Staircase Repairs

Creaking and Squeaking Stairs

A creaking staircase is the most common stair problem in older Hampshire homes, and it is almost always fixable without replacing anything. The noise comes from timber that has dried, shrunk and worked loose over the years, so the tread rubs against the riser or the wedges beneath have come free.

We locate the exact source of each creak rather than guessing at it, then re-secure the tread from above or re-wedge and re-block the staircase from underneath where there is access. Where the stairs are carpeted, the carpet is lifted and refitted properly afterwards.

The result is a staircase that is silent to walk on and noticeably more solid underfoot. Most creaking stair repairs are completed in a single visit.

Loose, Cracked or Broken Spindles

Spindles take more knocks than any other part of a staircase, and a single broken one is both an eyesore and a genuine safety concern — particularly in a home with children.

We repair and replace individual spindles as well as fitting complete new sets. If only one or two have failed, 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 for a fraction of the cost of a new staircase.

We fit turned timber, square, stop-chamfered, and metal spindles, in oak, pine and painted finishes. Where a full set is being replaced, we will also check the spacing meets current safety guidance.

Handrail Repair and Replacement

A handrail that moves when you lean on it has usually come loose at its fixings, at the newel post joint, or both. It is a repair worth doing promptly, because a handrail is a safety fitting first and a decorative feature second.

We re-fix and re-glue loose handrails, repair split or damaged sections, and replace handrails entirely where they are beyond saving or simply out of date. New handrails can be supplied in oak, pine or painted softwood, and matched to existing newel posts and spindles.

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.

Worn, Cracked or Damaged Treads and Risers

Treads take every footstep in the house, so they wear, split and dip long before the rest of the staircase does. Left alone, a cracked tread will eventually fail.

We replace individual treads and risers, working in matching timber so the repair blends with the rest of the flight. Where a tread is worn but sound, it can often be refaced or the front edge rebuilt rather than replaced outright — a cheaper option that keeps the original staircase intact.

Where treads have dipped or the whole flight has become uneven, we will tell you honestly whether a repair is worth doing at all. In many houses, replacing three or four failing treads is all that is needed.

Loose or Wobbly Newel Posts

The newel post is the structural anchor of the whole balustrade. When it works loose, everything attached to it — handrail, spindles, the entire side of the staircase — becomes unsafe, so this is a repair we would always recommend dealing with straight away.

We re-secure loose newel posts back to the staircase structure and the floor joists, rather than simply packing the gap and hoping. Where the post itself has split, or where a previous repair has left it beyond re-fixing, we replace it and re-fit the handrail and spindles to it.

New newel posts and newel caps can also be fitted purely to update the look of a dated staircase, in oak or painted softwood to match the rest of the work.

Damaged Stair Nosings

The nosing is the projecting front edge of each tread. It is the first part of a staircase to get chipped, split or worn round, and it is what most people notice when they look at a tired flight of stairs.

We repair damaged nosings by cutting back to sound timber and splicing in a new section, or by fitting a replacement nosing to the full width of the tread. Both options are considerably less disruptive and less expensive than replacing whole treads.

Repairing the nosings is often the single most cost-effective way of smartening up a staircase that is structurally fine but simply looking worn.

Loose and Unsafe Balustrades

If the balustrade — the handrail, spindles and newel posts together — moves when you lean against it, the staircase is not safe. This is the repair we are called out to most often, and it is usually the result of years of gradual loosening rather than any single failure.

We assess the whole balustrade rather than just the part that moves, because a wobble at the handrail very often traces back to a loose newel post or failed spindle fixings elsewhere on the flight.

We then re-fix, re-joint or replace whatever is needed to make the whole run solid again. Where spindle gaps are wider than current guidance allows, we will point it out and can close the spacing as part of the work.

Glass Balustrade Repair and Replacement

Glass balustrades give a hallway a lot more light and a much more open feel, and they are one of the most popular staircase updates we are asked for.

We replace tired timber spindles with toughened glass panels, fitting either into a grooved timber handrail and base rail or using clamped stainless fixings, depending on the look you want. We also repair existing glass balustrades — replacing cracked or chipped panels, and re-securing clamps and channels that have worked loose.

All glass is toughened safety glass, supplied to size by our glass supplier and fitted by us. Because this is a made-to-measure product, we always measure on site rather than working from plans.

Cracked or Split Strings

The strings are the long boards running up each side of the staircase that the treads and risers sit into. A split string is more serious than most stair faults, because it is carrying the load of the whole flight.

Be aware of what a split string often means. By the time a string has cracked along its length, or previous movement has pulled the treads out of it, the flight is frequently past the point where any repair will hold for long.

Where the damage is genuinely localised — a short split, sound timber either side, and access from underneath — we cut out the damaged section, splice in new timber and reinforce from behind. Where it isn’t, we will say so plainly rather than take money for a repair we don’t believe will last.

This is the one fault we will always come and look at before quoting. If a string is cracked, get it checked rather than waiting.

Winder and Kite Step Repairs

Winder steps — the tapered treads that turn a staircase through a corner — take uneven wear because everyone walks the same narrow part of them. They also tend to be the first steps to work loose, as they are the most complicated part of the flight to build.

We repair and replace individual winder and kite steps, re-securing them into the strings and newel post and re-wedging from beneath where possible. Because each winder is a different shape, these are cut to fit rather than bought in, and matched to the existing timber.

Winders are also a common source of stubborn creaks that other repairs have failed to fix, so they are always worth checking on a staircase that still makes noise.

Cladding and Over-Cladding Tired Staircases

If the structure of your staircase is sound but the surface is beyond repair, cladding is very often the right answer. Solid oak treads, riser faces and nosings are fitted over the top of the existing stairs, giving the look and feel of a new oak staircase without the cost, mess and disruption of tearing the old one out.

We measure and cut each tread individually to fit, because no two staircases are truly square, and combine cladding with new spindles, handrails or glass panels where you want the whole flight updated.

This is the most popular staircase transformation we carry out. It typically takes three to four days on a standard flight, and the stairs stay usable throughout.

Every staircase repair 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.

If you are not sure which of the above your staircase needs, send a photo and we will tell you. Quotes are free and there is no obligation.