A Renovator’s Guide to Repairing Old Staircases
Whether you want to restore a tired original staircase to its former glory or are hoping to breathe life into an uninspiring design, our guide shows you how to overcome the most common problems associated with old staircases
From missing spindles to worn treads, how to overcome the most common problems when restoring your staircase
The character that an original staircase can bring is undoubtable, yet over time, subject to the usual wear and tear, they can begin to show their age. However, if you have a sound structure that is in keeping with the rest of your home, restoration is preferable to replacement. Another benefit of retaining an existing staircase is that a replacement will need to conform with Building Regulations, which can cause complications.
The most common problems renovators will face with an original staircase include worn treads, broken or loose banisters and spindles, annoying creaks, and unsympathetic ‘updates’.
Dealing With Worn Treads
A common problem — but also an easy one to rectify. Damaged or worn areas of the stair tread should be carefully cut away and a new piece of timber spliced in — it is a good idea to remove the tread in question where possible. Many older staircases would have been assembled from separate treads and risers so you might find it is easy to disassemble.
It is a good idea to use small ‘ bearers’ or supports beneath the new section for added strength while you are at it. The new tread will then need to be shaped and sanded, and any screw holes filled.
Commonly, the ‘nosing’ or front edge of the tread will become so worn over time that it splits. It can usually be easily removed by sawing or chiselling across the width of the stair. A joiner or stairpart specialist will be able to create a new section to take its place.
Squeaky Stairs
While not necessarily a life-threatening problem, stairs that creak are annoying and can be a sign that the timbers within are rubbing together.
You should first identify the origins of the creak. If you can access the underside of the staircase to check if there is an obvious gap between the timbers, then simply screwing the gap back together may suffice.
If the problem is coming from the junction between the tread and riser, another technique may be needed. To solve this, use a thin strip of wood, shaped to taper at one end, and glue it into place in order to fill the gap — hammer the wood in place and do not use the staircase until the glue has fully set.
Damaged Balusters and Spindles
Splits in timber balusters or spindles are actually fairly common on old staircases. In most cases, it should not be too hard to remove individual spindles. Most were either nailed into the handrail and baserail, or slotted firmly into fillets of wood.
Small cracks and splits are easily dealt with using a strong adhesive to bring the split together, clamping it until fully set. However, in the case of wide or severe splits or if the spindle has completely snapped and cannot be glued back together, a replacement will
“If a staircase is structurally sound, replacing the balustrade can be a cost-effective and impactful option — it’s relatively simple”
be necessary. Thankfully it is possible to buy a huge number of styles of spindles, either from staircase specialists or DIY warehouses. If an exact match cannot be found, a skilled joiner or woodturner will be your best option.
An off-the-shelf baluster will probably need to be trimmed in order to suit your staircase, but ensure that any carved sections in the design match the existing spindles before trimming and setting in place.
Handrails and Newel Posts
Handrails and newel posts are the part of the staircase that tend to get pulled and swung on the most, and they can come loose over time.
If they look structurally sound, then it is usually enough to check the screws or fixings that are holding them in place before tightening or adding new fixings. If the handrails and newel posts are no longer structurally sound, they may need replacing completely. H