Replacing stair banisters - how hard?

[Redmax]

To answer my original question - pretty hard and very slow! It's coming on though and I'm pleased so far:



I've trimmed off the plugs, put a trim piece under the baserail and started the varnishing since that pic was taken.

I still need to work out what to do with that arrangement at the bottom in the hall and any suggestions beyond those already offered would be gratefully received. I've started at the top so far and am working downwards, so have a bit of time to resolve what will be the last bit.

[whoami]

^^^Much better^^^

[Justin Cyder]

When I bought my first place, I inherited this:



and replaced it with this:



Richard Burridge stuff. Took about a week, fitting it in around work (about half of which was painting the thing - that took forever)& cost about £150 all in. The deliberate mistake was not sticking a half newel against the wall, which I regret now, but hey ho, nothing I can't live with. The handrail is long gone too, replaced with a blingy capped affair.

Edited by Justin Cyder on Sunday 29th January 18:34

Edited by Justin Cyder on Sunday 29th January 18:35

[Redmax]

So on the question as to how to improve the layout at the bottom in the hall, these are the sorts of things I'm considering so far:





Of those I'm probably leaning toward the second one, but its not ideal as I'll need a small section of banister on the right hand side, as from my understanding of the building regs, only the bottom two steps can be without a handrail, and I'd have four steps.

Any other ideas or suggestions? I'd like something reasonably 'grand', just because it's a decent-sized hall - so straight down just won't cut it. Straight down with some way of making it more impressive is probably what I'm looking for, but I seem to lack the necessary creativity!

[CedGTV]

FYI, this should help when trying to explain your stair parts.



http://www.nomenclaturo.com/wp-content/uploads/Sta...

[Simpo Two]

Something like this but curved rather than angles:



This one shows promise but doesn't work visually because the stairs on the right lead up into the side of a bannister




Curves are of course harder/more expensive than angles but usually worth it.

[Redmax]

The trouble with a curved version of the top one is that the curve is needed in two planes, i.e. round to the right as you look at it; and then down. Unless the handrail is round, which it's not, keeping the handrail top level all the way down and round is pretty much impossible.

[Wacky Racer]

Sorry to hijack this thread but:-



Our house has a staircase similar to this, and Mrs WR hates it because she says it collects dust in all the nooks and crannies, also she wants to replace all the brown doors with white ones, and completely redecorate the hsl with new wallpaper and carpeting.

Fair enough, it hasn't been done for five or six years.

Now I offered to paint the staircase white or ivory, because personally I like it, but she definitely wants to get rid of the spindles, but I was thinking in order to keep the cost down to a bare minimum I could paint the staircase, but leave the spindles where they are and box them in with some form of decorative cladding, either in uPvc or wood.......

Any ideas?

[Laurel Green]

No, no, no!

Paint if you must but, IMO will look horrid if boxed in.

Heavy curtains, or preferably a blackout blind and replacing light bulb with a black one will ensure dust is no longer a problem.

[B17NNS]

Wacky Racer said:

leave the spindles where they are and box them in with some form of decorative cladding, either in uPvc or wood.......

Hardboard and panel pins. Job's a good 'un.

[MuffDaddy]

Redmax said:

The trouble with a curved version of the top one is that the curve is needed in two planes, i.e. round to the right as you look at it; and then down. Unless the handrail is round, which it's not, keeping the handrail top level all the way down and round is pretty much impossible.

Have you considered just a straight run? If you replaced all the way to the top you may be able to steal an inch or so in the going? Hard to tell how deep each step is. Nice work with the handrails and spindles though, looks much better. I've recently replaced a boxed in nightmare with simple spindles and handrail. A massive improvement.

[Wacky Racer]

B17NNS said:

Wacky Racer said:

leave the spindles where they are and box them in with some form of decorative cladding, either in uPvc or wood.......

Hardboard and panel pins. Job's a good 'un.

Errr, no, I'm talking about a quality job here don't ya know....

I can run to at least a couple of hundred quid.....

We have just been out and ordered eleven new doors.....

She thought about something like this:-



I am planning to do everything myself, as I am fairly handy, so handy in fact, I live on the premises... ...just an idea, but she wants the area to be as light and airy as possible.

[Stephanie Plum]

We have exactly this. James Grace fitted it for us. Very pleased with it. Took two chippies two long days to take our old one out and replace. Three sections though so quite a lot to do.

[beeej]

I had the spindles/handrail replaced on the top floor of my Vic terrace because a previous owner had done a bodge. I employed a carpenter who used the local joinery. The newel post didn't need to change so it was a straightforward job and VERY affordable.

I'd looked at the COTS options but thought them all overpriced. May suit you better for your job though.

[Wacky Racer]

Have been looking into this, we might go for something like this. This is an American company, but I reckon I could do something similar for about £300/400.....

I could utilise the existing banister rail and base, by cutting out the spindles, paint them white, or better still, use some new light oak rail, cut to size from a mate who owns a local timber yard, and get the (6mm laminated safety) glass sections cut to size, (With polished edges) from another mate who owns a glazing company.

I would estimate I would need around twelve piece of glass cut to size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLpYv6tdsZ0

Whatever, I will be doing the work myself, as I have all the tools required in my workshop.

[B17NNS]

Wacky Racer said:

stuff

Sounds good.

[guindilias]

I love glass on a staircase to replace the posts, but I just KNOW that somehow, while drunk, I will manage to break it... laminated, hammer glass, whatever - I will definitely manage to fall through it and cut myself in half.

[Laurel Green]

I must admit to liking the look of glass panels; my only concern being how easy to keep clean? Does dust cling to it? Sticky fingers from the little ones? Can imagine it being just as time consuming as that of banisters in keeping clean.

[Wacky Racer]

Laurel Green said:

I must admit to liking the look of glass panels; my only concern being how easy to keep clean? Does dust cling to it? Sticky fingers from the little ones? Can imagine it being just as time consuming as that of banisters in keeping clean.

Good point. but fortunately my lot have all flown the nest.

Quite looking forward to it now, I'll get a quote for the glass on Monday, I reckon around £20 per piece, but we'll see....

[Laurel Green]

Wacky Racer said:

Good point. but fortunately my lot have all flown the nest.

Quite looking forward to it now, I'll get a quote for the glass on Monday, I reckon around £20 per piece, but we'll see....

I think that should be manageable at around that price. There's some Here for about the same money but would imagine the fittings, though nice, might prove an over-budget.