Stiarcase

[jilldaniel]

Hi

We have a 3 storey victorian terrace with a horrible 60s style staircase. I have asked a couple of joiners about getting a new one but havent like their ideas. Ideally we would like an original one but where would we get one from (I have tried local salvage yards and have never come across one). Or is it possible to have a new one made sympathetically and what sort of tradesman would do this.

Jill

 

[Gervase]

Any good joiner should be able to do a staircase for you, but ideally you want one with a feel for the period and the material.
Keep an eye open as you go around, looking at houses and shops with nice woodwork - new windows, counters, doors etc in a style that you like, or at least in a style that is in sympathy with the building - and don't be afraid to go up and ask who made it. That's how we found the chap who made our sash windows.

 

[NT]

I'd expect a custom made job.

There are simple ways to make stairs, its easy enough to makes ones own, but they dont look at all traditional.


NT

 

[jilldaniel]

The joiners I have asked sounded like they would make modern ones. I want something traditional. Maybe I just need to ask some more joiners.

 

[Moo]

Try googling for "staircase makers"

 

[GK]

Maybe jill googled for "Stiarcase makers" and got no hits.

Victorians were keen on cut string staircases, weren't they? The ones where the tread and risers stick out a bit one side. Your sixties one will just be plain I guess.

You'll need to indicate exactly what you what, or you'll get - what the joiner makes for everyone else. Do a detailed drawing or find a glossy pic of one you want to copy, but made to fit your space. Don't forget it should comply with building regs. Can you get the required headroom (cue Penners who knows staircase regs by rote)?

 

[jilldaniel]

Thanks for those tips!

There are staircase makers in my area, but I was a bit concerned after speaking to some joiners about where I should go. They all seemed to suggest fairly standard modern looking staircases. I guess I need to pay these companies a visit and as has been suggested here take some photos in of what we like.

My original question was really whether I should be trying to fnd an original staircase or go for a new one. One salvage yard did tell me that they do get them from time to time.

I'm guessing my staircase was put in in the 60s. It has no detail at all - really very awful is about the best description I can give!

 

[biffvernon]

You could try Andy Thornton at Victoria Mills at Gtreetland, W. Yorks. They have old staircases and will fit them - but at a price.

 

[middi]

It is highly unlikely you would find a Victorian staircase to fit your existing floors to ceilings height unless it could be modified for that purpose.

This is not easy to achieve , and almost impossible in certain circumstances due to the gradient parameters which a carpenter is faced with.

In most case it would be better to have one manufactured for the purpose. As suggested, this is not cheap.

Buying a staicase off the shelf to fit in your cottage, or to have one made is not difficult and it would be similar to buying a new car, if you need one, lots of choise from any dealership until you tell them you want a model " T " ford.

I know it sounds a bit negative , It is a reality unfortunately

Good luck in your search.

 

[Penners]

(cue Penners who knows staircase regs by rote)

Certainly not by rote, but I have them on record if Jill needs them.

Jill - I would have thought that, as already suggested, any decent joinery company would make you a bespoke cut-string staircase (unless your stairwell is fully enclosed, in which case straight strings would probably be more appropriate). If your house is ordinary vernacular Victorian architecture, then pine is probably the most appropriate timber.

As to the most approriate balusters, this depends on the "social level" at which your house was built. If it's a "blue collar" cottage, then simple square balusters would probably suit - if it's more upmarket then perhaps moulded spindles.

If you want to have a general look at one example of a staircase manufacturer, check out http://www.stairplan.com/index.htm. I have no experience of the company but it's quite an interesting website.

Whereabouts in the country are you?

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Research has got to be the way forward here. How about the neighbours in your terrace? Do any of them have original staircases? If they don't then it's a question of finding something in a suitable style ( a mix of architectural authenticity and what you like the look of) and then taking loads of photos of the details, and ideally measurements of the various components. Armed with this information you can then approach your local or not so local woodworkers. Most will offer you a standard off-the- peg product, which will be no good for your situation at all, but sooner or later you'll find somebody who likes a challenge and who will be happy to listen to your ideas and work with you to produce a design.
Just don't expect it to be cheap!

As for timber, how about pitch pine? Or for a cheaper option go for a paint finish.

I'm currently building a staircase in a cottage which a has thrown up a whole load of problems to be solved to meet the regulations. The full building regs can be viewed online and downloaded from the website of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Good luck!

 

[jilldaniel]

Thanks again for all that. We live in the North of England and our house is a 3 storey double fronted victorian terrace. We are in no desperate hurry to do this work (especially as I think it is going to ber more expensive than we first thought) so I will keep a look out for things that I like so I am armed with photos etc when the time comes. Does anyone have any recommendations in our area?

 

[biffvernon]

We live in the North of England... Does anyone have any recommendations in our area?

That's North as in North of Watford is it? Big place.

 

[David Q]

Try the Richard Burbridge website, http://www.richardburbidge.co.uk, makes some nice staircase parts and will make up custom orders. No connections with them, just a good firm. Based in Shropshire, but will deliver.

 

[jilldaniel]

I mean north as in proper north - Whitley Bay - near Newcastle.