Staircase Renovation

[swa110w]

We are looking to renovate a 1970s staircase. It is the usual style from that time - painted white wood with a darker wood bannister. We would like it done in oak.

I've had a couple of joiners in to look at it, both of whom have presented different solutions...

One suggested replacing the top 90% of the newel posts with solid oak posts but cladding the bottom 10% with oak panels to avoid damaging its structural integrity.

The other joiner said that when you do this, there is not a lot holding the replacement newel post in place and a heavy shove could break it off. Instead, he recommended leaving the existing newel post in place and cladding it completely.

Can anyone suggest which approach would be best?

 

[pinenot]

Cladding it completely is the same/similar in some ways, to veneering it when you think of it. All the structural strength is retained, and your simply applying a cote of decoration. So I would go with the second opinion, here is but one I found online - http://www.avontimber.co.uk/stair-klad.html ...pinenot

 

[ladylola]

I'd agree that cladding is the best option. In the past I have had to splice a newel post and the job is only as strong as the joint and to make a strong joint requires quite a bit of work. Even more work is to replace the entire newel post another job I have done in the past.

 

[swa110w]

Many thanks for the replies!