Though staircases in most homes are natural focal points, many homeowners often do not think about updating or changing them. Often, updating a staircase is performed after a different change—redoing entryway flooring. This was exactly the case with our clients in Carmel. They had replaced their old foyer flooring with dark stained hickory wood, which looked gorgeous, but now the carpeted stairs did not match. We were then brought on to complete the project by updating and matching the staircase with the new wood floor, refreshing the entire style of the foyer and creating a stunning addition to their home.
The old staircase had worn-down carpet, dated balusters and posts. We chose hickory wood and stain to perfectly match the flooring, and proceeded to tear down the staircase to its bare bones. We installed metal balusters, boxed newel posts and wooden treads for an updated look.
Our clients wanted the posts to be wider than their originals, so we adjusted the handrails for the new posts. We also replaced the handrail at the top of the basement stairs with the same style.
When updating a staircase, there are a few things to keep in mind:
First, it is very critical to coordinate between the remodeler and the homeowner because stairs are often used every day. Our clients and their dogs needed to be able to navigate the stairs safely after we were done working. It was important for us to rebuild in sections, tearing out one part and getting it fixed up in a day so the stairs would still be usable and safe.
Second, stairs are not easy to remodel. They are like jigsaw puzzles, with many parts that require calculations to size and put together. When you change one aspect, you affect the rest of it. Our clients wanted to widen the post size, which changed the angles and lengths of the handrails, requiring us to do some math! Being an engineer, the recalculations were right up our owner Doug’s alley (in fact, projects that require math are his favorite) and we custom-fit all the components of the stairs perfectly to manage the new proportion.
However, not every contractor has this engineering know-how, which is why for staircases you will want to bring in an expert.
Our clients now have a wow staircase that perfectly matches their new flooring, and completes their foyer makeover with a stunning architectural highlight. We at Marvelous Woodworking have built many custom staircases using engineering knowledge and lovely craftsmanship; we would love to help you bring out the best in your staircase too! For a free consultation, send us an email or call us at (317)679-5890.
