Classic stair parts

Quality and elegance lie at the very heart of the Richard Burbidge Classic stair parts collection, lovingly made from high quality white oak. Although traditional in style, their craftsmen have added a certain poise and refinement to their best ‘turned’ designs of spindles and newels to create a sophisticated, modern feel.

Shop for Classic White Oak - Post To Post  

Advantages of Classic stairs 

Versatile

Stairs form a major structural component of most homes, so can't be changed as easily as the furniture and decor - yet they are often the first thing visitors see when they step through your front door. This is why many home owners opt for a stair design that won't readily go out of date.

Made from mellow straight-grained oak, the Classic stair parts range offers a timeless appeal, ideal for any style of interior, and blends perfectly into both traditional and modern settings. It's an investment that will give you many years of pleasure.

High quality 

Beautifully crafted from the finest natural materials, the Classic collection will create a sophisticated look and add refinement to your hallway.

Attractive turned and fluted oak balusters and a choice of plain or fluted newels (upright supporting posts) with their own unique Classic newel cap or curled volute will give your home an enduring air of quality. Volutes are decorative curls at the end of a continuous handrail, and come in left-hand or right-hand configurations to suit the layout of your staircase.

Choice of handrail styles

The Classic range is available in two handrail systems:

• An over-the-post configuration (pictured left) - the handrail runs all the way down the stairs in a continuous sweep, ending in a volute (a curled section of rail)

• A post-to-post design (pictured right) - straight sections of handrail are inserted between the newel posts and secured with traditional mortise and tenon joints

Over-the-post handrail  

Also known as a continuous handrail system, this design involves connecting straight lengths of handrail to the fittings and up-ramps, also called up-easings (small curved sections of connector rail). This allows the handrail to flow over the tops of the newels, ending in a decorative flourish. The volute is normally supported by four extra spindles in a circular layout.

We do not advise using this system at points on the stairway that have extra rises, such as winder flights (stairs that change direction). This is because a longer length of handrail is required, so some of the joins might not be stable enough. Stairs are first and foremost a means of getting from A to B, and structural safety should always be a priority.

Post-to-post handrail

In this system, the handrail runs between the newels and is fitted into the side of each post, using either traditional mortise and tenon joints or, more rarely, steel bolts. 

This is the strongest, most stable design, and the most suitable configuration for stairs that change direction - for instance, if there is a half or quarter landing along the stairway.

The newel posts in this system are topped off with Classic turned newel caps in white oak. You can choose between plain and fluted newels according to taste.

How many spindles?

To work out how many balusters, or spindles, you require, count the number of treads between newels on your staircase. Allow two balusters per tread, or one for each tread where there is a cut-out for a newel post. 

You also have to take account of UK building regulations, which state that the gap between spindles should not permit a 100mm sphere to pass through.

To calculate the number of landing spindles needed, measure the horizontal distance of the stairway - ie along the floor - in millimetres, then divide this figure by 112 (for 32mm spindles) or 121 (for 41mm spindles). As an example, 900mm long stairs would require eight 32mm spindles (900 ÷.112 = 8).

Images © Richard Burbidge Ltd 2016 used with permission