What to Do Before Measuring the Site of Your Future Staircase? The Ultimate Guide for Homeowners
Have you ever wondered what determines the success of a custom staircase installation? In fact, many factors can influence the final result. For example, it could be the choice of staircase materials, the experience of the builders, and also the accuracy of the initial measurements of the site. If the data about the room is incorrect, all further work will be a waste of time.
However, the stage of measuring the site for the installation of the future staircase does not only concern specialists. It is also the responsibility of homeowners, who must prepare the premises perfectly for future work. This will save time and allow professionals to do their job in the best possible way. That is why we have decided to prepare a comprehensive article for you, explaining the basic principles of preparing the site before measurement work!
Stage (Process) of Site Measurement – What Is It?
The measuring stage is a structured site survey that captures every dimension and constraint affecting your future staircase. Using laser measures and hand tools, the surveyor records floor-to-floor height, opening sizes, wall plumbness, and the exact positions of joists, skirtings, and services. They also assess access routes for delivery and installation, confirm the load-bearing substrate, and note finishes already in place.
- On the day, the surveyor establishes a fixed datum, then measures the rise and going, landing levels, and angles for winders or turns.
- Headroom, clear widths, and compliance clearances are checked, while allowances are made for plaster, flooring, and nosing overhangs so the final result aligns perfectly once finishes are applied.
- Photos and annotated sketches accompany a detailed survey sheet, identifying fixing points and any risks or adjustments required before fabrication begins.
What is the goal? It’s quite simple – create a millimeter-accurate picture of the space so the staircase can be designed and manufactured to fit the first time.
Checklist for Preliminary Site Preparation for Specialists
So, what is the most important thing for the right preparation of any site before the arrival of leading staircase installation specialists in the UK? Every homeowner should take a few steps and make sure that the entire checklist from this article has been completed. Next, we will share with you the best guide to ensure a successful outcome of the measurement work at your site!
1. Ensure Free Access in the Room
Clear access saves time and prevents measurement errors. Ensure gates, doors, and corridors are unlocked and unobstructed. Move furniture, boxes, and tools away from the staircase zone and approach routes. Reserve a nearby parking spot and clear external paths for carrying the kit. What else? Secure pets and tell neighbours if shared spaces are involved. If access to the loft or basement is required, have ladders or hatches ready. You should provide a working socket for chargers and a stable spot for a laptop, laser and notes.
2. Make Sure That the Facility Has Good Lighting
Reliable lighting is essential for reading laser targets and edges. Check that ceiling lights work in the relevant rooms, landings and stairwells, and replace failed bulbs beforehand. Daylight alone can shift quickly; set up temporary site lamps or task lights to remove shadows. Confirm that there is a safe 230 V power supply and that other trades won’t trip the breakers. Good illumination helps spot service routes, uneven substrates and defects that could affect fixing points.
Learn how to save money on staircase installation without compromising on quality → https://vpstairs.com/how-to-save-on-staircases-without-sacrificing-quality/
3. Facility Must Be Clean
Surely, clean and tidy surfaces let surveyors measure true reference points. Sweep or vacuum dust and grit, remove offcuts, loose cables and trip hazards, and lift any coverings that hide skirtings, edges or landing thresholds. If screeds, plaster or paint are wet, postpone until cured. Keep the staircase opening and the floor-to-floor line clear so datum marks can be set accurately.
4. Prepare Accurate Area Data
Have baseline data ready to validate on-site. We advise bringing floor plans, drawings, staircase sketches and structural notes. List finish build-ups by layer and thickness (screed, underlay, flooring, plaster) plus planned nosing profiles and skirting sizes. Note ceiling heights, floor-to-floor, and constraints such as fire doors or loft hatches. Share preferred styles and materials, and the decision-maker’s contact details, so design choices and queries can be resolved without delay.
5. Don’t Rush Experts
Rushing is one of the reasons why many perfect processes can have poor results. We include this factor in the list of the most common mistakes made during stair installation, so you should avoid this problem.
Precision takes patience. Allow uninterrupted time for the surveyor to establish a datum, cross-check dimensions and photograph details without feeling hurried. Avoid double-booking the space with other trades, and don’t schedule back-to-back appointments that force an early finish. Expect re-measures and clarifying questions. Why? These protect you from costly remakes later!
How Long Does the Object Measurement Stage Take?
For most homes, the staircase site survey takes 1 to 2 hours. That window covers establishing a datum, measuring floor-to-floor rise, openings, angles and clearances, and photographing critical details. A multi-turn layout, split landings or awkward access typically pushes the visit to 1.5 to 3 hours. Highly bespoke work, such as curved or helical designs, can require up to half a day to document and cross-check properly.
Duration depends less on house size than on the readiness of the occupants. So, time stretches when areas are cluttered, lighting is poor, finishes are undecided, or other trades interrupt. Keep things brisk by ensuring free access, good illumination, and clean reference edges, and by having build-ups, plans, and known service routes readily available. The payoff is fewer return visits and a staircase that fits the first time.
V.PSTAIRS – From Measurement to Successful Installation
A beautiful, functional and safe staircase is the result of joint efforts and a demonstration of the professionalism of builders. By working with V.PSTAIRS, you are guaranteed to get the best result that meets your expectations and all current staircase construction standards in the UK. We begin our collaboration with a free consultation, which you can obtain by contacting us in any convenient way:
- By telephone on +44 7418 315550
- By email at hello@vpstairs.com
- By submitting a request on our website
What happens next? We discuss your project, listen to your ideas and offer specific solutions. Next, we visit your site to take accurate measurements of the premises. This is the point at which you need to take all the necessary measures before our specialists begin work. Finally, we manufacture the structure and carry out the final installation.
