Frequently Asked Questions

Lacquered wooden staircases are wiped with a slightly damp cloth and mild cleaner. Oiled staircases should be treated with care oil once or twice a year. Standing water should always be avoided.

A solid wood staircase from HTS costs between 3,000 and 9,000 euros gross per storey, including installation, depending on the specification. For multi-storey projects, the total cost typically ranges from 10,000 to 20,000 euros.

The main price factors are the stair shape, wood species, surface finish, and chosen extras such as risers or balustrade railings.

At HTS, 50% of the total amount is due as a deposit upon order confirmation. The remaining balance is paid after installation is complete. There is no minimum order value.

Handrails are mounted 85--90 cm above the tread nosing. In accessible buildings, the handrail must extend 30 cm beyond the start and end of the staircase.

A railing consists of the handrail, the vertical railing posts, and the infill (e.g. balusters, glass panels, or wood panels). The minimum height is 90--110 cm depending on the regulations.

With continuous lamella, the wood layers consist of long, uninterrupted pieces for a uniform appearance. Finger-jointed wood is made from several shorter pieces interlocked and glued, making it more affordable.

HTS primarily works with beech and oak, plus ash and hevea for coloured finishes. Special woods such as acacia or walnut are available on request. Finishes range from clear matt lacquer and oiling to colour lacquering and brushing.

Installing a staircase in an existing building generally does not require a separate building permit. However, the staircase must meet structural requirements and comply with DIN 18065.

Planning rule: DIN 18065 caps a straight-flight run at 18 risers before an intermediate landing is required. Winder treads count as a direction change and replace the landing.

Primary staircases connect habitable rooms and serve as escape routes with strict dimensional requirements per DIN 18065. Secondary staircases lead to ancillary areas such as attics and may be more compact.

The clear room height is the distance from the finished floor to the underside of the ceiling. The floor-to-floor height extends to the top of the floor of the next storey and additionally includes the deck thickness.

To choose a staircase, you need the floor-to-floor height, clear room height, size of the deck opening, deck thickness, and the floor area of the available space.

The standard lead time at HTS is 4--6 weeks from order confirmation to installation. For urgent projects, express delivery in 5--7 working days is available.

The on-site survey costs 150 euros plus travel. However, a free preliminary phone quote is available at any time with just 3--4 key measurements.

HTS provides full service including consultation, on-site survey, and installation within a 75 km radius of Witten. Beyond that, delivery is available throughout the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).

The ordering process at HTS includes phone consultation, on-site survey, final quote, order confirmation with 50% deposit, manufacturing in 4--6 weeks, and installation in a single day.

Yes, HTS fully clads concrete staircases with solid wood. The cost is 200--280 euros per step, depending on the chosen wood species.

HTS manufactures straight, quarter-turn, half-turn, and three-quarter-turn winder staircases, as well as staircases with landings in U, S, and Z shapes. Faltwerk staircases, cut-stringer staircases, Berliner Stufen, and central-post staircases are also part of the range.

Lacquered staircases generally do not need retreatment. Oiled surfaces should be refreshed once or twice a year with care oil to maintain protection.

Creaking noises are caused by the natural movement of wood in response to temperature and humidity fluctuations. Connections loosen minimally and components rub against each other.

Wood handrails are wiped with a slightly damp cloth and mild cleaner in the direction of the grain. Oiled handrails should be regularly retreated with care oil.

All HTS staircases come with the statutory two-year warranty on materials and workmanship. This requires professional installation by HTS and proper maintenance.

An HTS quote is valid for 14 days. Within this period, you can confirm the order at the stated terms.

In residential settings, diameters of 40--45 mm have proven ideal. The handrail must be easy to grip and maintain a minimum clearance of 5 cm from the wall.

Yes, railings can be retrofitted in most cases. The prerequisite is sufficient space and load-bearing capacity of the existing staircase for the post fixings.

Mounting guide: fix the handrail brackets at 80–130 cm intervals to load-bearing anchor points. Pick a bracket system that matches the substrate — concrete, brick, hollow block or stud wall.

Wood handrails can be lacquered, oiled, or colour-treated. Ends are typically rounded, chamfered, or fitted with end caps.

