The Ultimate Guide:  How Your Stairs Go From Paper to a Completed Feature In Your Home

This is Part Two of our Ultimate Guide series for homeowners.

Part One of The Ultimate Stair Guide discusses how to choose your design.

We finished Part One with an accurate quotation for your stairs.  We now move on to….

Getting Your Plans Approved – Building Consent

Most types of stairs and balustrades will require a PS1 (https://www.building.govt.nz/projects-and-consents/apply-for-building-consent/support-your-consent-application/producer-statements/) in order to get the rubber stamp from council.

Exceptions are:

• Carpet quality stairs
• Wooden stairs
• Exterior wooden stairs

Almost everything else will need a PS1 and relevant design documentation:

• Steel stairs
• Balustrades – wooden, wrought iron, wire rigging, steel, and glass.

Often, your stairs will need to be custom designed and engineered rather than being able to use an ‘off-the-shelf’ design.  Bear in mind this could add time to your project, so this should be organised four weeks or more before you plan to submit your plans for building consent.

Typically your project engineer will arrange for this work to be done.  We may be able to assist with PS1s for timber balustrades if this is the design you have selected.

Site Measure & Design

Once your home is underway, we’ll keep in touch with you and your building team for site timing.

Measuring

You (or your builder) should arrange a site measure once your floor levels are in place and you’re beginning to close in.

Design

Our site measurer will bring back all the details to our design team who will start work on your stairs.

Manufacture

Our factory team will begin to make all your components.  With care, attention to detail and a strong focus on quality.

Installation

We’ll coordinate with you (or your builder) to deliver and/or install your stairs.  This happens at different times depending on your chosen design:

Floating steel stairs

1. The steel is usually installed first by your engineer, and temporary treads fitted by your builder. This allows safe access on site for your team, yet avoids damage to finished timber components.
2. The timber treads are installed once your home is close to being finished and is unlikely to get damaged by construction traffic. Tread protection can be supplied for extra peace of mind if required.
3. The balustrades will be either installed at the same time, or right at the end of the project, along with the handrails.  We will work with your builder to programme this.

Solid timber stairs

1. Timber stairs are usually installed close to the end of the project to avoid any damage from construction traffic.
2. Your balustrades will usually be installed at the same time (unless arranged otherwise).  We will work with your builder to programme this if you have selected timber balustrades.

Carpet quality stairs with feature balustrades

1. These are mostly installed by the builder so can be sent to site when they’re ready, usually as soon as the building is protected from the weather. If they’d like easier access sooner, we can also supply a weatherproof stair for installation before your home is closed in.
2. Your balustrades will be installed towards the end of the project.  We will work with your builder to programme this if you have selected timber balustrades.

Finishing timber components

You will need to co-ordinate this with your painter once the stair components are on site.  A clear finish or stain will help to accentuate the beauty of your stairs.

Project Review

All is complete!  Stand back and admire your stairs, and wait for the compliments to come!

The rest of your home is probably looking pretty awesome too, so congratulate yourself for taking the huge step of building your dream home, and start settling down to enjoy it.