Staircase Renovation and Bespoke Staircase Design in London Period Properties

In a Georgian or Victorian London townhouse, the staircase is not a secondary element. It occupies a significant portion of the floor area on each level, defines the character of the entrance hall and principal circulation, and — in many properties — is the most elaborate piece of joinery in the building. Its condition and quality are visible to every visitor.

This guide covers assessment and restoration of original staircases, and the design and construction of bespoke replacements.

Assessing an existing staircase

Before deciding whether to restore or replace, the existing staircase needs a proper condition assessment. The key questions:

Is the structure sound? The carriage (the structural beam or string supporting the treads) carries the load. In Victorian staircases, the carriage is typically a pair of cut-and-mitred strings — open string staircases where the tread nosings are visible from the side, or closed string where the string covers the treads. Check for cracks, deflection, or separation from the wall string. A surveyor or structural engineer should assess if there is any doubt.

Are the treads and risers intact? Original hardwood or softwood treads wear over time — edge nosings can be damaged, surfaces worn. Replacement treads in matching timber are possible. Risers (the vertical face between treads) are often removed in Victorian staircases to create an open-riser effect; original closed-riser staircases with original risers intact are generally preferable to retain.

Is the balustrade original and structurally sound? Victorian balusters are typically turned softwood on secondary staircases, turned hardwood on principal staircases, or — in higher-specification properties — wrought iron with cast iron decorative elements. The handrail is usually mahogany or hardwood. Check for loose balusters (typically a sign of failed glue joints or a loose newel post) and handrail wobble (newel post fixings failed or newel post rotted at the base).

How many modifications has it undergone? Many London staircases have been altered: risers removed, balusters replaced with 1970s turned spindles, handrails replaced with tubular steel, half-landings reconfigured. Identifying the original design through any remaining intact sections guides the restoration brief.

Restoration of original staircases

Where the structure is sound and the original character survives in usable form, restoration is almost always preferable to replacement — particularly in listed buildings.

Structural repairs

Loose newel posts are the most common structural issue. The newel post is typically bolted through the floor structure from below; if the bolt has corroded or the timber has softened, the fix is to gain access from below, replace the fixing bolt, and reinstate. Do not attempt to stabilise a loose newel post by surface-gluing — it will fail again.

Loose balusters can be re-glued with a strong PVA or epoxy adhesive, with the joint cleaned and re-clamped. Where balusters are missing, replacements can be turned to match surviving originals (a competent joiner can match profiles with a lathe) or sourced from architectural salvage.

Worn treads: surface wear on softwood treads can be addressed by face-fixing new hardwood nosing strips, or by lifting the tread and reversing it (the rear edge is typically unworn). On a staircase with hardwood treads, sanding and refinishing restores the surface.

Stripping and finishing

Victorian staircases were typically painted (softwood) or polished (hardwood). The original finish is often obscured under multiple layers of gloss paint. Strip with a chemical stripper or careful heat gun work (take care not to scorch the timber), sand back to bare wood, and refinish:

• —Painted softwood: prime, undercoat, and topcoat in an oil-based or modern waterborne finish. White or off-white is traditional for painted staircases.
• —Polished hardwood: bare wood filled and finished with a hard-wearing floor varnish or hardwax oil. Original shellac polishes are authentic but require more maintenance.

Handrail refurbishment

A damaged or non-original handrail can transform the character of a staircase when replaced. Profile handrails (the classic Georgian and Victorian profiles — torus, ovolo, mopstick, ramped) are available from specialist timber suppliers and can be ordered to any length. Fitting a new profiled handrail to existing newel posts, with correctly mitred wreaths and ramps at turns and landings, is skilled joinery work.

Designing a bespoke replacement staircase

Where the existing staircase is beyond economic repair, structurally compromised, or simply of insufficient quality for the renovation brief, a bespoke replacement is the solution.

The design brief

A staircase design brief should address:

• —Rise and going: the relationship between tread depth (going) and riser height (rise) must comply with Building Regulations Part K, which specifies maximum rise (220mm) and minimum going (220mm) for private stairs, and a pitch angle not exceeding 42 degrees. In a period property with fixed floor-to-floor heights, the number of steps must be calculated precisely to achieve equal rises — unequal risers are both a trip hazard and a sign of poor craftsmanship.
• —Open or closed string: open string exposes the tread profile and nosing; closed string conceals it. Open string is more architecturally refined but requires cleaner tread-end detailing.
• —Balustrade design: the choice of balustrade — turned timber, square-section timber, glass infill panel, wrought iron — defines the character of the staircase more than almost anything else. In a period property, the options range from faithful period reproduction to a contemporary contrast that acknowledges the period context without mimicking it.
• —Handrail profile and material: hardwood (oak, walnut, mahogany) is conventional. Stainless steel handrails are appropriate in contemporary schemes. The profile should be comfortable to grip — a 50–60mm diameter mopstick or a comparable continuous profile is standard.
• —Materials: the tread material matters for wear, acoustics, and aesthetics. Solid oak or engineered oak treads are the most common high-specification choice for period properties. Stone treads (Portland stone, limestone) are used in entrance halls and ground floors. Carpeted treads soften acoustics but require a well-profiled edge.

Structural design

A new staircase requires structural input. The carriage beams must be sized to carry the imposed load (Building Regulations: 1.5 kN/m² for private stairs), the connection to the floor structure at top and bottom must be designed, and — where the staircase is a feature element — the structural solution should be discussed with the architect before the joinery design is fixed.

In some contemporary London renovations, a cantilevered stone staircase (each tread built into the party wall or a new structural wall) is specified as a statement element. This requires careful structural design and construction sequencing.

Building Regulations compliance

Any new staircase in a dwelling must comply with Approved Document K (Protection from falling, collision and impact). Key requirements:

• —Rise: maximum 220mm; going: minimum 220mm
• —Pitch: maximum 42 degrees
• —Handrail: required on at least one side for stairs with more than two risers; recommended on both sides for widths over 1,000mm
• —Balustrade: minimum 900mm height; baluster spacing not exceeding 100mm (to prevent a 100mm sphere passing through)
• —Headroom: minimum 2,000mm clear above the pitch line

In a listed building, the planning authority's conservation officer may accept some deviation from Approved Document K where full compliance would require significant damage to the listed fabric — but this requires prior negotiation, not assumption.

Costs

Staircase costs vary considerably by design complexity, materials, and joinery quality:

Our approach

ASAAN has designed and delivered staircase restorations and bespoke replacements in period properties across London. The staircase is always discussed as part of the early design brief — it is too integral to the property to be left as a procurement afterthought.

If you are planning a renovation that involves staircase works, contact us. Related reading: our bespoke joinery guide covers the general joinery specification process, and our restoring period features guide covers the conservation-led approach to original fabric.