Perhaps the trickiest part of such a job is designing the new staircase. We work with customers as closely as possible to help them figure out what would look best according to their aesthetic preferences. And of course, we want to build something that makes the home better. That means we have to consider lots of different things.

Overall Character of the Home

A good place to start a custom replacement is to take a look at the overall character of the home. It is one thing to say iron stair spindles have more character than wood, but such blanket statements do not always apply. A home’s overall character has to be considered. Why? Because installing a modern staircase in a 200-year-old Southern plantation home would probably not work out well.

A home’s character speaks about its past, present, and future. It sets the tone for visitors when they first walk in. As such, we want to be sure that a wrought iron spindle staircase is appropriate. If not, wood is still in play.

Shape of the Staircase

Choosing the actual materials is just part of the equation. We also have to look at the style of the spindles and handrail as well. For that, we look at a number of things. The shape of the staircase is one of them.

A grand, winding staircase looks best with certain kinds of spindles and handrails. A straight staircase with a solid wall on one side calls for different design features. And of course, where the staircase sits in relation to the rest of the space in question influences design choices.

A straight staircase in a tight, narrow space doesn’t call for highly ornate iron spindles. Something a bit more simple provides just the right measure of beauty without being visually obtrusive. On the other hand, a grand staircase can really pop with the addition of intricate wrought iron spindles.

Risers and Floor Treatments

We also have to consider the characteristics of the staircase when designing a new balustrade. For example, what do the risers look like? Though you may not realize it, risers do affect the overall look of the staircase. Along those same lines are floor treatments.

If you are looking at natural wood risers and steps that are left exposed, certain types of spindles and handrails complement them nicely. But perhaps your staircase is carpeted. In that case, you might want to go for a completely different look.

The Customer’s Budget

Ultimately, any custom redesign of a staircase has to be undertaken commensurate with the customer’s budget. Spindles and handrails are like any other home construction project in that they vary in price. You can spend quite a bit of money on a custom staircase made with the finest materials around. Likewise, there are plenty of choices even on a limited budget.

Our goal at The Iron Spindle is to always give the customer exactly what he or she wants. Whether that means a completely new staircase built from the ground up or simply replacing wood spindles with iron. We do it all with the utmost care, treating your home as if it were our own.

The post What Goes into Designing a New Staircase? appeared first on The Iron Spindle.

Here at The Iron Spindle, we have many years of experience dealing with Georgia’s building codes. Most of the work we do is in the greater Atlanta area, so we know the city and surrounding county codes pretty well. Let us set your mind at ease by reassuring you that a staircase remodel is not a big deal from a legal standpoint.

Building Permit Requirements

Atlanta and its surrounding counties are pretty reasonable when it comes to building permits. Your typical staircase remodeling job involving nothing more than replacing stair spindles or handrail generally doesn’t require a building permit. Homeowners within the city of Atlanta should know that Ordinance of 17-O-1307 states the following:

“No permit or permit fee is required for any repair work to a single-family, duplex, multi-family or non-residential structure with a total valuation of less than $10,000.00 provided that such work is otherwise lawful.”

Your typical spindle replacement project is not going to exceed $10,000. If you are completely removing your staircase and replacing it from the ground up, that’s another issue. You may need a permit for that.

Building Code Requirements

While you may not need a building permit to install iron spindles, all work done on your house must adhere to building codes. Atlanta and most of its suburbs have adopted the International Residential Codes (IRC) as standard. The IRC mandates, among other things, when railings are required.

It has been our experience that many Atlanta area houses are not compliant with every detail of IRC standards. Where updating your staircase and balustrade are concerned, this isn’t an issue for the most part. It will only become an issue if you decide to have other permitted work done on your property.

In other words, replacing the spindles on your staircase doesn’t require permit. You can go ahead and have that work done without worrying about building codes. However, you would be required to bring your staircase into compliance with code if you also decided to completely gut and remodel your kitchen. That’s because the kitchen work requires a permit. Any and all permit work requires you to bring the rest of the house up to code.

Your Choice of Contractor

We say all of this as a way of introducing the concept of choosing a good contractor with experience installing iron spindles in Atlanta. To be as straightforward as possible, your choice of contractor is important. You absolutely want a contractor with a proven track record of craftsmanship and quality. But you also want one who knows and fully understands the applicable laws.

Building codes do not exist to punish homeowners. They haven’t been put in place arbitrarily, either. Building codes are developed and adopted in order to ensure safety and integrity. From a safety standpoint, building codes are about protecting you as the occupant of your home.

The integrity portion is about guaranteeing that contractors do their work properly and with attention to safety and quality. None of us want contractors running around Atlanta doing shoddy work. Otherwise, the safety of homeowners will be in jeopardy.

