News
Don't miss out on what's happening at Richard Burbidge, plus lots of guides and tips for successful home renovations.
Whether you're starting a renovation project or building your dream home from the ground up, your staircase serves more than just a functional purpose—it’s a fundamental design feature that sets the tone for your entire interior space. As the UK’s leading manufacturer of stairparts, we’re here to demystify the process of choosing a staircase and explain what you should consider when selecting your parts. Materials Oak and pine are the most popular material choices for stairparts, and both have unique advantages. Oak is renowned for its durability and timeless appeal. It has a natural texture and warm undertones, from subtle reddish hues to deeper yellow tones. As a hardwood, its strength and longevity make it an ideal choice for high-traffic areas, ensuring resilience against daily wear and tear. Pine is known for its light colour, distinctive grain patterns, and rustic allure. As a softwood, pine isn’t as hardy as oak, but it's lightweight and versatile, making it a cost-effective and highly customisable choice. Pine takes finishes and waxes well, so you can paint or stain it any colour of your choosing to match your furnishings. Richard Burbidge’s PaintReady collection offers a range of timber stairparts ready finished in an ultra-smooth, eco-friendly, water-based primer. This means No sanding, no filling, no priming, for less time on the job. Customers also have the flexibility to mix and match different timber options or combine timber with a painted finish. Your Property The staircase plays an integral role in the overall look and feel of your space. When selecting stairparts, it's essential to consider the character and style of your property to achieve cohesive and harmonious interiors. If you live in a heritage or period property with original architectural features, opt for stair parts crafted from rich, enduring hardwood materials like oak. Oak has a timeless elegance and sophistication, perfectly complementing the historic charm of your property while adding a touch of grandeur to your staircase. Alternatively, if your home has a more contemporary or eclectic aesthetic, consider stair parts made from a combination of pine, glass or metal to achieve a modern, airy ambience. Selecting Stair Parts A staircase is only as impressive as the sum of its parts. At Richard Burbidge, we have a collection of stairparts to suit every home, with a choice of glass, metal and timber that can elevate the ordinary into the inspirational. Choosing your stairparts involves understanding each component's purpose and design to create a functional and visually striking staircase. Let’s break down some of the core elements: Spindles and Balusters: Stair spindles, also known as balusters, are the vertical rods connecting the handrail to the stairs. These components can be made from wood, metal, or glass to suit your interior preferences. Think of each spindle as individual design elements that work together to form a complete, visually striking staircase. Baserail: A baserail is the horizontal component of a handrail system that runs along the bottom of the staircase, providing support and safety. It typically sits at the base of the balusters or spindles and serves as a structural element to which the spindles are attached. The baserail may feature a groove for spindles to slot into or remain solid, with metal spindles or glass brackets directly affixed to it. Our baserails are available in various timbers to match any interior style, including oak, pine, hemlock, and a white finish. Newel posts: The newel post is the pillar that supports the handrail on a staircase. Though newel posts offer safety and are a structural stairpart, they also function as decorative elements in your interior design. Easily transform your staircase with our ReNewel Cladding System, the ideal solution for refreshing or modernising old newels that are tough to replace. Customisable kits are available in Oak and Pine finishes, offering a convenient way to update your staircase. Our unique and innovative designs enable you to transform most staircases in a matter of days. Check out our complete selection of stairparts here. Safety When renovating your staircase, safety should always come first. Richard Burbidge stair systems undergo thorough testing and evaluations by FIRA, the recognised authority in timber product testing. Not only does this ensure that our products last the test of time, but it also verifies that they comply with all necessary building regulations. You’ll have the peace of mind that your staircase prioritises safety without compromising style or quality. No matter the design, the most integral part of any staircase is the quality of the materials and the parts. With over 150 years of experience manufacturing timber products, you can be confident that your Richard Burbidge staircase will be an excellent investment. To book a design consultation, click here; our expert team will contact you soon.
READ ARTICLEAt Richard Burbidge, we know that a staircase is more than just a way to move between floors, it is a defining feature and focal point of your home. Our new StepUp® Oak Stair Cladding range is designed for homeowners and interior designers alike, providing a stylish and long-lasting way to transform your staircase. A Simple Transformation The StepUp® collection is designed to give you full control over your staircases' appearance while making updates fast, easy and completely customisable. Each riser features a dual finish, with oak veneer on one side and primed-to-paint on the other, allowing you to switch instantly between oak and painted finishes for fully customisable projects. Extender treads give the appearance of a continuous solid oak staircases from top to bottom. Single and three-step packs are available to suit projects of any size, from minor updates to complete stair transformations. All components are made from durable materials that withstand everyday use while maintaining their premium appearance. Why StepUp® is the Smart Choice StepUp® combines practicality with lasting style: The range allows a fast staircase makeover, making it ideal for homeowners, renovators or interior designers seeking impact with minimal disruption. The combination of oak and primed-to-paint finishes can be tailored to complement and decor style. Each component is engineered for durability, ensuring your staircase retains its premium look for years to come. The products are designed to be eco-friendly and user friendly, keeping installers and the environment in mind. Explore the full collection or download a brochure
READ ARTICLEAcoustic panels are a simple yet effective way to improve your home’s comfort and functionality. Beyond aesthetics, they transform the way you experience your space, helping to reduce noise, improve sound clarity and create a more peaceful, balanced environment. Our acoustic panels come in a variety of materials, textures, and finishes from soft neutral tones to bold colours including Light Oak, Walnut and Oiled Oak. They are a practical addition that adds both style and substance to your home, whether you’re creating a calming space or a productive workspace. Calm Living Spaces Living rooms are often the heart of the home but hard surfaces and open layouts can make noise linger. Acoustic panels absorb unwanted sound, reducing echoes and creating a more serene environment. Positioned strategically, they can also serve as a subtle design feature, adding texture and depth to your walls without dominating the décor. Productive Home Offices Working from home requires focus, yet sound distractions can interrupt your workflow. Installing acoustic panels like our Premium Acoustic Panel in Light Oak help to reduce background noise and improve speech clarity, making virtual meetings and calls far more productive. Sleek and understated, they integrate seamlessly into your office setup, offering a stylish yet practical solution. Bedrooms Your bedroom should be a haven for relaxation. Acoustic panels help to dampen noise from other rooms or the outside world, ensuring a peaceful night’s sleep. With options in a range of finishes, they can complement any interior style while improving your home’s overall comfort. Entertainment Spaces Whether you’re enjoying a home cinema, music room, or gaming area, acoustic panels enhance audio performance for a richer, more immersive experience. They control reverberation, ensuring every note, word, or sound effect comes through clearly, without disturbing the rest of the household. Explore our full range of acoustic panels here.
