Remodel Stair and Rail in South Jersey

Here's a stair and rail remodel job we recently completed in Haddon Township, New Jersey. We used 6900 series handrail. The posts are the 4410R, and the 4442R series, the treads and stair cap (the wide chute board the balusters sit in) all done in maple, with iron balusters, to complete the dramatic transformation.

All rail material numbers above from my favorite supplier, http://www.carolinastair.com/

Contact

Ron Hartman Woodwork today to schedule your free consultation.

215-694-5046

or ronstairs@verizon.net

Wood Handrail and Iron Balusters in Voorhees NJ

This job in Voorhees NJ, is a classic double circular stairway up to a radius pulpit platform. Handrail is oak 6010 colonial with mahogany stain. 1600 series oak posts with 1 basket and 2 basket alternating iron balusters in flat black. 16.1.3 and 16.1.4 baluster numbers, respectively. All product numbers are from my favorite supplier at http://www.carolinastair.com/ I think circular staircases are what separates the men from the boys when it comes to professional rail installation. Circulars are much more challenging to install as a rule. A true rail professional can spot an amateur installation a mile away. Some things to look for when critiquing a rail that's already been installed. 1. The volute; (the curly part of the rail at the bottom of the stair) often times it's crooked; either left to right or front to back, and sometimes both ways. 2. The gooseneck or upeasing at the head of stair; same issue very often; crooked left to right, etc. Sure signs of an amateur. So please do your homework, and be sure to select a stair and rail professional with lots of experience. Ron Hartman has been providing contractors, builders, and homeowners, all over the Delaware Valley with high quality stairs and rails for 20 years.

Call him today for your free, no-risk, no hassle, no problem, no nonsense, no fluff, consultation.

215-694-5046

ronstairs@verizon.net

Custom Stair and Rail in Marlton New Jersey

This is a Custom Stair and Handrail I installed in Marlton, New Jersey, for a local builder. The Rail is 6010 Colonial, The Posts are 1600 series, and Balusters are the 5015 style. All numbers are from http://www.carolinastair.com/. What I like about the stair design, is that, the stair itself seems to be more a part of the house than in many houses where the stair is in the foyer, and the foyer is separated from the rest of the house. This stair system, is in the foyer, in the living room, and can be seen from the kitchen, and all the bedrooms. I like that, but, what can I say, I'm a rail guy. This particular stair layout has plenty of upeasings (the radius piece of rail that joins a rake rail to a vertical rail). Notice how the posts "drop down through" the stair and landings. This makes for a much stronger railing than placing the posts on top of tread or landing.

*Stairman tip: Go to center of any length of rail in your house, use side of your fist, and give the rail a little "whack". Do you hear lots of rattles? If you do, that means some if not all of your balusters are loose, either at top, because they weren't nailed correctly, or at bottom, where they weren't fastened correctly, or suffered a blow of some sort to make them loose. The more they loosen, increases the chances that other areas of your rail will loosen also, and maybe result in a break at weak points of the rail. So, be sure to call your local neighborhood Stair and Rail expert, and schedule an appointment.

Call Ron today at 215-694-5046

or ronstairs@verizon.net

to schedule your free consultation.

How to impress your friends with your new Philadelphia-area stair and rail

How To Impress Your Friends And Make Your Neighbors Jealous (and get your wife to look at you like she used to) In 13 EZ Steps. Or, better yet....How to Treat Your Stair And Rail Contractor

Step 1. Contact your friendly neighborhood stair and rail expert (we'll call him Ron) @215-694-5046 or ronstairs@verizon.net to make an appointment for your free consultation.

Step 2. Enjoy free, informative, consultation with your local stair and rail expert and learn all the things you always wanted to know about your stair and rail, but were too scared to ask.

Step 3. Eagerly anticipate receiving your clear, concise, fair-priced proposal, within 1-3 business days.

Step 4. Slowly smile from ear to ear as you carefully examine and re-examine the proposal and realize all that you're getting for such a good price.

Step 5. Show your wife proposal. Be cool about it though. Ask her what she thinks. She likes it too? That's great! (I knew she'd like it.)

