Install Repair Replace Stair and Rail Cherry Hill

Whether you need me to Install, Repair, or Replace your Stair and Rail in Cherry Hill, we'll do it all.  I've done quite a few homes in Barclay Farms over the years, and this is one of the most recent.

   Here's another job where the homeowner really wanted to do it right. When I met the young professional (stockbroker?...or insurance maybe?....can't remember) and his wife and little ones to give my estimate, he had just bought the house and removed just about everything down to the studs. He said he wanted to start over, and do it right. When I hear lines like that, I know we're going to get along just fine. For such a young guy, he had a lot of confidence that what he was doing was the only way to go. That's always nice to see, because it seems so many young men have no confidence whatsoever. He did a lot of the work himself, (and did nice work if I may say so, especially not being a professional) and that's nice to see also, because those guys tend to appreciate what we do just a little more.  

   So, a few months later, I came in and gave him a brand-new both sides open, lower stair with a double bullnose starting step. Then we installed the posts, handrail, and white balusters. He then had the trim carpenter install "shadow boxes" along the walls and they really add a nice finishing touch. After the floors were installed, and the painter stained and painted everything, he's got a brand new house. So, if you're tired of your old tired stair, rail, balusters, or posts, give me a call, at 215-694-5046, or send me an email at 45stairman@gmail.com to schedule your FREE design consultation. (A $250 value) We're looking forward to your call so we can help you Install, Repair, or Replace your Stair, and Rail in Cherry Hill NJ, and have your house looking like this, and making a great first impression when friends and family and neighbors come over for parties and holidays, and birthdays, and graduations, and christenings, and bar/bat mitzvahs, or even just to watch the big game.   

Hire Stair Rail Professionals Philadelphia South Jersey

         Stair tread totally out of routed stair stringer (supposed to be @3/8" to 1/2" inside stringer.)

                                                You can see riser just barely into stringer

From underneath, it's even more of a mess. Multiple wedges are barely in their stringer slot under their respective treads.

                                          Note the nails that aren't even driven in all the way.

Whoever did this; we'll call him "handyman", tried to support treads with little blocks he nailed to stringers. They didn't do much supporting, believe me.

  

                                         Some wedges had already fallen out completely.

Whenever you can see daylight between the tread and riser from underneath, you know the stair is in trouble. That indicates that the risers are starting to fall out of their slots in the stringer, leading to the movement in the staircase, signaled by all the squeaks and groans you hear as you ascend and descend the stair.

                                                    


This is going to be about  HOW TO HIRE STAIR AND RAIL PROFESSIONALS IN AND AROUND PHILADELPHIA AND SOUTH JERSEY.  Normally, I post after pics of the work I've done. Today, I wanted to show you what the other "guy" did.  Seeing this got me all jacked up. This is all too often the type of work folks get from unqualified contractors who say they can do Stair and Rail work. Ok, so as you can see, this is going to be a little different than my normal post. These are some photos from a recent stair and rail job I started in Exton PA. The contractor before me left the stair just as you see it. Except for the missing treads, (that was me disassembling what he did years before.) Note the wedges barely hanging in their grooves. Note the treads NOT EVEN IN THE STRINGERS AGAINST THE WALL. The homeowner called me out to see what was wrong with her stair that had increasingly loud squeaks and noises, and visible movement in the staircase as she and her family traversed the stairs each day. After removing the sheetrock off the backside of the stair, I was shocked by what you see. I was afraid to go up the stairs again after I saw this. SCARY!! You talk about nightmare in Exton. In the course of a year, I bid upwards of  one hundred jobs, and I don't win all of them. What's frustrating about seeing this, is knowing that some of the jobs I don't win may be done by jokers with work quality like this.  

    Now, I don't know who hired this person to do this job, but after close to 30 years of being in and around construction, I'd be willing to bet that this was the CHEAPEST GUY the former homeowner could find. And guess what? This is the fantastic end-product that he got. Proving once again, that you get what you pay for. If your life and the lives of your family aren't really that important to you, then be sure to hire THE CHEAPEST GUY you can find for every job around your house and  generally this is what you can expect. There's a reason that legitimate contractors charge the prices that they do. Mainly because doing a good job takes time, and expertise, and skill, that only comes from having been taught correctly how to do a certain job, and having many years experience doing that job always helps as well.    

