Knowing when to call in some custom stairway design specialists for your staircases is a bit tricky. It depends on where your stairwell is in your home, the exposure to weather and climate elements, and the overall structure of your property.
Northern Virginia has all kinds of properties, from hundred-year-old farmhouses to modern designs with stairways outside of the building. As long as you’re paying close attention to your stairs, you should be able to detect when to call our expert team. Here are a few signs we know indicate it’s time to upgrade.
1) Broken or Damaged Handrails
Handrails are crucial for keeping your family and guests safe. Without proper support, people climbing up or down the stairs can easily fall due to a railing wobbling or being loose. The frequent humidity changes in our area can easily expand and contract the wood, causing these issues.
2) Visible Structural Cracks
Call our professional custom stairway design specialists the moment you see cracks in your stair treads, risers, or railings. These may seem minor at first, but you never know when they indicate a bigger issue like shifting or stress due to the wood deteriorating. We can perform the thorough inspection necessary to put your mind at ease.
3) Water Damage or Rot
We cannot begin to explain how often clients have requested our services due to a broken water pipe or the humid summers and wet seasons creeping inside buildings that are not fully sealed. When water damage is left alone for too long, it compromises the wood’s integrity, creating stains, mold, and a musty smell no one wants.
4) Pest Infestation
Northern Virginia is home to plenty of termites and carpenter ants. These fun little creatures will tunnel through your wood if you don’t regularly spray pesticides in the area. You might start to see sawdust-like residue on parts of the stairway or small holes in the wood. Older homes, especially around Fairfax or Leesburg, are pretty susceptible to these issues.
5) Clear Signs of Wear and Tear
There are many red flags to your stairway that will indicate it’s time to call our custom stairway design specialists at Vintage Wood Floors & Stairways.
• Worn out treads and risers from too much daily use.
• Sagging treads and risers due to a lack of support.
• Wobbly handrails or loose connections.
• Loose treads that move or creak whenever you’re walking on them.
Finally, there are the aesthetic reasons. Not every client wants to upgrade their stairway because of a structural issue. Maybe you’re flipping a property or ready for a new visual design throughout your home. Either way, custom stairway design specialists can update your features with modern essentials you and your family will enjoy.
Is It Time for a Staircase Upgrade?
Any time your property shows clear signs of damage, wear, or outdated design, you want to consider making a change. With our custom stairway design specialists on your side, you get the quality, locally based expertise necessary to transform your stairways into a visually pleasing and functional solution.
Whether you’re rebuilding a stairway from your outdoor deck to the ground or finally upgrading the third-floor attic to a mother-in-law apartment, our team at Vintage Wood Floors & Stairways is here to help. Give us a call today, and let’s design something unique for your Northern Virginia property.