
| Gloss Retention | Chalks within 2–3 years | ≥ 30% after 5 years intense UV |
| Chalking Resistance (ASTM D4214) | Rapid fading | Rating 8 or higher |
Read how Luis Sr., Luis Jr., and our certified crew deliver meticulous stair fabrication, prompt communication, and strict code compliance across San Diego County.
San Diego Custom Iron Works serves property managers, HOAs, general contractors, and homeowners across all of San Diego County:
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.
For the broader range of custom ironwork, gates, doors, and metal fabrication, visit our Iron Works homepage.
