Spindle & Banister Replacement.
Spindles, Handrails, Newel Posts & Glass.
Replacing Spindles
If only one or two spindles have broken, we can usually match the existing profile so the repair is invisible.
Where the whole balustrade is tired or dated, replacing every spindle transforms the look of the hallway. We fit turned timber, square, stop-chamfered and metal spindles, in oak, pine and painted finishes.
Replacing the Handrail
A new handrail changes how a staircase looks and feels more than almost anything else. We fit handrails in oak, pine or painted softwood, matched to your newel posts and spindles or as part of a completely new balustrade.
We also fit wall-mounted handrails on enclosed staircases, and second handrails where extra support is needed — a straightforward job that makes a real difference for older or less steady users.
New Newel Posts and Caps
The newel posts are the heavy posts at the foot and turns of the staircase that the handrail runs into. New newel posts and newel caps can be fitted purely to update the look of a dated staircase, in oak or painted softwood to match the rest of the work.
If an existing newel post is loose, it has to be re-secured properly to the staircase and the floor before anything new is fitted to it.
Swapping Spindles for Glass
Replacing timber spindles with toughened glass panels gives a hallway a lot more light and a much more open feel, and it is one of the most popular staircase updates we are asked for.
The glass fits either into a grooved timber handrail and base rail or with clamped stainless fixings, depending on the look you want. All glass is toughened safety glass, supplied to size by our glass supplier and fitted by us, and we always measure on site rather than working from plans.
Spindle Spacing and Safety Guidance
Current guidance for new staircase work is that a 100mm sphere should not be able to pass through any gap in the balustrade, so a small child cannot get through it, and that the handrail on the stairs should be between 900mm and 1000mm high.
Older staircases do not have to be brought up to today’s standard, but wide gaps are often raised in a survey when a house is being sold. We check the spacing whenever we fit new spindles, and we can close up the gaps on an existing balustrade.
Loose or Wobbly Banisters
If the banister moves when you lean on it, that is usually a repair rather than a replacement. The movement very often traces back to a loose newel post or failed spindle fixings, and the existing balustrade can normally be made solid again.
Our staircase repairs page explains how we deal with loose balustrades, handrails and newel posts.
Common Questions
What is the difference between a banister and a balustrade?
They mean much the same thing. The balustrade is the whole guarding along the side of the stairs — handrail, spindles and newel posts together — and most people call it the banister.
Can you match my existing spindles?
If only one or two have failed, we can usually match the existing profile so the repair is invisible.
Can I have glass on the landing and the stairs?
Yes. Glass panels can run the full length of the balustrade, and every panel is measured on site and supplied to size.
How much does it cost to replace spindles or a banister?
Every staircase is different, so we price each job individually rather than publish a price list. Send us a photo of your staircase and we will tell you what it needs, then quote properly. Quotes are free and there is no obligation.
Every job is carried out by Mark Lloyd personally — City & Guilds qualified, over 30 years in the trade, fully insured, and rated 5.0 from more than 100 Google reviews. We work throughout Southampton, Winchester, Romsey, Eastleigh, Chandlers Ford, Hedge End and local Hampshire.
Not sure what your staircase needs? Send a photo and we will tell you.
See also: staircase repairs · oak stair cladding · staircase gallery