  I'm calling this worker a "guy" because he certainly wasn't a stair professional. He was obviously a handyman who took on a job that was way out of his league. Unfortunaely, there are many guys out there who will tell a homeowner whatever he has to tell them just so he gets the job, because he really, really needs the money. It doesn't matter to him whether it turns out right or not, he just needs some work from somebody, because he has bills he has to pay and he's broke.

   So, here's my big suggestion for today. Be sure to check out the "guy" you're going to hire to do any work in and around your house. DO NOT TRUST WHAT THEY SAY. The best con men are fantastic liars. That's why they're able to keep ripping people off year after year. Be sure to speak with last 3 customers and ask to come see at least one of those jobs, (and try to take someone with you that knows something about construction.) Most homeowners are too gullible and naive. It's really not their fault, they don't deal with contractors for a living, they only deal with contractors because they have to. And, the only reason they have to deal with a contractor, is because they have to update, or fix what the builder screwed up in their house when he hired THE CHEAPEST GUY  to do work on your house as it was being built in the first place.

    Alright, I'm done ranting.

    I'll post pics of completed job once everything is done. I just had to post this right away.

  If your stair is creaking and groaning, that means your stair is moving. And if it's moving, that means that it's starting to come apart. Your stair should be as solid as your floor. If you need a highly trained, highly skilled, highly ethical stair and rail professional in Philadelphia, or South Jersey, to fix, repair, replace, remove, manufacture, or install your old or new stair or rail, give Ron Hartman a call at 215-694-5046, or send him an email at 45stairman@gmail.com.

Install Wood Handrail Repair Wood Stair Haddonfield NJ

2nd up to 3rd floor

2nd floor level rail

Down to 1st floor

3rd floor going down

2nd floor

Down to 1st

Old school walnut newel post 91/2" wide saved from historical Philadelphia building

New rail into old post

Back stair old school newel post with new extension

Original back stair and rescued newel post

Old rail, post, balusters, and modified old/new post cap

Install Wood Handrail Repair Wood Stair in Haddonfield NJ. Well, I must say, this stairway remodel job was a little unusual. The lady of the house informed she had already found the old newel posts she wanted installed, in a vintage woodworking warehouse somewhere in Philadelphia, (I didn't ask where, hush, hush.) She then told me she wanted the octagon balusters and newel posts with the oversized rail on top, that she selected from my favorite suppliers' catalog, to somewhat match the old rail and balusters she wanted installed on her back stair. Her and her lovely family decided, okay SHE decided, to renovate an old Victorian house off main street in Haddonfield, and the old school rails and posts would help keep the Victorian theme going. (Did I mention she works at the school??, no, not the old school, oh never mind... but I digress.) Working with the oversized, (HUGE), heavy, eight sided, walnut post was a bit of a challenge, but we managed to pull it off, much to the delight of said lady. She said she couldn't find anyone who would do the job for her. More than a few stair and rail  contractors stopped by and never came back. She was getting desperate, you could hear it in her voice. How could I say no? So, a few weeks later, her material was delivered and we proceeded with the installation. The upper turning on the balusters adds a nice touch as they stay in perfect line with the rail just above. She wasn't quite done with staining and painting at time of photos, but I had to share these with you. I'll update once everything is painted and stained.  If you're looking for a Handrail Installer to Repair your Wood Stair, or to replace, or Install Wood Handrail in your Haddonfield, Collingswood, or Haddon Heights home for you, don't hesitate to call/text Ron Hartman, your local specialist with 25 years experience with ALL KINDS of stair/rail situations, at 215-694-5046, or email him at 45stairman@gmail.com

Repair Wood Stairs Philadelphia PA

Repair Wood Stairs Philadelphia PA

First Floor

Glass panels with oak rail on top

Going up to 2nd Floor

2nd Floor with glass panel

2nd Floor

3rd Floor

4th Floor looking down

Very cool glass panels on each level to let more light in and enable you to see from 4th floor down to first

 Repair Wood Stairs Philadelphia PA. This was a fun stairway remodel project. We removed the main stair and went on to install a brand new staircase in it's place. The 2nd floor stair, and the 3rd floor stair were in decent shape, for the most part. We had to repair the 3rd floor stair about a third of the way up. The treads and risers needed to be replaced, so that they matched the rise and run measurement of the rest of the stairway. This was for an architect living on Pine St in downtown Philadelphia. Only an architect would come up with the idea for the glass panels in the floors. I really like the look. It takes a little getting used to, as you're walking around, because you're just not accustomed to seeing it everyday, and, it's a long way down from the 4th floor.

