Measuring a Bespoke Staircase: What Needs to Be Checked?
Measuring a bespoke staircase is one of the most important stages of the whole job.
Unlike a standard item that can be adjusted easily on site, a staircase has to fit the building, meet the available floor opening and work comfortably between two fixed levels.
At Wood.ED Joinery, we treat the survey as part of the design process rather than simply recording a width and height.
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Why Accurate Staircase Measuring Matters
A staircase is controlled by several dimensions at the same time.
The total rise affects the number and height of the risers. The available horizontal space affects the going of each tread and the overall pitch. The floor opening affects headroom and where the staircase can arrive on the upper floor.
Changing one measurement can affect the whole staircase.
That is why a bespoke staircase should be designed from a complete survey rather than from one or two approximate dimensions.
Measure the Total Floor-to-Floor Height
The first key measurement is the vertical distance from the finished lower floor level to the finished upper floor level.
This is the total rise of the staircase.
If floor finishes are not yet installed, their thickness needs to be allowed for. A measurement taken from unfinished concrete or floorboards can be wrong once tiles, timber flooring or carpet systems are added.
Where possible, the final staircase should be designed around finished floor levels rather than temporary construction levels.
Measure the Available Opening
The stairwell opening needs to be measured accurately at both levels.
Do not assume that the opening is perfectly rectangular.
Measure the width at several points and record the length of the opening. It is also useful to take diagonal measurements because they can reveal whether the opening is out of square.
Check the Length Available for the Flight
The horizontal distance available for the staircase has a direct effect on the pitch and tread going.
A very short space may require a different layout rather than simply making the staircase steeper.
Depending on the building, this could mean introducing a landing, a kite winder, a quarter turn or a half turn.
The aim is to make the staircase fit the property without creating an uncomfortable arrangement.
Measure the Staircase Width
The available width should be measured at several positions, particularly in older properties where walls may not run parallel.
The staircase itself also needs enough clearance for strings, handrails, skirtings and surrounding finishes.
A nominal opening width is therefore not always the same as the usable staircase width.
Check Headroom
Headroom is one of the easiest things to misunderstand when looking only at a plan drawing.
The important measurement is the vertical clearance above the pitch line as the staircase passes beneath the edge of the upper floor or ceiling.
This needs to be considered during the survey, because a staircase can fit on plan and still create a headroom problem in three dimensions.
Record Surrounding Walls and Landings
A staircase does not exist on its own.
The surrounding walls, landings, floor edges, doors, windows, radiators and balustrades all affect the design.
We record these features because they can influence the direction of the flight, the position of newel posts and the way the staircase meets the upper landing.
Check Whether the Building Is Square
Older buildings are often not square, level or plumb.
Measure diagonals where useful and take dimensions at more than one position.
A staircase made perfectly square in the workshop may still need to fit between walls that vary significantly from top to bottom.
Knowing that before manufacture allows the design and installation method to be planned properly.
Measure Doorways and Access Routes
The staircase has to reach the room before it can be installed.
Access through external doors, corridors and existing stairwells should be considered during the survey.
For difficult properties, manufacturing the staircase in manageable sections may be more practical than attempting to deliver a complete assembled flight.
Why Several Measurements Are Better Than One
A single dimension can hide a problem.
For example, an opening may measure 900 mm wide at the bottom but 875 mm at the top. A floor may appear level but vary across the stairwell.
Taking repeated measurements allows us to see the shape of the actual building rather than assuming it matches the drawing.
How CAD Helps After the Survey
Once the site dimensions are recorded, CAD can be used to build the staircase digitally before manufacture.
This allows us to check the rise, going, pitch, turns, landing positions and general proportions in three dimensions.
It also gives customers a clearer idea of what the staircase will look like before timber is cut.
This is similar to the way we use CAD and 3D renders for customer quotations.
What Happens Before Manufacture
Before the staircase reaches the workshop, the survey measurements and design need to agree.
The number of risers, tread going, staircase width, turns, newel positions and connection to the upper floor are all checked together.
Only once those relationships are resolved should manufacturing information be prepared.
This reduces the risk of discovering a dimensional problem after the staircase has already been made.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important staircase measurement?
The total finished floor-to-floor height is one of the most important measurements because it controls the total rise and influences the number of risers.
Can I measure a bespoke staircase opening myself?
You can take initial dimensions for budgeting, but a bespoke staircase should normally be based on a detailed final survey before manufacture.
Why do you measure an opening in several places?
Walls and floors are not always straight or square, especially in older buildings. Multiple measurements show the true shape of the available space.
Do you need finished floor levels before measuring?
Ideally, yes. If the final floor finishes are not installed, their thickness needs to be known so the finished floor-to-floor height can be calculated accurately.
Can CAD be used to check a staircase before it is made?
Yes. CAD is very useful for checking the geometry and showing the customer the overall staircase in three dimensions before manufacture.
Can a bespoke staircase be designed for an awkward space?
Yes. One of the main advantages of bespoke manufacture is that the staircase can be designed around the actual opening, including turns, winders, landings and unusual wall positions.
Good staircase manufacture starts with good measuring.
The more accurately the building is understood at the survey stage, the easier it is to design a staircase that fits properly, feels comfortable and installs without unnecessary alteration.
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