Stairs Renovation

Remodeling the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and other important areas not only gives a new look to your house but is necessary for maintenance too. However, many homeowners tend to ignore the staircase, which goes through constant wear and tear during its lifetime. Not only does a staircase connect the upper portion of your house to the ground, but it also makes a statement. Even a simple staircase can add a modern touch and sophistication to your house.

Look for any cracks or chipping/peeling paint on your staircase. Maybe the carpet on your staircase has become very dirty, and you may need to switch to tiles. If your staircase needs a renovation, you must not delay it. If your budget allows, you can call a professional contractor to do it. But if you have enough time and skills, you can renovate the staircase yourself. You can design it whatever way you like without spending a fortune. Here are some steps to make staircase renovation easy and perfect for you.

Plan First

Before renovating any part of your house, you need to decide what you have to change. Ask yourself the important questions. Do you want a tiled or carpet staircase? Do you want a newel post of a new design or change the handrails? Do you want to re-do the steps? Or are you interested in winder steps? Winder steps are those that are narrower at one side. They change the direction of the staircase, so there is no need for landing.

Before you plan or buy components for a staircase renovation, make sure you know the following terms.

Spindles: The vertical post that holds the handrails of the staircase.

Risers: The steps or the space between the two steps.

Newel post: The post at the two ends of the staircase.

First off, you have to begin with some measuring. Measure the length of handrails and base rail. You can do this by measuring the distance between the newel post of the top-most and bottom-most steps.

If you are going to change the spindles, take note of how many spindles you will need—count two spindles for each step. Usually, the distance between the two spindles is no more than 90 mm.

Replace Steps or Risers

Renovating the staircase always starts with the steps. Remove the old carpet or old tiles or panels. Take off any hazardous screws on the steps. Then, measure the length, width, and height of the steps. Here is a little secret to installing the steps perfectly. Always put in the first and the second riser in the beginning. Then, use the moldings to cover up any remaining gaps.

Renovate the Landing

 Next up, you have to work on the landing of the staircase. Measure the landing area from the front and back. Then, remove the landing. In the case of landing, it is better to measure first before the removal.

If you are replacing the landing with winder steps, then add an extra 30 mm to the measurement of landing. When installing the winder steps, it’s best to start with the front side of the landing. Installing winding steps definitely requires extra work. You may need professional help for installing the steps, but the result gives your staircase a stunning look.

Replace Newel Post

When you have renovated the steps and the landing area/ winder steps, it’s time to move on to the newel post. Remove the handrails, base rails, and spindles of the post. Make sure that you have measured the height of the handrail before you remove the post.

Remove the newel post from the bottom, and top steps with a fine-toothed saw squarely. Some posts are secured with a steel bolt, so be careful not to damage your tools. Finally, drill a hole in the post base and install the newel post.  Secure the newel post with enough screws.

Fit Hand Rails and Base Rails

When you get new handrails and base rails for your stairs, you cannot simply install them. You have to cut them to the angle of the stairs. Also, the base rails and handrails have to be of the same thickness as the newel post. Make sure that you install them in the center of the newel posts.

The legal minimum height for installing the handrail is 900mm. Test the handrails and spindle before installation. You can do this by placing a spindle on each newel before attaching it.

Install Spindle or Glass Spindles

When planning your staircase renovation, you would have decided if you want spindles or glass panels. The handrails usually come with fillets. If you got fillets, use them to create space between two spindles. Cut the fillet according to the angle of the stair.  Place the fillet between the first spindle and the newel post.

If you are going to install glass panels, you have two options. You can either clamp the panels to the handrails. Or you can fit the panels directly underneath the handrail. Get instructions from your stair part manufacturer for installing the glass panel.

The Final Touches

Now, the structure of your staircase is complete; it is time to focus on the finishing touches. Whatever way you choose to style your staircase, it is incomplete without proper lighting. You can use warm accent lighting towards the hallway just below the stairs.

If you want to create a contemporary look with your stairs, you can take the help of lighting as well. You can fit lights underneath the treads to add a nice modern touch. This idea is great to light up your staircase if it doesn’t get enough natural light.

The next factor is the color. Using the right color combinations can make a difference in your staircase’s appearance. If the steps are in a neutral color, paint the runner in a bright color or pattern. Or you can make a statement wall with a unique wallpaper or stencil paints.

Paint the steps in pastel colors to create a nice vintage look. You can opt for monochrome shades for an elegant and contemporary style. Whatever color schemes you select for your staircase, make sure that it goes with the overall décor of your house.

 Sources: https://renovateme.co.uk/blog/renovation-renovate-staircase/ https://www.wonkeedonkeerichardburbidge.co.uk/removing-the-newels/