Stair Spindles
Complete your staircase design with our collection of elegant stair spindles. Find the perfect design for your project amongst our collection of metal and wood spindles. Get expert planning and stair spindle fitting advice from our team, or get in touch for help with design inspiration.
What is a Stair Spindle?
Stair spindles, sometimes called balusters, are the infill that line the staircase and stand between the lower baserail and the handrail. There are lots of different stair spindle styles, ranging from classic simple designs to elaborate modern decorative styles. Spindles, when combined with a handrail, baserail and newel post, make up a complete stair balustrade.
Choosing The Right Stair Spindle For Your Staircase
The spindle is crucial in the design and style of your staircase. When you’re looking for stair spindle ideas, you’ll need to keep in mind the space you have, the decor of the stairway and the material the rest of your stairs and stair balustrade are made from.
There are a number of different styles of spindle to choose from, depending on whether you want an intricate design, or prefer a more traditional look.
Square
Square spindles offer a clean, minimalist look that’s perfect for a modern style, and pair equally well with wooden or metal stair balustrade detailing. Simple square spindles are usually the cheapest option, though square tapered spindles are also available, offering a slightly more intricate look.
Twist
Within the twisted spindle category there are a number of different styles. Single twist spindles are well-suited for older houses or more classical designs, and have a simple twist to differentiate from the more plain square design. Double twist spindles are usually made from metal, and feature two separate twists along the length. More intricate still are barley twist spindles, which have a section towards the middle which resembles a barley twist - these are most often made from wood, but metal barley twist spindles are available.
Chamfered
Chamfered spindles are usually square at the top and bottom, with a patterned or decorated middle portion. Made from wood, chamfered balusters or spindles are available from Richard Burbidge in oak, pine, hemlock and white-finished wood.
Wooden Spindles
At Richard Burbidge we carry a number of staircase spindle styles to fit into any design theme. For traditional staircase designs encompassing timber elements, try choosing a spindle with a wood finish for a classic look. As well as being solid and durable, wood is easy to treat and paint, should you decide to change the design of your stairway.
Our wooden stair spindles range includes:
Oak, Pine, Hemlock, White finish
Metal Spindles
Pairing equally well with natural wood, painted or metal balustrades, metal spindles are favoured for their durability and easy maintenance.
Metal spindles are available in simple or more intricate patterns, which can be mixed and matched to create interest in your stair design. For example, our Elements collection combines wooden and metallic components for a twist on the usual stair design.
Stair Spindle Installation, Finishing & Maintenance
After you’ve decided on the design you’d like for your staircase, you need to think about installation and construction. Whether you’re building a brand new stair balustrade or are simply replacing old spindles, you’ll need to know exactly what you need for the project...
How far apart should stair spindles be?
In the UK, stair spindles need to be installed close enough together that a 100mm sphere can’t pass between them. Therefore, when you’re working out stair spindle spacing, the absolute maximum space between posts can be no more than 99mm.
How many spindles do I need for my stairs?
This will of course depend on the length of your staircase, depth of stairs and a variety of other factors. But a good rule of thumb is to allow for 2 spindles per stair tread, except for the tread with the newel post, where you’ll only need 1. For example a standard 12-tread staircase would require 22 spindles (based on standard 32mm or 41mm timber spindles).
If you choose wooden stair spindles, you may also need to think about wood preservative and stain. You can also alter the colour of your spindles to change the whole look of your staircase. Metal spindles are typically low maintenance, and usually just need the odd dusting or polishing.
If the spindles in your staircase get damaged or ageworn, it’s important to replace them as soon as possible for safety reasons. A broken spindle can look out of place in your design, but it can also be dangerous for people using the stairs, too. For help with replacing spindles, get in touch with our experts for advice on how to get started.
Why choose Richard Burbidge?
Choose to construct your stair balustrade with Richard Burbidge components and you’re guaranteed a high-quality, reliable, stylish and durable staircase that will last the test of time. We’ve built a reputation over more than 150 years that we’re very proud of - we’re the experts in timber construction, and have spent recent years adding to our portfolio with a number of contemporary designs and pieces that match the quality of our wooden products.
Our team lives and breathes what we do, so when you trust us with your project, you know you’re in the best possible hands. Take a look at our stair spindle collection and we’re confident you’ll find the perfect choices - our team is also always on hand to offer advice and inspiration for any project.