If you have been considering remodeling your staircase, you may have noticed that not many contractors are excited to do it. Your new flooring provider may have dodged the question or general handymen/women or builders may not be calling you back. You are meeting resistance because this project is anything but straightforward. Below I share 3 things to know about staircase remodeling.
1) Your Staircase is Built into the Structure of Your House
When your home was originally built, your staircase was tied into the entire support structure. So, unless you plan to remodel down the studs, your contractor must work with the existing newel posts and layout. Sounds expensive and complex, right? As a former engineer, I was not daunted by this situation when I started completing staircase remodels XX years ago. I applied my problem-solving skills to develop an extensive system that allows my clients to have the architectural upgrade they are looking for without tearing up their whole house. Click here to read an article highlighting how I approach staircase remodeling.
2) Staircase Remodeling is About Geometry First
Staircases are designed to ensure a safe climb and descent. There is a suggested riser and railing height, as well as tread width, that requires exacting calculations. Even doing something that seems basic like changing out your balusters takes a great deal of measurement and planning to ensure they are evenly spaced and support the handrail. Here is where experience with this type of project truly helps. Understanding how changing the design elements can affect the entire structure is essential to keeping costly mistakes to a minimum.
3) Your Staircase Sets the Tone for the Rest of Your Home
A staircase is usually the main architectural feature of a home, starring as the biggest attraction as you welcome guests into the foyer. It sets the aesthetic for rest of the space. Many clients initially reach out to me because they have installed new flooring or remodeled their main floor and then realize their staircase does not support the new look. Before you tackle a significant design change for your home, consider how you will be able to incorporate it into your staircase. After reading what I noted above, you now know that it may take some skilled engineering and attention geometry to make that happen!
Please reach out to me if you have questions about undertaking a staircase remodeling project. Send me an email or give me a call at (317) 679-5890.
