FI T T S HI S T O RY F or more than half a century the Fitts name has been associated with quality in the woodworking industry. Founded in 1947, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Frank Fitts, Jr., initiated a standard of fine craftsmanship and quality service as a manufacturer of precision wood components. His talents as a wood smith and his d e dication to principle were a strong foundation for what Fitts Industries, Inc. has become today. M o re than 50 years later the current Fitts family operates on those same principles manufacturing some of the finest stair parts on the market. Our success is based on a vertically integrated s t ru c t u re that includes: the process and storage of g reen lumber, on site kiln drying operations, state of the art compu-rip operation, lathe and moulder operations and East Coast and West Coast ware h o u s i n g facilities that effectively supply our customers. Frank Fitts, Jr. Circa 1947 Fitts Industries mission is to be a world leader in the wood products industry. By committing to people, t e c h n o l o g y, and a never-ending process of impro v e- ment, we will provide our customers the highest level of quality and serv i c e. Fitts Industries Lathe Department Circa 1948 LE W I S FI T T S FR A N K FI T T S, III
TA B L E OF CO N T E N T S The Basics Hardwood Quick Reference Hemlock Quick Reference Wrought Iron Quick Reference Traditional Post-to-Post & Over-the-Post Lexington Post-to-Post & Over-the-Post Madison Post-to-Post & Over-the-Post Hampton Post-to-Post & Over-the-Post Louisville Post-to-Post Mission Post-to-Post Box Newels Mini-Canterbury Post-to-Post & Over-the-Post Canterbury Post-to-Post & Over-the-Post Mini-Sheraton Post-to-Post & Over-the-Post Sheraton Post-to-Post & Over-the-Post Hardwood Fittings Hardwood Transitional Fittings Hardwood Gooseneck Fittings Hardwood Starting Steps & Tread Caps Treads, Risers & Accessories Accessories Installation Manual Hemlock Traditional Post-to-Post & Over-the-Post Hemlock Hampton Post-to-Post Hemlock Mission Post-to-Post Hemlock Fittings Hemlock Transitional Fittings Treads, Risers, Starting Steps & Tread Caps Accessories FAQs & Product Finishes Wrought Iron Balusters & Stair Parts Burgundy Round & Bordeaux Burgundy & Versailles Quick Installation Reference Iron Newels, Shoes, Knuckles & Handrails Box Newels with Wrought Iron Inlays Newel Selection Baluster Selection Fittings Selection Post-to-Post Suggested Newel & Baluster Components Over-the-Post Suggested Newel & Baluster Components Wood Species pg.2-3 pg.4-5 pg.6-7 pg.8-9 pg.12-13 pg.14-15 pg.16-17 pg.18-19 pg.20 pg.21 pg.22 pg.24-25 pg.26-27 pg.30-31 pg.32-33 pg.34 pg.35 pg.36 pg.37 pg.38 pg.39 pg.40 pg.42-43 pg.44 pg.45 pg.46 pg.47 pg.38 pg.39 pg.51 pg.52-53 pg.54 pg.55 pg.56 pg.57 pg.58 pg.59 pg.60 pg.61 pg.62-63 pg.63-64 pg.64
TH E BA S I C S Stairs are one of the most architecturally significant features of the home, and at the same time one of the most difficult features to design. For the novice or the beginner, there are several things to take into consideration when choosing the correct stair system for your home: PO S T T O PO S T V S. OV E R T H E PO S T 2
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HA R D W O O D QU I C K RE F E R E N C E 4
HA R D W O O D QU I C K RE F E R E N C E 5
HE M L O C K QU I C K RE F E R E N C E 6
HE M L O C K QU I C K RE F E R E N C E 7
WR O U G H T IR O N QU I C K RE F E R E N C E 8
WR O U G H T IR O N QU I C K RE F E R E N C E 9
E.Coast_Catalog.qxd 11/29/05 3:15 PM Page 13 HARDWOOD PHOTOS Inspiration & Imagination 10
A R C H I T E C T U R A L LY C O R R E C T E L E G A N T S T Y L I N G Q U A L I T Y S TA I R P A R T S H I G H P E R F O R M A N C E Hardwood STA I R PA RT S
TR A D I T I O N A L 12
TR A D I T I O N A L 13
LE X I N G T O N 14
LE X I N G T O N 15
MA D I S O N 16
MA D I S O N 17
HA M P T O N 18
HA M P T O N 19
LO U I S V I L L E 20
MI S S I O N 21
BO X NE W E L S 22
I N F I N I T E D E S I G N O P T I O N S Q U A L I T Y C R A F T S M A N S H I P G R A C E F U L S T Y L I N G R I C H D E T A I L S STA I R PA RT S
MI N I- C A N T E R B U RY 24
MI N I- C A N T E R B U RY 25
CA N T E R B U RY 26
CA N T E R B U RY 27
E.Coast_Catalog.qxd 11/29/05 3:15 PM Page 31 S H E R AT O N & M I N I - S H E R AT O N P H O T O S 1 1. Mini-Sheraton 2. Sheraton (photo provided by United Rockland Stairs, Suffern, New York) 3. Sheraton 2 28 3
D E S I G N P A T E N T E D S Y S T E M C L A S S I C A L S T Y L E S O P H I S T I C A T E D & C H A R M I N G Shera on STA I R PA RT S