To summarize, most staircase updating projects in the greater Atlanta area do not require building permits. However, any work done must comply with existing building code. That’s it in a nutshell.

The post What the Law Says About Remodeling Your Staircase appeared first on The Iron Spindle.

So what’s the deal? Well, do not assume that so much price variation is the result of contractors trying to rip you off. There certainly are bad actors in our business but, by and large, the vast majority of us do right by our customers. Price variations are the result of a lot of different factors.

The Amount of Work

Obviously, the amount of work being done is the starting point. You might be interested only in updating your stair spindles by replacing the original wood with iron. Or perhaps you already have iron spindles and are looking for a new handrail and newel post.

The price goes up with every bit of work you need done. Your lowest price will be on a simple update to your current installation. The highest price will include complete removal and replacement of the existing staircase including the stairs, handrails, newel posts and spindles..

The Time of Year

Believe it or not, the time of year you have the work done does influence the price. This is due to the fact that home remodeling tends to be seasonal. In northern and mid-western environments, homeowners tend to attack remodeling projects during the spring and summer. Here in the South, we prefer the fall and winter.

Whether you are looking for new iron stair spindles in Atlanta or Chicago, seasonal influences affect price. You can get a lower price when demand isn’t as high. In other words, have your work done during the slow season and you’ll get a better rate.

The Materials You Choose

Next up, understand that there is quite a bit of variation in materials. As with every home construction project, you have your entry level materials and your top-of-the-line alternatives. Then there are all of the choices in between.

The cost of an intricate and ornate wrought iron spindle staircase will be higher than updating the same staircase with straight wooden spindles. Your choice of wrought iron costs a bit more in terms of materials. The more ornate the spindles, the higher the price. And be careful. Some contractors will use lower-quality-hollow-spindles that in a lot of cases are actually aluminum, not iron.

In addition, if you want an upgraded color other than black there will most likely be an upcharge for that as well.

More Than One Estimate

As an experienced contractor specializing in iron spindles in Georgia, we are more than happy to provide our customers with estimates. We recommend getting more than one estimate, even though that means contacting the competition. Multiple estimates are important so that you can see exactly who charges what.

Make sure the estimates you get list exactly what you will pay for each part of the project. Any contractor not willing to provide a detailed estimate probably shouldn’t wind up in your top three choices. The last thing you want is a contractor that isn’t being forthright with you.

If you are getting ready to update your staircase, we invite you to give us a shout. Here at The Iron Spindle, we’re all about beautiful staircases complemented by perfectly designed and installed balustrades. We would love the opportunity to work with you on your project.

The post Updating Your Staircase: Why Prices Differ So Much appeared first on The Iron Spindle.

We’ve worked with plenty of customers who decided to replace old wood spindles with wrought iron. We came in and did the job for them, applying years of wisdom and experience to give them a custom installation they could be proud of. We can do the same for you.

If you’re not quite sure about iron versus wood, here are five reasons you might want to make the switch if you’re thinking of new stair spindles:

You Want to Add Character

Some of our clients chose wrought iron spindles because they appreciate the character of the material. Wrought iron is seen by most as an upgrade in homes.  It speaks of a bygone era that focused on craftsmanship and attention to detail.  

You Like the Look

Most people would agree that adding wrought iron spindles enhances the look of a house. Visual aesthetics are a matter of taste. What appeals to one person might not appeal to you and vice-versa. This is why The Iron Spindle offers thousands of combinations to make your staircase unique.  Here’s the thing: you are the one who has to live in your home. If you like the look of wrought iron, go for it.

You Want More Strength

There is another reason for installing wrought iron stair spindles that has nothing to do with aesthetics. That reason is strength. As a general rule, wood spindles are attached with nothing more than wood glue. Don’t misunderstand. Wood glue is very strong and does a suitable job. But age and dried-out glue often lead to loose spindles and handrails.

Solid wrought iron spindles are stronger. When installed properly with epoxy and wood/iron glue, provide a much more solid staircase. A staircase with wrought iron spindles, a solid handrail, and strong newel posts will provide the extra strength and security you need to walk down the stairs feeling completely safe.

You Are Planning to Sell

You might be considering wrought iron if you are getting ready to sell your house. You know the staircase needs work, whether it is painting the spindles and/or staining the handrail.. We get it. We also know that here in Georgia, wrought iron spindles are an extremely popular upgrade that immediately offers value and enhances the look and feel of your home.  Dollar for dollar upgrading to wrought iron balusters is one of the best investments a homeowner can make.

The post Reasons You Might Replace Wood Spindles with Iron appeared first on The Iron Spindle.