Spindles and newel posts
Old balustrade out, new newels, spindles and base rails in, cut to the rake and fixed properly rather than pinned and filled.
Staircase renovation and new flights, cut on site.
New spindles, newel posts and handrails, glass or metal balustrade, oak cladding over tired treads, or a new flight altogether.
Cut and installed to the rake your stairs actually run at.
Cut to the pitch of your stairs, not a standard one.
A staircase is the first thing anyone sees in a hallway, and it is usually the last thing anybody gets round to. Most of the flights we work on are sound underneath and just tired on top: chipped spindles, a varnished handrail and carpet gripper marks down the strings.
Renovating is often the sensible answer. The strings and the treads stay where they are, the old balustrade comes out and new newels, spindles and handrail go in, cut and mitred to the pitch of the flight rather than installed square and packed.
Where a staircase genuinely needs replacing we will say so, and we will tell you what that involves before you commit to it. We also clad existing treads and risers in oak or painted timber where the structure is fine.
What we do to staircases
Most jobs are a combination of these rather than just one.
Handrails
Timber handrails cut, mitred and joined to the newels so the line runs continuously round a turn instead of stepping at the post.
Glass and metal balustrade
Glass panels in timber channel or clamps, and metal spindles or bar infill, set out so the gaps meet the regulations.
Tread and riser cladding
Oak or painted cladding over sound existing steps, with new nosings, so a carpeted flight becomes an open one.
New flights
A new staircase where the old one has had it, measured on site and installed with the strings scribed to the wall.
Understairs opened up
The cupboard under the stairs reworked into drawers, a desk or a cloakroom while we are already there.
One team, one point of contact
Staircase work usually drags in other trades. Lights need moving, plaster needs making good where the old base rail came off, and the hallway needs decorating afterwards. We bring our own people and handle the making good.
What that means for you
- Our own team on site, never a subcontracted crew
- Free design visit and a fixed written quote
- Cut and mitred to the pitch of your flight
- Balustrade gaps set out to meet the regulations
- NICEIC registered electrician for any lighting
- Plastering and making good handled
- Stairs usable at the end of every day
- Rubbish taken away and the hallway left clean
How a staircase job runs
Straightforward, and we tell you honestly if renovating is the wrong answer.
1
Design visit
We come out, check the flight over, measure the rake and the openings, and talk through spindle, handrail and infill options. Free, with nothing owed after.
2
Design and quote
Parts, finish and one written price covering the joinery, the making good and anything the electrician needs to do.
3
Install on site
Old balustrade out, new newels and rails cut to the rake and fixed, spindles or glass set out evenly, cladding installed where it is in the job.
4
Finish and hand over
Filled, sanded and primed or finished, everything checked for movement, rubbish taken away and the hallway left clean.
Recent staircase work
Every photograph here is a job in a North East home. Click any photo to open it full size.
What people say afterwards
Rated 5.0 on Google and Checkatrade, with every review answered personally.
We used Matt to install a kitchen we purchased from InHouse. Matt is an absolute perfectionist. The quality of his work is outstanding and his attention to detail is to be admired. The ability he has to make complex carpentry adjustments to ensure a perfect fit is amazing. He was joined by Cameron who worked equally as hard.
Chris EdgeCounty Durham
Had a challenging kitchen to fit and Matt did a very professional job. The workmanship is amazing and nothing was too much trouble. Would recommend to anybody.
Tracy AllisonNewcastle
The floor had rotted from a leak under the washing machine. Matt repaired it without hesitation and carried on. Tidy, polite and the finish is spot on.
Jeanette LawsonSunderland
Where we work on staircases
Based in County Durham and working right across the North East. If your town is not listed, ring us anyway.
Staircase questions we get asked
If yours is not here, ring and ask. We would rather tell you straight than have you find out halfway through.
How much does a staircase renovation cost?
Replacing the spindles, newel posts and handrail on a straight flight usually lands between a thousand and two and a half thousand pounds depending on the parts you choose. Cladding over existing treads and risers is on top of that. A full new staircase is a bigger job and priced on its own.
Can you change the spindles without replacing the whole staircase?
Yes, and that is most of what we do. The strings and the treads stay, the old spindles and newels come out and new ones go in, with the handrail cut and installed to the rake. It changes the look of a hallway without taking the stairs apart.
Do you install glass or metal balustrade?
Yes. Glass panels in timber or clamped fittings, and metal spindles or bar infill. We will tell you at the visit which works with the pitch of your stairs and what the building regulations need on the gaps.
Can you clad over the existing treads?
Usually. Oak or painted cladding over sound existing treads and risers is a common way to smarten a staircase up. If the treads are loose or the strings have gone we will say so rather than cover it.
How long does it take and can we still use the stairs?
Most spindle and handrail jobs take two to three days. You can use the stairs at the end of each day, and we leave a temporary handrail in place while the work is going on.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based in County Durham and work right across the North East, including Durham, Chester le Street, Seaham, Peterlee, Washington, Sunderland, Newcastle, Gateshead and Northumberland.
Book a free design visit
Send a photo of the staircase as it is now and a rough idea of the look you want, and we will come out, measure up and put a written price together.