MI N I- S H E R AT O N 30
MI N I- S H E R AT O N 31
SH E R AT O N 32
SH E R AT O N 33
HA R D W O O D FI T T I N G S 34
HA R D W O O D FI T T I N G S 35
HA R D W O O D FI T T I N G S 36
HA R D W O O D STA RT I N G ST E P S & TR E A D CA P S 37
TR E A D S, RI S E R S & AC C E S S O R I E S 38
AC C E S S O R I E S 39
IN S TA L L AT I O N MA N U A L E A S Y T O R E A D H E A V Y D U T Y C L E A N I L L U S T R A T I O N S 40
F L A W L E S S & S T AT E LY O L D W O R L D C H A R M G R A C E F U L C U R V E S & L I N E S C A S U A L E L E G A N C E Hemlock STA I R PA RT S
HE M L O C K TR A D I T I O N A L 42
HE M L O C K TR A D I T I O N A L 43
HE M L O C K HA M P T O N 44
HE M L O C K MI S S I O N ST Y L E 45
HE M L O C K FI T T I N G S 46
HE M L O C K FI T T I N G S 47
HE M L O C K TR E A D S, RI S E R S, STA RT I N G ST E P S & TR E A D CA P S 48
E U R O P E A N S T Y L E A N D E L E G A N C E I N F I N I T E D E S I G N O P T I O N S S I X E L E G A N T O P T I O N S Q U A L I T Y PA R T S STA I R PA RT S
WR O U G H T IR O N PH O T O S Beau ifully Designed Photos furished by Cleary Millwork 50
EU R O P E A N ST Y L E & EL E G A N C E European S yle & Elegance For centuries, artisans have hammered and formed wrought iron. Through the ages blacksmiths mastered their trade to create ornate designs that became a staple of European style and elegance. Produc Finishes Six Elegant Finish styles to choose from Black Black Satin Black Silver Antique Bronze Antique Nickel Oil Rubbed Bronze Balusters are 1/2 inch or 9/16 inch respectively, and come in a 44 inch length. (Balusters are trimmed from the bottom to maintain the consistency of the pattern according to the rake of the stair.) All Fitts Industries, Inc. balusters come with a 1/2 inch round pin top for easy installation in wood handrail. 51
IR O N BA L U S T E R S 52
IR O N BA L U S T E R S 53
BU R G U N D Y RO U N D & BO R D E A U X 54
BU R G U N D Y & VE R S A I L L E S 55
QU I C K IN S TA L L AT I O N RE F E R E N C E 56
IR O N NE W E L S, SH O E S, KN U C K L E S & HA N D R A I L S 57
BO X NE W E L S W I T H WR O U G H T IR O N IN L AY S Three Elegant Finish styles to choose from Black Black Silver Antique Bronze 58
NE W E L SE L E C T I O N Newels are designed to work in Post-to-Post or Over-the-Post applications. Post-to-Post newels have top square sections designed to accept handrails, which often times are arriving at the newels at differing rake angles. Over-the-Post Newels are designed with a series of pin tops that will accept fittings. Fittings handle the changes in rake angle and run over the posts. In a classic L-Shaped stair, there are three variations of newel post commonly used: 59
BA L U S T E R SE L E C T I O N Fitts Industries, Inc. balusters have been designed in families, so each newel pattern has one or more corresponding baluster turnings that work in conjunction with the newels. Most questions arise with what baluster length structure to use. Fitts Industries, Inc. has developed what we call an Architecturally Correct Alternative where balusters will work in a 34-36" rake rail height with the patterns that will not only pass with building codes 4-inch sphere rule, but will maintain architectural alignment throughout the stair. In many cases, the 6-inch sphere rule was minimized to a 4-inch sphere rule, certain systems changed from a two baluster per tread to a three baluster per tread layout. Geometrically, this changed the way the patterns would work in a Rail Oriented System. So, in June of 2001 Fitts Industries, Inc. began altering length structures so we could provide an Architecturally Correct Alternative for those customers who prefer Tread Oriented Systems. A simplified table of baluster & newel options can be found on pages 54-59. 60
FI T T I N G S SE L E C T I O N S Fittings are designed to provide the necessary changes in rake angles in handrail and provide a continuous gripping surface throughout the stair. Fitts Industries, Inc. offers fittings in five handrail profiles: F6010, F6210,F6310, F6410 and F6710. Fittings are designed in three major families: 61
PO S T-T O- PO S T SU G G E S T E D NE W E L & BA L U S T E R CO M P O N E N T S 62
PO S T-T O- PO S T SU G G E S T E D NE W E L & BA L U S T E R CO M P O N E N T S 63
OV E R-T H E- PO S T SU G G E S T E D NE W E L & BA L U S T E R CO M P O N E N T S 64
OV E R-T H E- PO S T SU G G E S T E D NE W E L & BA L U S T E R CO M P O N E N T S & WO O D SP E C I E S 65