Aluminum Stairs
Find the Right Fit for Your Waterfront
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Looking for safe access to the water from your dock or shore?
Great Northern Docks’ aluminum stairs are the answer.
Our aluminum stairs’ open frame structure and porous treads let waves pass through. Thru-Flow treads, made from FRP, a type of reinforced plastic, are textured to give you traction even when they are wet.
Treads are almost a full foot wide, with a 7″ rise, making them comfortable to climb. Optional side railings have a large comfortable rail for adults on top, and a smaller rail for children at the lower level. Stairs come standard at a 30° angle with 3ft wide treads, and are made to order by the number of treads you need from 2 steps to unlimited steps.
The top sides can mount to Great Northern Docks’ Dura-LITE or Feather-LITE docks, a bulkhead, or most other platforms with the included adjustable connector. The bottom side has short adjustable pipes and feet included. If possible, these pipes should be driven into the lake bottom. If not possible, the stairs can be weighted with sand bags on the feet.
Our aluminum stairs are available as a single, welded run, or as individual modular segments.
One-Piece Aluminum Stairs up to 7 steps or Modular Aluminum Stairs for 8+ steps
Stair attachment and mounting methods
A vertical track at the top of all one-piece stairs on each side for the head of a 3/8″ carriage bolt. We use this for the ability to adjust the gap between the top of a 5″ Feather-LITE™ or 6″ Dura-LITE™ stationary dock frames and the first step of the stairs.
Optional Shore Mount Kit. This kit mounts to the vertical track at the top of the stairs and provides a pipe socket on each side for standing the stairs on our standard dock legs. The socket has set screws for height adjustment along with mounting pins for a small ramp that will provide an additional step on top and reach to the ground. The ramp can pivot on these pins while you adjust the height of your stairs.
Tabs. Tabs mount to the vertical track for bolting directly to the face of your existing dock, wall, deck, landing, or other platform.
Swing Up Hinge. Many customers in tidal areas want to swing their stairs up for storage and drop them back down when in use. The swing up hinge bolts to the end of the dock, pier, or bulkhead. The connecting pins can be taken out for removal or remain in to allow the stairs to be swung up.
Sectional, Marine-Grade, Modular Aluminum Stairs
The modular design allows these stairs and railings to be made with sections of 1, 2, or 3 step segments. This concept is more forgiving if you have a change in the gravel level in your location or if you are unsure about measurements. You also have the option of removing lower segments of your stairs to avoid winter ice movement. These sectional stair segments are easier to transport by hand to their final location and stack on a pallet for more affordable shipping.
Aluminum stairs’ appearance may vary slightly from what is shown in the portfolio as we continuously improve our products.
Plans & Estimated Pricing: Aluminum Frame Stairs
Calculate stairs for your waterfront.
Let’s Get Started!
- Select the location where you would like your stairs to begin. Typically, this is where a gang plank would rest to start your stair system. This installation assumes the use of a gang plank or retaining wall.
- Measure, as best you can, the vertical drop from your starting point on land, to where the stairs will rest on the water bottom. Record this drop in inches.
- Divide the vertical drop by 7( 49 ÷ 7 = 7 ). Subtract 1 from this number. This is the number of steps you will need for your stairs.
- Now measure out, from where the stairs will begin, the distance which you measured for in the previous step (for example, if you need 6 steps for your stairs, you measure out 6 feet). Mark this spot on your water bottom.
- Contact us for a Quote
Aluminum Stairs attachment options
- Ground/Shore Mount (Adjustable set screw socket receives driven pipes at stair top)
- Attach or our dock sections or landings (attach to frame track)
- Tabs for bolting (bolted to your structure flat plate)
- Pivot Hinge mounting brackets (bolt to your structure pin hinge)
Facts & Specs: Aluminum Dock
Stairs Aluminum Dock Stairs
Looking for safe access to your dock or the water?
Our aluminum 3 foot wide stairs provide comfortable steps with a 7 inch rise, 12 inch run, a gradual 30º slope, anti-slip surface and optional hand rails. Place on a bank to the shore with the optional Shore Mount Kit (#9700) and a ramp that closes the gap between your path and the top tread. Stairs can be attached to the top of a sea-wall or attach to the side of a dock. Leveling legs at the bottom end are included. The stair treads are made with perforated decking, (fiberglass reinforced polypropylene) with a perforated surface that allows waves to break up through and its anti-slip texture feels good under your feet. Your stairs can be ordered by the number of treads required for your specific application.
To determine the number of steps for your stairs. measure the height from the top to the bottom in inches. take that number and divide it by the number 7. Take that number and subtract one. The answer is the number of steps you’ll need.
We step down from the dock onto our first step and this is why we ask you to subtract one.
when measuring for your stairs, remember that each step is 12″ away from your top platform. “For example” If you calculated 8 steps, you want to measure the height 8′ away from the platform. divide that number by our 7″ rise in each step and the answer should be close to 9Locating the spot 8′ away from the platform can be done with a long straight board extended off the top of the platform with a level.Our stairs are fixed at 30º so in some places a landing or ramp is needed to extend over and above before the stairs can pitch downward to the ground level.
We know this can be a challenge in many locations so don’t hesitate to call with your questions.
Sectional Stair Design
The new design is your stairs and railings made with sections of 1, 2 or 3 step segments. This concept is more forgiving if you have a change in the gravel level in your location or measure incorrectly when ordering. You also have the option of removing the bottom end of your stairs for winter ice movement. These sectional stair segments are easy to transport by hand into the location and they stack on a pallet for affordable shipping.
