1930’s staircase

[Pikatchu]

Hello :)

We’ve had an offer accepted on a 1930s house. I do love the house but there are a few things I was wondering. Firstly, do you think underneath this boarded staircase there are likely to be spindles? Or was a totally covered staircase how the house was originally? Also, is this original panelling in the front room do you think? Was also hoping there might be the original tile flooring under the carpet.

Sorry for the random questions but it’s eating away at me!

That staircase doesn’t look very original to me but there’s no newel posts, so I wonder if the modernisation was more extensive than just boarding over what was there.

(Oh, and congratulations!)

Congratulations! Can't comment on the staircase, but we found a lovely parquet floor under a carpet in our house

My late 20’s house had a boarded staircase and all boarded doors. Doors had original panelling underneath, more panelling on the stairs but the staircase was a bit disappointing as the spindles are very plain squared. No tiles or amazing floors either.

It’s fantastic uncovering all this stuff though, so have fun and congratulations!

Can you get a clue from neighbouring houses? Have a look on Rightmove Sold Properties.

@senua

Can you get a clue from neighbouring houses? Have a look on Rightmove Sold Properties.

Yes good idea! If you go back to the listing for your house there’s usually a “nearby sold prices” link

Ooh that is a good idea thank you! We’re going tomorrow to see the house again (vendors are lovely and letting us have a second look) so I’ll see if I can eye it up a bit more. Really hoping it might have the original floor under the hall carpet as well!!

@Pikatchu

Ooh that is a good idea thank you! We’re going tomorrow to see the house again (vendors are lovely and letting us have a second look) so I’ll see if I can eye it up a bit more. Really hoping it might have the original floor under the hall carpet as well!!

Ask them they might know

My MILs 1930s house had a staircase with panels not spindles and panelling going up the wall up to dado level.

thehoppyhome.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/staircase-before-2.jpg

It doesn't look like an original 30s staircase to me, but if someone had just boarded over the original spindles I'd expect to see the original handrail at the top and original newel post at the end. I don't think the spindles will be under there, I'm afraid.

I have a staircase exactly like that in my 30's semi. No spindles unfortunately....and the floorboards were awful!

It looks like the newel post has been removed, however it could be there still. In our 1924 house and DSs 1936 house the newel posts are square topped with deco decoration. The spindles also could still be there as the deco era favoured square spindles, not the bulbous Victorian style.
Replacing them is not hugely expensive.
As for the hall floor, ours had red tiles which had been painted over years ago, the laminate was put on top. DS’s we’re green tiles, unfortunately damaged by poor quality ceramic tiles on top.
In both cases we’ve put more appropriate tiles on top. Again not a huge cost.

The panelling just looks like basic tongue and groove which could be original bit might not. Could you add some more pictures please?