Replacing a Staircase: What the Job Involves

Replacing a staircase sounds like a huge upheaval, and it is a bigger job than most carpentry work in the home. But it is also more predictable than people expect. A new flight is usually made off site to precise measurements, then the old one comes out and the new one goes in over a few days. If you have already weighed up whether to refurbish, reclad or replace, and replacement is the answer, this guide explains what the job actually involves, from the first survey to the final coat of finish.

When replacement makes sense

Plenty of tired staircases can be saved with new treads, a reclad or a fresh balustrade, and our guide to staircase renovation options covers those routes. Replacement tends to be the better choice when the structure itself is the problem, or when you want a layout the existing flight simply cannot give you.

• Strings that are split, rotten or badly weakened by past alterations
• Treads and risers that move, creak and have been patched repeatedly
• Rises or goings that feel steep, uneven or awkward to use
• A new layout, such as turning a straight flight into one with a winder or a half landing
• A loft conversion or remodel that changes where the stairs need to land

In Hampshire's older terraces and Victorian semis, stairs were often built steep and narrow to save floor space. Many have also been cut about over the decades for new doorways, boxed-in pipework or earlier loft work. When we survey these, the honest answer is sometimes that a replacement will be safer and better to use than another round of repairs. Our bespoke joinery work includes staircases made to suit the house rather than a catalogue size.

Survey, design and Building Regulations

Every replacement starts with careful measuring. The key figures are the total rise from finished floor to finished floor, the available going, the width of the stairwell and the headroom over the flight. Small errors here cause big problems later, so we measure from finished levels and allow for any new flooring you are planning.

A replacement staircase needs to meet Building Regulations Part K, which sets limits on the pitch, the rise and going of each step, headroom and the height and spacing of the balustrade. In most homes a like-for-like position is straightforward to comply with. Where the old stairs were very steep, the new design may need a slightly longer going, a winder or a landing to fit the rules, which is something we work through with you at the design stage. Depending on the scope, the work may need sign-off from building control, and in a listed building you would need consent before any historic staircase is touched.

This is also when you choose the look. Common options include softwood for painting, oak or another hardwood for a natural finish, open or closed risers, and a balustrade in timber spindles, glass or a mix. Our post on staircase balustrades goes into those choices in more detail.

Making the staircase

Most staircases are made in the workshop rather than built in place. The strings are routed to take the treads and risers, which are then glued and wedged so the flight is rigid and quiet underfoot. Making it off site means the joinery is done in good conditions and your home is only disrupted for the fitting itself. Lead times vary with the design and the timber, so it is worth allowing a few weeks between confirming the drawings and the fitting date.

Removal and fitting day

On site, the first job is protecting the house. Floors, doorways and the hall are covered, and dust sheets go up where they help. The old balustrade comes off, then the flight is carefully cut out. This is where surprises can appear, such as joists that have been notched, a trimmer that is undersized or old services running through the stairwell. Any structural issues are put right before the new flight goes in.

The new staircase is then offered up, fixed to the trimmer at the top and secured at the base and along the wall string. Once it is solid, the newels, handrail and balustrade are fitted, followed by any nosings, skirting returns and trims. A straightforward replacement often takes two to four days on site, though every job differs and complex layouts or structural repairs take longer.

What it costs

Costs depend on the size and shape of the flight, the timber, the balustrade and how much making good is needed. As a rough guide only, a simple softwood replacement costs far less than an oak staircase with a glass balustrade and winders, and every job differs. The best way to get a reliable figure is a site visit and a written quote.

Planning a staircase replacement in Hampshire

A new staircase changes how a home feels every single day, so it is worth getting the design and fit right. PRM Carpentry designs, makes and fits staircases across Southampton, Winchester, Eastleigh and the wider Hampshire area as part of our bespoke joinery and custom projects. If you are wondering whether your stairs need replacing or could be saved, get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote and an honest view of the options.