Client is so excited as she really is buying a stairway to heaven!
Kid you not, our client, thrilled with her maple floors being refinished she couldn’t wait to get her stairs done too!
With Phase 1 done, she wanted to get rid of the old, cheap pine floors. She also wanted to replace the railings with a newer updated style to reflect her simple, yet stylish taste. In her mind if what she envisioned comes to fruition it really is like it is coming from heaven!
A very nice lady, she is q quiet gal strong in her faith, and totally absorbed in her family, 2 daughters and a 1 yr old grandchild. When not doing things with them she also dedicates time to mission work helping others. So between her love of faith and helping others, and so wanting a new stairway I can’t help but meld the two together.
And so the process began, yes it was a process.
Clearly you can see the view upon entering the front door, these pine stairs were tired and dated. Honestly, knowing the treads were getting replaced our client painted the spindles and stair stringers to hold her over. But the treads and risers were a sight to be desired.
Graced upon every step were stenciled hearts on each riser on the left and right side. And in the middle was a crested stencil with the word “welcome”. Perhaps it was acceptable for the previous owner, but not for our client, the new owner.
Simplistic and stylish our client had a very different vision for her entry. And as we talked I showed her pictures and she pointed out what she liked.
Like what is trending right now she liked the look of stained treads and painted risers. Additionally she liked metal spindles and a squared off newel post.
With her vision clear we knew exactly what she wanted and dove in to begin the stair and railing conversion.
We proposed to use maple stair cap treads on the stairs themselves, and riser caps on the risers. This completely eliminates the pine from the entry. Instead she will have stained treads and white painted risers.
Choosing to use a capping system was an easier and more cost effective alternative. With some preparation the stair caps fit over the pine. And the riser cap provides a clean surface for painting. If we just painted the pine eventually the grain and knots would climb through the paint and become visible. Using a veneer that avoids that problem entirely.
And just like that we completely changed the look of the stair entry!
The change of this entry couldn’t happen fast enough for our client. But, this was only the beginning.
Once the stairs and risers were updated, next on the list was to replace both railings with new hardware and replace the single newel post at the bottom. Along with that was to install new metal spindles at the bottom. Additionally the railing system would have to be brought up to code too.
All in all things eventually fell in to place, and the project was completed.
Though the treads and riser updating were the easier of the tasks we mostly got that done and ready for the railing system.
Because the wood was maple the tread covers had to be ordered custom. After an unforeseen hiccup we did get them all installed. The upper treads were easy peasy, but the lower open treads had some trim modifications. But once those adjustments were made the railings could go in.
Upon speaking with the railing guy the parts were ordered and he went over the changes that would be necessary when they would be installed.
Namely, the vintage 50’s -60’s stairs would have to be brought up to current code with the updating. The wall railing was too low, and the lower railing also had to be raised. So those changes were easily handled when everything was installed.
And just when the installation date was set there was another final delay of game- the weather!
We had a couple of weeks when it just poured for about 2 + days. Water was everywhere, lots of flooding. But for this installation there were installing raw, unfinished wood in place, and then staining and finishing to match. Therefore, the rain would have damaged the raw wood.
On day 1 of the installation I stopped to peak at the progress.
I tip toed in as the installer was modifying the landing tread so the new newel post could be installed. I asked when and who would be doing the staining and finishing. After getting the answer I informed the railing installer that we would mix the stain and finish so it matched the floor and the stair treads.
All in all they followed our instructions and the railing system looks great. And from where we started you can’t help but think, indeed this new stairwell really did come from heaven!
Want to convert and update your stairs and railings? We have partnered with a team that can do that for you! Free Estimates Call 609.953.0472. Or Contact Us online and we’ll reach out!
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Client is so excited as she really is buying a stairway to heaven!
Kid you not, our client, thrilled with her maple floors being refinished she couldn’t wait to get her stairs done too!
With Phase 1 done, she wanted to get rid of the old, cheap pine floors. She also wanted to replace the railings with a newer updated style to reflect her simple, yet stylish taste. In her mind if what she envisioned comes to fruition it really is like it is coming from heaven!
A very nice lady, she is q quiet gal strong in her faith, and totally absorbed in her family, 2 daughters and a 1 yr old grandchild. When not doing things with them she also dedicates time to mission work helping others. So between her love of faith and helping others, and so wanting a new stairway I can’t help but meld the two together.
And so the process began, yes it was a process.
Clearly you can see the view upon entering the front door, these pine stairs were tired and dated. Honestly, knowing the treads were getting replaced our client painted the spindles and stair stringers to hold her over. But the treads and risers were a sight to be desired.
Graced upon every step were stenciled hearts on each riser on the left and right side. And in the middle was a crested stencil with the word “welcome”. Perhaps it was acceptable for the previous owner, but not for our client, the new owner.
Simplistic and stylish our client had a very different vision for her entry. And as we talked I showed her pictures and she pointed out what she liked.
Like what is trending right now she liked the look of stained treads and painted risers. Additionally she liked metal spindles and a squared off newel post.
With her vision clear we knew exactly what she wanted and dove in to begin the stair and railing conversion.
We proposed to use maple stair cap treads on the stairs themselves, and riser caps on the risers. This completely eliminates the pine from the entry. Instead she will have stained treads and white painted risers.
Choosing to use a capping system was an easier and more cost effective alternative. With some preparation the stair caps fit over the pine. And the riser cap provides a clean surface for painting. If we just painted the pine eventually the grain and knots would climb through the paint and become visible. Using a veneer that avoids that problem entirely.
And just like that we completely changed the look of the stair entry!
The change of this entry couldn’t happen fast enough for our client. But, this was only the beginning.
Once the stairs and risers were updated, next on the list was to replace both railings with new hardware and replace the single newel post at the bottom. Along with that was to install new metal spindles at the bottom. Additionally the railing system would have to be brought up to code too.
All in all things eventually fell in to place, and the project was completed.
Though the treads and riser updating were the easier of the tasks we mostly got that done and ready for the railing system.
Because the wood was maple the tread covers had to be ordered custom. After an unforeseen hiccup we did get them all installed. The upper treads were easy peasy, but the lower open treads had some trim modifications. But once those adjustments were made the railings could go in.
Upon speaking with the railing guy the parts were ordered and he went over the changes that would be necessary when they would be installed.
Namely, the vintage 50’s -60’s stairs would have to be brought up to current code with the updating. The wall railing was too low, and the lower railing also had to be raised. So those changes were easily handled when everything was installed.
And just when the installation date was set there was another final delay of game- the weather!
We had a couple of weeks when it just poured for about 2 + days. Water was everywhere, lots of flooding. But for this installation there were installing raw, unfinished wood in place, and then staining and finishing to match. Therefore, the rain would have damaged the raw wood.
On day 1 of the installation I stopped to peak at the progress.
I tip toed in as the installer was modifying the landing tread so the new newel post could be installed. I asked when and who would be doing the staining and finishing. After getting the answer I informed the railing installer that we would mix the stain and finish so it matched the floor and the stair treads.
All in all they followed our instructions and the railing system looks great. And from where we started you can’t help but think, indeed this new stairwell really did come from heaven!
Want to convert and update your stairs and railings? We have partnered with a team that can do that for you! Free Estimates Call 609.953.0472. Or Contact Us online and we’ll reach out!