Issue · 01
Run is too steep for code
IRC R311.7.5 · Rise ≤ 7¾″ · Run ≥ 10″
Old basement stairs rarely hit current rise/run. The inspector flags it on the framing inspection; we re-cut the geometry so it passes.
✦ Basement Stairs · Lehigh Valley
Finishing the basement?Your old stairwon't pass code.
When unfinished basements get finished, the original carpenter-built basement stair almost never makes the cut for code, comfort, or look. We build the new stair in our Whitehall shop and deliver it ready to set — your framing or finish crew sets it, and we install the railing system to code. Call us for a budget on the first call.
─── Call line
(610) 443-2240Budget on the first call · IRC-compliant
Do I need a new stair when I finish my basement?
Usually — the original carpenter-built basement stair rarely meets code for a finished space. We build the new stair in our Whitehall shop and deliver it ready for your crew to set, then install the code-compliant railing ourselves. Lead time is 4–6 weeks; railing install is 1–2 days.
Reviewed July 2026 · Nick & the Snyder Stairs team, Whitehall PA
- Est. 198739 yrs
- Family-Owned
- Veteran-Owned
- 4.8★ Verified
- Lehigh Valley
When finishing hits a stair problem
The four reasons builders call us mid-basement-finish.
Most basement renovations hit a stair problem somewhere between framing and drywall. Here's what we see most.
Issue · 02
No proper handrail system
IRC R311.7.8 · Graspable · 34–38″ · continuous
Code wants a graspable, continuous handrail at 34–38″. A 2×4 nailed to the wall isn't it — we build a proper railing system end to end.
Issue · 03
Open risers won't pass
IRC R311.7.5.1 · Open risers ≤ 4″ sphere
Open risers that pass a 4″ sphere fail in habitable space. We close the risers and finish them to match the basement floor.
Issue · 04
It just looks unfinished
Not code — but it reads cheap
Even when it passes, a 2×10 stringer with utility treads undercuts $50K of finished basement. We match the stair to the room.
Inspector-ready geometry, CAD on contract
Documentation & sign-off
Paper your inspector trusts — and a punch-list we close.
The code geometry is only half of it; the project runs on the drawings behind it. Here's what's on contract before we cut, and what stays true until the inspector signs off.
Day one
CAD drawings on contract
Plan, elevation, and section — the drawings your township needs, in hand before fabrication starts.
IRC R311.7
Built to current code
Rise, run, handrail height, and a graspable continuous rail — spec'd to pass, not to argue.
Drywall → finish
Timed to your finish window
We site-measure during framing and install between drywall and finish carpentry. No sequence delays.
Inspector signs
Punch-list closed
Our own crew, no outsourcing. We don't leave the job until it's inspect-ready and the inspector signs off.
Built in our Whitehall shop · family-owned since 1987
What's included
Everything in the basement-stair scope.
One contract, one crew — from the framing-window site measure to the CAD drawings your inspector signs off on. Family-owned since 1987, code-compliant on every job, and GC-friendly when the basement runs through a builder. Parts coordinated under one roof.
Free in-home site measure
We come out and measure the real opening — no guessing.
Design + selection help
Species, profile, iron pattern, finish — we guide it.
Built in our Whitehall shop
Built on our own floor — nothing outsourced.
Installed by our crew
Measure to install, all in-house. 1–2 days on site.
Same-day haul-away
We take the old stair and debris the day we finish.
5-year warranty
Something loosens later, we come back and fix it.
CAD on contract for complex stairs
Plan, elevation, and section — you sign off before we cut.
Crated to your framing date
Built to schedule and delivered when the framing's ready.
Basement installs run 3–5 days on site, demo included. Contractor pricing on every basement project — just tell us you're running the job.
How we do it
Built into your basement timeline.
Step 01 of 04Site measure during framing
We arrive after the rough opening is framed but before drywall. Measure the run, rise, finished floor heights, and confirm code clearances.
During framing
Step 02 of 04Spec the stair + railing
Pick wood species (matched to the basement floor), handrail profile, baluster pattern, finish. We provide the drawings your inspector needs to sign off.
3–5 days · written
Step 03 of 04Fabricate in our shop
4–6 weeks. Stringers, treads, and risers cut and finish-fit in Whitehall; newels, balusters, and handrail sourced from our suppliers and coordinated under one roof before delivery.
117 Franklin St · Whitehall
Step 04 of 04Deliver + install railing
The stair arrives crated, ready for your crew to set. We install the railing system — typically 1–2 days — and leave it inspect-ready.
Your home
What to expect
Six numbers we'll repeat on the project call.
Basement-stair questions span homeowners and GCs. Same six numbers either way — we tune the conversation to whoever's calling.
- 01Lead time4–6 weeks
- 02Deposit50% on contract
- 03Site measureFree · during framing
- 04Railing install1–2 days
- 05Code consultIncluded · inspector-ready
- 06We come backIf it's not right
“
Great from start to finish — they came out and measured for new stairs and railings, installed them in a timely manner, and had very competitive, reasonable pricing. It was always very easy to get someone on the phone whenever I called.
Frequently asked
Six questions, answered honestly.
Does my basement stair need to meet code?
Yes — once the basement is habitable space (which is what "finishing" means under IRC), the stair must meet rise/run, handrail-graspability, and riser-closure code. Most carpenter-built basement stairs from before 2000 fail at least one of these. Snyder builds to current IRC and provides the drawings your inspector needs to sign off. We coordinate directly with your inspector if helpful.
How does this fit into a basement finishing timeline?
We come out during framing — after the rough opening is set, before drywall — and measure. We schedule fabrication against your finish-carpentry date so the stair lands when you need it. Call us with your framing inspection date and finish-carpentry date — we line up the build against your schedule.
Can you work with my GC's schedule?
Yes — and we prefer it. Tell us the framing inspection date, the drywall date, and the finish-carpentry date. We slot install between drywall and finish carpentry. For builders working with us regularly, we share the schedule directly with your GC so the trades sequence correctly.
What if my basement is already partially finished?
We work in retrofit mode. Pull existing stair (sometimes the surrounding drywall section), prep the new opening, install. Adds time on site for demo + drywall patching. Call us with photos and we'll talk through the retrofit scope.
Will the new basement stair match the rest of the house?
If you want it to. Most homeowners spec the basement stair to match the basement floor (engineered hardwood is common) and skip the formal handrail of the upstairs main stair. For "showcase" basements (media rooms, gyms, secondary suites), we spec to match the main stair. Pick the level when we walk through the basement.
Is this homeowner-direct or do I need a GC?
Either works. Homeowners come to us directly (we coordinate with your finish-carpentry crew), and GCs bring us in on basement projects they're already running. Contractors get trade pricing — just call us.
Talk to a personStill have a question?
Homeowner finishing the basement?
We'll build to code, on your finishing timeline.
Most basement finishes hit a code problem with the original stair. Send us photos of the rough opening — we'll tell you whether the geometry works or whether you're better off replacing. CAD drawings on contract for your inspector.
- IRC compliant
- CAD drawings
- Same-day callback
Basement renovation
Bring us in early — we'll fit the stair to your timeline.
If you're framing or just finished framing your basement, send a few photos of the rough opening and existing stair. We'll come out during your project window — no delays.
Budget on the first call · (610) 443-2240 · Whitehall, PA
