A Refurbishment with a Twist

To transform a property into the home of your dreams, it takes vision, ingenuity, and determination. Homeowner, Annette Andrews, and her project team, showed these qualities in abundance with the spectacular refurbishment of an existing property, centred around a stunning twisted column oak spiral staircase, manufactured by British Spirals & Castings.

The extensive work at the Billericay home saw internal floorplans torn up and walls torn down, creating light, open living spaces. Right in the centre of the property, Annette chose to replace the existing kited staircase with a statement spiral staircase. “I have always wanted a spiral staircase and particularly one with a ‘wow’ factor.” Annette explained. “Once I saw the twisted column staircase, I knew anything else would be a compromise.”

Pivoting gracefully around a hollow, twisting column, the handcrafted staircase’s curved treads create an effortless sweeping motion. The solid wood design is made in a single piece with all fixings hidden, giving it an organic feel that emanates quality and distinction.

Measuring Up

With the staircase chosen, the next task was measuring up and finalising the bespoke design. Project manager, Rob Drumgold, worked closely with British Spirals & Castings throughout the work:

“I met Richard Harding very early on in the process, and we discussed the complexities of the project. We were a little short on width on the upstairs landing, so between us we decided to move the bedroom wall over to give us enough space for the staircase. Further on in the construction, I had several conversations with Antonia Harding to discuss the more specific measurements. Antonia provided assistance all the way through the design stage and prior to fitting, and the service I received was some of the best I have come across in my 38 years working as a carpenter-builder.”

In addition to ensuring a seamless final fit, there was also the challenge of getting the wide diameter staircase into place. “The staircase was delivered when we had the front window of the lounge removed. This gave us enough room to get the part-assembled stairs inside the property.” Rob explained. “I had discussed all the needed dimensions to get it in the house with Antonia. I would always recommend that owners make sure they have enough space to allow a staircase both into the house and exactly where it needs to be fitted.”

Once assembled, the staircase stayed in the lounge for around a week whilst Rob and the team fitted the stair trimming, ready to receive the stairs. The staircase was then installed during the first fix stage, prior to plastering. Rob’s experience as a carpenter ensured the work was completed quickly and accurately – including the fitting of the handrails and spindles.

“The twisted handrail and spindles needed to be glued and fitted in one go. The mortise and tenon joints on the handrail, where they connect to the newel posts, and the spindles were glued and fitted at the same time. We used a foam glue that expands to fill the gaps, a bit like expanding foam. The only challenge was that it does set quickly, so the work had to be completed promptly. By making sure we were fully prepared before the work began, we could ensure it all went smoothly, and the end result was excellent.

Since the staircase was fitted, and coated with three coats of hard wax oil, it has had a terrific response from visitors. Even the scaffolding contractor, who has worked on many high-quality projects, could not believe how beautifully it was made and commented how it was the best set of stairs he had ever seen!”

A Home Renewed

With the refurbishment work now completed, Annette Andrew’s home has been revitalised. Large folding doors open out invitingly from the open plan kitchen diner area into the lavish garden. Upstairs, rooms have been re-modelled with large, vaulted ceilings and electrically operated Velux windows, filling the house with natural light. And, at its heart, the twisted column spiral staircase takes pride of place – a testament to the quality of the work.

Commenting on the fully installed staircase, Annette Andrews said:

“It looks fabulous! And it is now the talking point of our home. Everyone has remarked on how stunning it looks, and what high quality it is. I couldn’t be happier!”

Rob Drumgold added:

“British Spirals and Castings should be congratulated on the outstanding quality of this product and the service they provide. I will definitely be using them again when we have a client in need of a spiral staircase. I would recommend them without hesitation. The client is very pleased with the end result, and that is the most important thing for us as a company. We rely on referrals, and let our work speak for the quality we deliver, so it is essential to have companies like British Spirals & Castings we can call on.”