Dramatic Spiral Staircase in Parker, CO on Deck is Crazy Practical

The custom spiral staircase on this TREX deck makes the view of this deck as spectacular as the one from it.

Interview with Shawn Vernon, Owner | Home Renonvations Colorado

A deck with a spiral staircase is one of those design elements that looks dramatic but also solves very real, practical problems—especially when space, elevation, and multiple access points are involved. This custom TREX deck project in Parker, Colorado is stunning for so many reasons. It combines a double-deck layout, a fully custom spiral staircase, and smart water-management details to create a functional outdoor living space that still feels open and elegant. The views from the upper deck are spectacular, and the layout makes full use of the elevation and surroundings.

Why do you love spiral staircases for decks?

I love spiral staircases for a lot of reasons. Number one, they don’t take up much space. If you tried to do a traditional straight run staircase on a deck like this, you’d be coming way out into the yard and cutting into the landscaping. Even if you turned it, you’d still be using a ton of room. A standard staircase can easily be five feet wide, and that adds up fast.

Spiral staircases are also very easy to get up and down. People tend to think they’ll be awkward or hard to use, but they’re actually really comfortable. You’ve got that center pole to hold onto, the outer railing, and you’re basically just rolling your hand around as you move. It feels very natural.

Are spiral staircases safe for kids and pets?

Absolutely. One of the first things people say is, “My dogs will never use that.” I’ve proven that wrong every single time. Dogs actually love spiral staircases. In my own house, I have a spiral staircase and a dog door in the basement, and my dogs still choose to walk up the spiral staircase to get to the kitchen sliding door instead of using the dog door.

They’re also very safe for kids because there’s so much to hold onto—center pole, outer rail, everything. Plus, we always add gates at the top for safety, whether it’s kids, pets, or just peace of mind.

Do you ever use off-the-shelf spiral staircase kits?

No. I won’t do kit spiral staircases. The ones you assemble and bolt together just aren’t solid enough for my standards. I’ve never found one on the market that I’d be comfortable installing.

Every spiral staircase we do is custom-made in one piece. That makes a huge difference in stability, precision, and overall quality.

What made this deck with spiral staircase more complex than most?

This one took a lot of planning because we were dealing with two different deck platforms. The upper deck comes right off the kitchen, and the lower level connects to a walkout basement. The homeowners wanted to be able to step outside on either level and still get all the way down to grade.

So we designed the spiral staircase to wrap in a way that allows you to come down from the upper deck, step onto the lower deck, and then continue down to the yard. It’s all one continuous, custom-fabricated staircase. That takes a lot of math and a lot of planning.

How do building codes factor into spiral staircases?

Spiral staircases have slightly different code requirements than standard stairs, but everything we do is fully to code. That includes head clearance, rise, run—everything.

You can’t be off by even half an inch on a spiral staircase. If you are, it just doesn’t work. Precision is critical.

How is a custom spiral staircase like this fabricated?

We design everything on the computer first to make sure every measurement is exact. Once that’s signed off, the staircase is fabricated as a single piece and then powder-coated. This staircase is black, but powder coating gives you thousands of color options. You can match almost any color palette you want.

I work with a vendor based in Kansas City, and this is all he does. He’s been doing spiral staircases for as long as I’ve been building decks. Even though he’s out of state, he does so many projects in Colorado that he’s here delivering at least twice a week.

In order for this double-deck staircase to be to code and seamlessly curve perfectly at the point so someone can step off onto the 1st level deck and continue down to the pad at grade level, took extremely precise measurements and a lot of math - a lot of math. It was worth it. It's really safe because of the construction, and that makes it even more spectacular.

What’s the timeline for building a deck with a spiral staircase like this?

Once the planning and measurements are finalized, the staircase itself can be built in about a week. Sometimes it’s just over a week from design approval to installation.

For a project like this—with a large double deck and a spiral staircase—the full build took about three to four weeks. For a deck of this size, that’s very efficient.

What materials were used for this deck?

This is a Trex deck with steel framing. The combination gives you durability, low maintenance, and long-term performance. Even four or five years after installation, this deck still looks like it was just built. Fun fact, when I worked for Trex, I was the builder that engineered the steel frame they patened, and I've used on thousands of Trex decks. I can't remember the name of the color exactly, but you can shop everything Trex has available on their website to start planning.

Can you explain the ceiling and drainage system under the upper deck?

Every deck board has a small gap for expansion and contraction. When it rains, water drops through those gaps. To make the lower deck usable even in bad weather, we created a sloped ceiling system underneath the upper deck.

Water flows onto a pan, then into a gutter, and finally down to grade. That means you can be on the lower deck during a downpour and stay completely dry.

We also installed low-voltage lighting and hard-wired can lights, so the whole space is well-lit and functional at night.

What are some of your favorite design details about this deck, other than the show-stopper staircase?

The railing has decorative baskets installed in every third baluster. They’re purely decorative, but they add a really nice visual detail that breaks up the lines of the railing.

The backyard faces west, so the upper deck has incredible mountain views and sunsets. It’s a perfect setup for outdoor living, especially in the evenings.