It's lovely when someone contacts
you and asks if they can write an article about restoration projects. I
was recently approached by Cheryl who works at thevictorianemporium.com.
She kindly asked if she could write an article about restoring Victorian Staircases....
One of the most prominent
features in your home is the staircase. It’s very likely one of the first
things that visitors notice, is large enough to have a visual impact, and
provides flow from one floor of your home to another. It is an amazing opportunity
to set the tone for the rest of your home, and it’s worth taking the time to
get it right.
Because of modern building
regulations, replacing a staircase worn by a century or more of everyday use
isn’t necessarily the answer. Replacement staircases which meet modern
regulations may end up taking away your period feel – that is assuming that a
modern staircase will actually fit in a building which was designed before
building regulations even existed.
Restoring your existing staircase
may not only be easier and less likely to fall foul of regulations, but will
also be more cost effective.
Here’s our advice for restoring
your Victorian staircase
1) Replace
the carpet. If your carpet is too modern then it can really destroy the
Victorian look. There was a trend in the middle of the 20th century
for wall-to-wall carpets, and this included stairs – all the old Victorian
style carpets were ripped out and replaced. The Victorian look can be brought
back to life instantly by installing a stair runner carpet with a bold green or
red geometric pattern. The exposed wooden stair treads either side can be
stencilled with geometric or floral designs, which is very Victorian.
2) Install
stair rods. Stair rods add that extra style to your stair runner carpet. Stair
rods, or stair clips, with ornate finials are better for getting the Victorian
look than more plain designs.
3) Paint
the wood. The Victorians didn’t like stripped wood, and tended to paint all
wood in their homes including the staircases. The trend was for dark colours
such as mahogany. If the staircase is already painted in a lighter colour, you
should just be able to sand lightly and paint over the top rather than
stripping all the old paint off.
4) Replace
broken posts. Chipped and worn baluster posts can be reproduced by a good
joiner, or even sourced from reclamation yards and vintage emporiums. Victorian
balusters range from ornate floral or gothic designs, to more simple stick
styles. If you need to replace a lot of the baluster posts, it could be just as
easy to change all of them, and this means you can get the exact style you
want. Research styles on the internet or by browsing reclamation yards, and if
you can’t find exactly what you want, get a joiner to make them to order.
5) Replace
worn treads. Worn treads are common for a staircase which could be over 100
years old. A worn tread can be replaced individually by reproducing it out of
wood. This is a simple enough job for a DIY enthusiast, or for a good joiner.
Alternatively, it is possible just to replace the fronts of treads if splitting
is the problem.
6) Get
rid of creaks. Creaking stairs are usually caused by a
gap between the tread and the riser, and are common in old staircases. You can
get rid of this gap by screwing down the loose tread, or by filling in the gap
on top of the riser with wood filler, or strips of wood and glue. If you’re not
sure, it’s worth consulting a professional to avoid messy and costly mistakes.
Overall, it’s worth trying to
restore what you have rather than try to squeeze in a reproduction Victorian
staircase. Restoring an old staircase can be a real labour of love, but will
reap rewards not only in setting the style of your home and providing a
statement piece to your visitors, but by maintaining your period home’s value
for years to come.
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