The bracket type depends on the handrail profile: round handrails need brackets with a curved cradle, profiled handrails need brackets with a flat cradle. Adjustable brackets adapt to the staircase angle.

For a healthy indoor climate, low-emission lacquers and oils should be used. HTS uses high-quality surface treatments that comply with European environmental standards.

HTS primarily uses domestic woods such as oak and beech from European forestry. Short transport distances and controlled quality are standard.

The winding direction is determined from the perspective of ascent: a right-hand winder turns clockwise to the right, while a left-hand winder turns anticlockwise to the left.

First determine the location and use, measure the key room dimensions, and contact HTS for a preliminary phone quote. With 3--4 key measurements, you receive a free initial estimate.

The projection refers to the horizontal space a staircase requires -- measured from the first step to the exit edge. It determines how far the staircase extends into the room.

For an attic staircase, the floor-to-floor height, deck thickness, and especially the size of the deck opening are decisive. HTS does not build loft ladders but manufactures full staircases to the attic if the opening is large enough.

Yes, a staircase can be installed in rooms with underfloor heating. However, no heating pipes may be laid in the area of the staircase fixings.

Yes, HTS manufactures every staircase individually to measure. There are no standard dimensions -- each staircase is precisely tailored to your installation situation.

For installation, the room temperature (18--24 degrees Celsius) and humidity (30--60%) must be correct. Screed and plaster must be fully dried.

Before the survey, walls should be plastered and the screed laid. No pipes or underfloor heating pipes may be installed in the area where the staircase is fixed.

HTS installs all staircases on-site -- self-installation is not offered. For DIY enthusiasts, however, HTS provides individual treads for replacement on existing structures.

HTS does not offer sanding and re-lacquering of existing staircases, as this is not cost-effective. Instead, complete replacement, solid wood cladding on concrete, or step replacement on metal structures are available.

At HTS, the manufacturing time is 4--6 weeks from order confirmation. On-site installation takes one day with 3--8 hours of work.

HTS installs every staircase on-site -- installation is included in the price. There is no kit delivery without installation.

For a preliminary phone quote, just 3--4 key measurements such as floor-to-floor height and deck opening are enough. For the final quote, HTS conducts a precise on-site survey.

HTS offers express manufacturing in 5--7 working days from order confirmation to installation. The surcharge is 20% on top of the standard price.

Yes, HTS has a showroom at its headquarters in Witten (Westfalenstraße 6) where various staircase models, wood species, and finishes can be viewed.

Yes, HTS cooperates with steel fabricators for substructures when needed. For example, with Berliner Stufen (cantilevered steps), the metal structure is built by the steel fabricator and the wood cladding is handled by HTS.

Yes, HTS replaces treads on existing metal structures. The cost is 180--210 euros per step for new solid wood treads.

Berliner Stufen are cantilevered treads mounted on one side to the wall via a metal substructure. HTS handles the complete wood cladding of the treads.

Two-in-one explainer: the exit tread names the topmost step at the floor transition; the going depth is the horizontal tread dimension, at least 26 cm for primary staircases per DIN 18065.

A central-post staircase is the HTS alternative to a classic spiral staircase. It has a central support post but a rectangular rather than round construction, with the outer sides running along the walls.

A Faltwerk staircase is a cantilevered construction that is bolted into the wall on one side and supported by the handrail on the open side. It is part of the premium segment starting from approx. 9,000 euros.

A landing is a horizontal platform within a stair run. It serves as a resting point, direction change, or access to adjoining rooms and is required by DIN 18065 after no more than 18 steps.

A spiral staircase is a round winding staircase with a central column. HTS does not build spiral staircases but offers the central-post staircase as a space-saving alternative with a rectangular construction.

In a housed-stringer staircase, the treads are routed into the stringer, creating a classic appearance. In a cut-stringer staircase, the treads sit on top of the stringer and project beyond it.

Steel staircases are durable and fire-resistant. HTS does not build pure steel staircases but combines solid wood with steel structures -- for example with Berliner Stufen or tread replacement on metal staircases.

Specific component: the child safety strip — also called an anti-fall strip — sits below each open tread and reduces the gap to under 12 cm. For the broader topic see the glossary entry *Child Safety on Stairs*.