Price range – £1500 to £400
Average cost – £3000
Best/Cheapest price – £1500
Whether you’re planning to renovate your home’s staircase, or you’ve purchased a house that needs an upgrade; planning, budgeting and research are essential in order to arrive at the best option that’ll go well with your style and preference. A staircase has a way of improving the look of your home; plain staircases will give your home a monotonous look, while modern and decorated stairs will significantly enhance the interior of your property.
In this guide, I’ll take you through the different types of staircases, the cost of installing a new one or upgrading an existing staircase, factors influencing the variation in costs and the additional costs that go with installations or upgrades.
How much does it cost to install/upgrade a staircase?
The average price of installing a new standard staircase in the UK is £1,500 to £4,000, while a modern custom staircase can be priced from £5,000 up to £50,000+. The cost of a bespoke staircase ranges due to disparities in the homeowner’s style, design and accessories preferences, and the types of materials used.
There are different types of staircase designs the costs of which are detailed below:
- Spiral staircase
This type of staircase creates the wow factor in a home because of its varying designs and shapes. In addition, it saves space. Pricing is dependent on:
- The complexity of the structure.
- Quality and type of the structure.
- Access to space.
- The region of the home. (Prices are likely to be higher in London than in other areas).
Types of spiral staircases
- Metal Spiral staircases
These are the most common types of staircases in most British homes. The average cost of a metallic staircase starts from £5,000 – additionally, the cost of labour averages £1,500. Alternatively, you can opt for less expensive pre-assembled models that can be bought off the shelves and will be ideal for a DIY enthusiast.
- Stainless steel spiral staircases
Apart from having various handrail options, their designs are flexible and cost-effective, especially for small spaces. The price ranges from £3,400 to £5,000 inclusive of labour.
- Wood spiral staircase
They generally give your home a traditional feel, both inside and out. However, as these staircases vary in design and accessories, the average cost of installation is £4,000 and a median labour cost of £1,500.
- Glass spiral staircase
This type of staircase completely gives your home a modern and cosmopolitan appeal. Not only do they allow natural light on your pathway, they also save on space. Although they are pricier, an average of £5,000 to £25,000, they drastically add value to your home as compared to the traditional stairways. Tradesmen often charge up to £2,000 for their installation.
- Cantilever staircase
Also known as floating/suspended staircases, they are tailor-made to one’s preference, design and fittings. Therefore, their prices differ from one client to another ranging from £20,000 to £80,000. They can either be made from wood, glass, metal, or a combination of glass and wood, metal and glass, or metal and wood.
More importantly, the inclusion of the floating staircase must be in line with the UK’s building and planning criteria. The width must be between 220mm and 300mm and the rise for each step must be between 150mm and 220mm, while the pitch of the stair should not be greater than 42 degrees.
In addition to their beauty, they are common for light- strained and small-spaced homes. The open treads make space feel bigger as light easily passes through. Although they are common in new homes, they can also be remodelled into an already existing home.
- Oak staircases
Because of how deeply revered oak is in the British culture, they are one of the most common types of staircases in most UK homes. They are known to represent toughness, durability and steadfastness. The average timber staircase for a straight one-storey staircase is £1,450, whereas a half-landing staircase price goes up to £1,950.
Oak may be grown in any climate, creating the notion that it would be priced low. However, oak trees take more time to mature and become very dense making them arduous to work with. Depending on the craftsmen’s quality in finishing, their prices will fluctuate.
How to maintain your oak staircases.
Once you invest in an oak staircase, it is important to ensure that they are well-cared for with the right inputs. They can include:
- Wood oil
These are the most common types of wood preservatives. It is easily absorbed through the wood pores locking out moisture. This protects it from warping and rotting making your staircase last longer. A few coats do the trick for a couple of years ensuring minimal frequent maintenance. The price and details may vary with brand and colour, but they range from £3.99 to £60.99.
- Waxes
In contrast to wood oil, waxing your staircase is a one-time affair. They provide a waterproof seal, preventing moisture in or out of the wood, prolonging its life. Subsequently, they have very strong fumes, therefore should be used in an aerated or well-ventilated home with no people around. Their price depends on the brand and ingredients starting from as low as £4.59- £55.72.
- Wood Varnish
Out of the three types of preservers, they are the easiest to apply and quickly dries providing a shinier coat to your staircase. Their prices start from £4 to £22.55.
- Metal staircase
They are most common in homes that have taken interior cues from industrial spaces and old factories. Their price varies with the design and period it takes to install them. Starting from £2,5000 to £9,500, you can have a metal staircase installed in your home.
Some of the benefits of choosing metal in making a staircase are:
- They are approximately 5 times stronger than timber or glass.
- They are flexible enough to form into any design and shape.
- The installation of the designed material is easy and fast.
- They are able to deliver a modern aesthetic look.
- Stone staircase
It is common to find this type of stairs in large luxury homes. Not only are they easy to maintain, but stones also have a longer lifespan. They are best installed while building a new home as they may take more time and materials. Their price starts from £1,950 to £3,450 and if you decide to DIY the price ranges from £1500 to £3000. The amazing feature of having a stone staircase is the ability to play around with different accessories.
Other additional costs to consider while installing new staircases or upgrading an existing staircase include:
- Plastering – £80 to £250 per wall.
- Floor lamination – £15 to £30 per m².
- Carpeting – £15 to £40 per m².
- Wooden flooring – £18 to £50 per m².
- Bannisters/handrails placement – £40 to £120.
- Balustrades – £30 to £150.
- Redecorating- £200 to £600 per room.
- The tradesperson you choose for the installation –
- A general builder may charge up to £300.
- A carpenter may charge up to £375.
- A carpet fitter may charge £180.
- And a labourer may charge £150.
In addition to cost, there are other factors to consider while installing or upgrading a staircase. These include:
- The overall types of materials used.
- The staircase designs’ complexity.
- Staircase accessories and decors.
- Access to the site.
- Removal of the existing staircase.
- Any structural alterations.
Are there laws regulating the installation of new staircases?
The UK’s building regulations have various laws on the installation of new staircases in homes for safety measures. They include:
- The angle of the stairs,
- Minimum headroom.
- The distance and tread size between each step.
- The length of the stairs without a landing.
- The distance between the balustrades.
Are staircases DIY safe?
Unless you are an experienced DIY enthusiast, it’s advisable to let the professionals install the staircases, especially complex designs like the suspending stairs. However, you can decorate and accessorize your staircases to your preferred style. There are many accessories, either bought or self-made that can be added to make your house feel homely, beautiful and comfortable.
These prices are just estimates.
