Modernising staircase - advice please

[runner2]

Is it possible to have just the banisters and balustrade replaced, keeping the existing stairs? (It’s a simple, straight up 12-step staircase.) And is having it done by a well-known company like Neville Johnson the best way to do it? We’re after an oak and glass contemporary design.

Yes I had mine replaced by a joiner, was an old 70's monstrosity and replaced with new bannister, balustrade and spindles. Cost about £500 three years ago.

We had a glass company cut glass and fit it - simple to get a carpenter to do the woodwork first.

I had Neville Johnson come and quote for a replacement of our bannisters while keeping the existing stairs and the amount they quoted was absolutely eye watering! I could’ve bought a nice new car with what they wanted! It is a three story house so lots of railings but still!

We had our stairs replaced, and the carpenter put in a really simple bannister and balustrade with the coving ready to take the glass clips. The stairs were quite cheap - in MDF as we carpeted and hardwood for the handrail and balustrade - I'm fairly sure it cost around £600 for one flight but the carpenter's time added to this. Your local builder's merchant probably has a no name carpentery offering.

Ours are blocked banister and want to replace with simple banister with straight spindles to let in more light through them onto stairs. Is that a simple thing and reasonable cost to do?

Watching with interest...we want to do ours this summer. A good carpenter could do it easily. The big companies with glossy brochures cost an absolute fortune!

Selco builders merchants sell all the bits to give you an idea of what they cost to the trade....obviously a builder/carpenter would make on top of that along with their labour charge.

As others have said, it's a lot cheaper to have a local carpenter or joiner do this for you than one of the big companies.

The reason is that their prices have to pay for their head office staff and all the expensive adverts and brochures they produce. On the other hand, local carpenters or joiners have much lower overheads.

However, just at the moment, many people are saying that a lot of trades (not just carpenters) are booked solid at the moment so you'll probably have to wait a couple of months (this will vary depending on what part of the country you're in).

If you've ever done any DIY then it is absolutely possible to do it yourself. Here is an example:-

@PixellatedPixie I had a feeling NJ would be too expensive for us...so it’s good to know about alternatives. We’ve a good local glass company so will start looking for a carpenter. @nickymanchester ha ha I wish! Hopeless at DIY, definitely need a professional to do it.

@runner2 you could ask the glass company for recommendations. You don't want them to template for the glass until the woodwork is in.