Staircase advice - change strings, treads and risers but retain newels and handrail?

[low_and_there]

Hello. Part-way through a whole house renovation and extension and I've been pondering on what to do with a staircase we've got and wonder if BH folks may have some thoughts on whether it's possible to change the strings, treads and risers but retain the newels and handrail.

 

One of the staircases has a perfectly reasonable pitch of around 40 degrees but for some reason when it was built in around 1905 they built it with 8 steps with extremely minimal goings so it is very uncomfortable to walk up and down and since we're doing so much to the place, we thought we'd sort this out too. Initially I assumed that we'd need to increase the overall span of the staircase to achieve this (it's currently 1500mm in length, and about 1490 in height gain from FFL to FFL) but it turns out we can keep the same shape and just change the number of steps*.

 

This has led me to wonder whether we can retain the original newels and handrail (all three of which are in good solid sturdy order). I don't quite get the sequencing of the stair installation to know whether it's possible to take the old strings out but leaving the newels and handrail. From what I have seen online it seems the strings are installed first then the newels - so I guess if that has to be the case, is there any chance we could first remove the newels (the handrail I think will be fine to remove) without damaging them in the process?

 

*I checked this with both the Pear Stairs and Stairbox stairbuilder sites online (I didn't believe the answer I got the first time so validated it with another site!).

 

I'll add some photos to (hopefully) make this clearer.

 

Thanks in advance

[low_and_there]

[Big Jimbo]

You have a cut string stairs. It does not make any difference, but is a nice feature, and makes a stairs, "less heavy". The short answer is no. Any alteration to the going or rise will affect the angle of the stairs. You might be able to make use of the Newel posts by grafting them onto a new post bottom. The only way to change the stairs is to rip them out, and replace with a new set. Be careful of head height if you want to change them. DO NOT underestimate how much work is involved...

[low_and_there]

hi @Big Jimbo yes they are cut strings - planning to replace like-for-like.  No issue with head height. Thanks for your warnings - I don't think I suggested that I thought this was a small job. To your comment: 

 

32 minutes ago, Big Jimbo said:

Any alteration to the going or rise will affect the angle of the stairs.

 

It's not strictly the case - if you change the number of treads and modify the going and the rise then you can maintain the angle, which is what I outlined - hence I can retain the handrail because that is directly related to the angle.

 

My question was about the process of installing and having never done that before, I was wondering if anyone has any advice on that front.

[Big Jimbo]

The uncut string against the wall will be rebated to take the risers, and the treads. The cut string on the left will not be deep enough to start altering the going or rise, and would need to be extended.This would reduce the headroom on the flight below. The treads and risers will currently be rebated into both strings and fitted with wedges and glue. The treads and risers will have triangular pieces of wood glued and nailed to hold them together. Prob Two or Three across the width. Believe me, they ain't coming out anytime soon. It would be cheaper to rip the stairs out and have them replaced. I have built about 7 staircases in my time. If you want to improve the look of the treads and risers, you could cut off the nosing, fit a thin, say 4mm Oak veneered ply to them, and have a new solid oak nosing fitted to each tread. You will still be left with the strings either side, but you could strip them back and re-paint. If you do take care. Ventilate well, and wear a mask. That old paint is going to be full of lead.

[Big Jimbo]

P.s.If you alter, either the going , or the rise, the angle of the handrail will not stay the same.

[Big Jimbo]

Any alteration of the going or rise will alter the angle, or increase, or decrease the length of the stair.

[low_and_there]

11 hours ago, Big Jimbo said:

Any alteration of the going or rise will alter the angle, or increase, or decrease the length of the stair.

 

No, not so - to illustrate what I mean I've pasted a screengrab from a spreadsheet with some calcs in.

 

[low_and_there]

11 hours ago, Big Jimbo said:

The uncut string against the wall will be rebated to take the risers, and the treads. The cut string on the left will not be deep enough to start altering the going or rise, and would need to be extended.This would reduce the headroom on the flight below. The treads and risers will currently be rebated into both strings and fitted with wedges and glue. The treads and risers will have triangular pieces of wood glued and nailed to hold them together. Prob Two or Three across the width. Believe me, they ain't coming out anytime soon. It would be cheaper to rip the stairs out and have them replaced. I have built about 7 staircases in my time. If you want to improve the look of the treads and risers, you could cut off the nosing, fit a thin, say 4mm Oak veneered ply to them, and have a new solid oak nosing fitted to each tread. You will still be left with the strings either side, but you could strip them back and re-paint. If you do take care. Ventilate well, and wear a mask. That old paint is going to be full of lead.

 

I am grateful for the time you've taken to respond but it seems like maybe I didn't entirely convey my question very well - I am not suggesting retaining the strings. I am saying that I would like to change the strings. I am aware of how most staircases are constructed, but thank you for your explanation about the wood triangles.