Returned

The days are swirling past like the dried leaves in the early winter wind.  So much to report, so little time, with my hours divided by meetings with the crew, vendors, subs, teachers, clients and more.  A backhanded apology for my absence as I will try to bring you up to speed in the near future.

The third-floor run

A mere two weeks after the main staircases went away, replaced by seemingly rickety construction stairs, the new constructs came to their resting place at Owl Manor.  They are as solid as New England granite.  You can wiggle and bounce on them to your heart’s delight with nary a shake or squeak.  They are tight.

The risers and treads are white oak, and unlike what you are used to seeing, the risers will NOT be painted white.  I’ve spent a dozen years cleaning white risers on stairs and I am done.

Begging to be touched

However, the trim board you see along the side with the bright grain popping is, indeed poplar.  That part can and will be painted.

Things about their craftsmanship make me want to touch them.  I can’t walk past the master bedroom door without feeling one of these little curved stair edges.  They just cry out to be touched and each of them says, “I was handmade!”

While the third-floor string went up in a day, the main staircase took a tad more time.  The installation progressed piece

Field assembly

by piece ~ stringers, risers, treads.  Everything carefully marked out with precision.

What’s most noticeable is what I cannot see:  there’s not a single nail visible.

For now, everything is covered in RAM board to protect the wood from being knocked up too much.

I also chose new balusters that are being prepared off-site.  Those, and the

Old on the left, new on the right

New baluster at exact scale

handrails I care about will be kept away until the end.  While I appreciated all of the detail in the original “spindles” on the left, which were alternately squared and turned and full of complex figures, the fact is, I could not afford to restore them.  Underneath all those coats of paint there was surely lead, and the 189 pieces all needed some repair.  In addition, they were not tall enough to meet today’s safety code.  Given the expense of restoration AND raising them, it was an easy choice to go with something new; something simple yet classical that will be beautiful in its repetition.  And yes, I did count every single one of them.

It is very hard to let go of the few original things in the house, but when their replacements are of this quality and craftsmanship, it makes it so much easier.

Thank you, Northeast Stairs, for helping restore what was lost.