 She was great to work with. She knew exactly what she wanted, and it was my job to make it happen. I guess that's the way it's supposed to be. She wanted a clean, minimalist look. Round oak rail, round oak newel posts, and round, painted balusters. In the den, she wanted the glass panels with the round rail sitting right on top, overlooking the kitchen below, to keep the open, glass, modern look going throughout.  I think she did a good job. She hired the right stair and rail contractor I know that.

Speaking of the contractor, if you're in need of any wood stair railing repairs in the Philadelphia area,
don't hesitate to give  Ron  a call/text at  215-694-5046,  or email him at  45stairman@gmail.com  to schedule your FREE consultation with your local specialist and take advantage of his 25 years of experience with Repairing Wood Stairs in Philadelphia PA and surrounding towns.

 

Wood Staircase Handrail Baluster Installer In Northeast Philadelphia

Wood Staircase Handrail Baluster Installer In Northeast Philadelphia. This is in a home near Holmes Circle in Northeast Philadelphia. The old staircase was dangerous. The treads were too small, and they were very loose, and starting to come apart, the rail was loose, and rickety, and the balusters were loose and falling out, I'm sure you get the picture. So we gutted the old stair and rail and replaced it with this brand new, solid, durable, beautiful, stained, oak hardwood stair and rail. This leads down to their basement they set up as the kids' playroom. The house did not allow for carrying a whole new staircase through the house and down the stairs, so we had to bring all the materials down to the basement, and build the new set of steps right there, rip out the old stair, then slide the new staircase in place. It fit like a glove, if I do say so myself. Now the homeowners don't worry about their young boys falling off the side of the stair, while heading downstairs to play. If you're living with any of these unsafe conditions, anywhere in the Northeast section of Philadelphia, like Somerton, Fox Chase, Bustleton, etc, or in neighboring towns like Rockledge, Elkins Park, Jenkintown, or Huntingdon Valley, don't hesitate to give me a call to set up your FREE consultation. With 25 years experience, I'll be your Wood Staircase Handrail Baluster Installer of choice, in Northeast Philadelphia, and surrounding areas.

Ron Hartman, your local wood stair and rail specialist, lives in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia, near Rhawn and Verree.

Call/Text 215-694-5046
Email 45stairman@gmail.com

New Stair and Handrail in Jenkintown PA

Here's a nice upgrade to a New Stair and Handrail in Jenkintown PA. This house was built in the sixties, just outside Philadelphia, and the wood stair and rail was a little worn out. The young couple of professionals wanted to make the staircase safe for their young kids and friends and relatives, and make it attractive and welcoming at the same time. We installed new oak treads and poplar risers with square oak newel posts and oak handrail with square painted balusters.

For all your Stair and Handrail needs, call/text, or email Ron for your FREE appointment to discuss your project if you live in Jenkintown, Rockledge, Willow Grove, Richboro, Abington, Glenside, Elkins Park, Huntingdon Valley, Southampton, Wyndmoor, or Ft Washington.

Cell 215-694-5046
Email 45stairman@gmail.com

 

Iron Balusters near Main Line Philadelphia

  

    Some New Iron Balusters near the Main Line in Philadelphia. This customer loved the look of the oak box newels with the oak handrail and the single diamond/double diamond square hammered iron balusters in oil rubbed bronze finish. She'd been looking for an iron baluster installer for a long time, and couldn't find anyone who could do the work. Luckily she kept looking, and found me. I'm Ron Hartman, and I've been a stair and rail contractor for 25 years. I transformed her foyer to her specifications. She absolutely loved it, and couldn't stop raving about it. I must say, that is nice to hear, when customers can't stop thanking you enough for a job well done. After removing the builder-grade junk rail, I installed the bottom oak plate, the posts, and then the rail. I left for a few days while the hardwood was stained and poly-urethaned, then came back and installed and secured the iron. The new carpet was scheduled to be installed in the next week, or so.
   
 If you're desiring some Iron Balusters for your Main Line home near Philadelphia, and you live in Ardmore, Gladwynne, Havertown, Haverford, Wynnewood, Bryn Mawr, Merion, or surrounding towns, don't hesitate to give me (Ron) a call, text, or email to set up your FREE appointment.

Call/Text 215-694-5046

Email 45stairman@gmail.com