Step 6. Dial your special hotline # 215-694-5046 and say something like, "Hey Ron, we just got your proposal, and, uh, it looks good to us, so I guess I'll sign this right away and send your deposit with it first thing tomorrow morning, and we'll wait on your call to let us know when you have a definite install date.

Step 7. Bask in the glow of your wifes' sudden enjoyment of your company. (and the rail isn't even started yet) (I think she digs you....no seriously I do)

Step 8. Accept Ron's call days later to confirm/schedule install date.

Step 9. Watch with awe and amazement the master at work, as he transforms your former funky foyer into a fabulous, fantastic foyer.

Step 10. Heap praise and encouragement upon your new, favorite contractor.

Step 11. Thank him over and over again as you give him the final payment (with a bonus totally optional) (and try to stop grinning so much.)

Step 12. Throw a party. "Everybody dance." Show off to all your friends. (hand out a lot of my business cards)

Step 13. Continue to bask in the glow of your wifes' sudden enjoyment of your company.

PS. My work here is done. And you're welcome. And I'm off to help your buddy down the street.

Stair safety tips

Local Contractor Helps Homeowners Make Their Homes Safer

Top Ten Steps For Making Your Stairway Safer

\We all know someone who has fallen down the stairs. Several times it's been you or me. I'm here to teach you 10 steps you can take to lessen the risk of having an accident on or around your stairway.

Step 1. Keep ALL clutter off the stair. Unlike what The Three Stooges said..they're not shelves.

Step 2.No loose carpeting. If carpeted, make sure carpeting is tight to treads and risers throughout.

Step 3. No wax. If not carpeted, do not use wax anything on stairs. No wax-on. Just wax-off.

Step 4. Grab your handrail and give it a good back-and-forth yank. Would your Grandma feel safe using it? If not call your local stair and rail expert. (Ron)

Step 5. Have one of the larger (read heaviest) members of your family walk up and down the stairway as you stand beside it. (if possible) Does it move significantly? If so be sure and call your local stair and rail expert (Ron)

Step 6. Break out your trusty family tape measure. (It's in Mom’s junk drawer in the kitchen) Check to make sure each riser height is the same throughout.

Step 7. Measure each tread length to ensure consistency from top to bottom of stairway.

Step 8. Break out the trusty family level. (It's in the garage with Pops' tools) Lay level on each tread from left to right. Again, to confirm consistency throughout.

Step 9. Now place level on each tread from front to back. If noticeably or shockingly out of level, again, please call your highly trained local stair and rail expert, (Ron)

Step 10. Check to make sure each tread is still attached securely to each corresponding riser.

Bonus step. 11. Skip steps 4 thru 10, and call your local stair and rail expert directly at 215-694-5046, and ask for Ron

Ron Hartman Woodwork
1103 Chandler St.
Phila PA 19111

Fax 215-745-1464
Home 215-745-0298
Cell 215-694-5046

Happy New Year

There's nothing quite like the start of a new year to get me moving. I absolutely LOVE IT. I write down goals, I make lists, I organize my office, I come up with new ideas, I plan, I pray, I think, more than any other time of year. The future never looks so bright to me as Jan 1st. Now that I've written that, I do believe I'm going to resolve to make every day like New Years Day. I'm going to make the most of every year, month, week, day, hour, minute, and second. Every person on this planet lives their lives according to the same measurement of time. We're all equal in that respect. "Nobody's rich, nobody's poor, we get 24 hours, nothing more." If you're a billionaire, or a bum, you have the same clock ticking against you. Some people don't seem to notice the clock at all, while others seem obsessed by it. Some plan every minute of their lives, while others plan nothing, and both people look at the other like they're absolutely mad. Balance, as in many areas of life, is what's important to me. You do have to respect father time and the infernal ticking clock; but you also can't let your watch and your predetermined plan ruin your sense of fun and spontanaiety. OK Enough words of wisdom for one day. I really must be going, don't want to be late for my next appointment. One step at a time! Stairman