READ ARTICLEWhen it comes to adding character to a home space, it’s often the small design choices that make the biggest impact. Wall panelling has long been favoured in interior design for its ability to add character to any space. Our new PaintReady® Shaker Style Wall Panel Kits provide an easy and effective way to transform any interior space. Here are some of the best ways panelling can elevate your home's character: Add Texture and Depth Panelling isn’t just about looks - it also adds depth and dimension to a room. By painting the panels in your chosen colours, you can bring character to any space. Whether you opt for traditional whites, contemporary neutrals, or bold, dramatic colours, panelling enhances the overall look of a space. Our pre-primed PaintReady® Shaker Style & Classic Wall Panel Kits offer both convenience and flexibility, making it easy to achieve the exact finish you're after. Creates Visual Interest Wall panelling adds a strong visual element, turning a plain wall into a statement feature. Whether it's a subtle half-height design or a full transformation, it adds character to any room, making a once empty space into a striking focal point. In bedrooms, adding panelled walls behind the bed adds a tailored, elegant touch, whereas in living areas, feature walls create a refined sense of luxury. Suited to any space. Panelling is incredibly versatile, making it perfect for both traditional and contemporary homes. It complements a variety of interior styles, whether you’re embracing bold, modern tones or a minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic. This design choice can adapt to your homes style over time, ensuring it remains timeless and relevant for years to come. Easy Installation Our PaintReady® Wall Panel Kits are designed for easy installation. The pre-primed parts ensure a smooth, even surface ready for painting, saving both time and effort. Whether you’re updating a single room or undertaking a whole home project, these kits offer a straightforward way to achieve a high-end look. Explore our full range of wall panelling here
READ ARTICLEAt Richard Burbidge, we take pride in offering a FREE Design Service that helps you maximise the potential of our home renovation products. We understand that you may have questions about this service, such as: What is a Design Service? Is it free? Who will assist me with my design queries, and how can they help? So, we wanted to explain the whole process in the below step-by-step guide, to show you how our Design Service can help take your next project to the next level. How Richard Burbidge Design Service works Using our Design Service You can request our free Design Service via our online website form here. In this form, please specify whether you are interested in stairparts or outdoor projects so we can arrange for the best team to help.. We kindly ask that you provide a few images of the area you’re looking to renovate or install our products, just so we can get a better idea of the best way to progress and provide accurate details. Additionally, we request that you select the specific collection you’re interested in, but if you’re undecided yet, that’s perfectly fine – we’re here to help! Feel free to explore our Inspiration Gallery for some initial ideas. What happens when you request a Design Service After submitting the form, our team will review your project details, and if needed, give you a call to discuss everything further. For example to learn more about your project or to understand the type of products that will work best. Getting a Design Service quote Once our team has reviewed your request and gathered all necessary information, a member of the team will provide you with a project plan, along with any technical notes and images. You will receive a list of everything you need and information on where to purchase the products. This service is designed to simplify the process for you, outlining all required products and steps. If you are still undecided, we can offer additional design options and guidance. After you’ve received your Design Service project plan If you choose to proceed, our team will continue to support you throughout every step of the process. Your dedicated Richard Burbidge expert will be available to answer any questions you may have promptly and efficiently via email or phone, ensuring you get the most out of your planned stair renovation or outdoor project. To enquire today about your latest project, please fill in the Design Service form. To speak to a member of our technical team, you can contact us via at technical@richardburbidge.co.uk or call our dedicated technical line: 01691 678212.
READ ARTICLEAt Archwood Group, our commitment to quality, sustainability and the well-being of our people has always been at the heart of everything we do. For more than 30 years, we’ve continually evolved to meet the highest standards across our operations, and we’re proud to share the latest milestone in our journey - accreditation to the internationally recognised ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management System. This achievement marks a significant moment in our long-standing history of excellence. Our journey began in 1991 when we first achieved ISO 9001, the globally recognised standard for quality management systems. That same year, Richard Burbidge Ltd was also a founding member of the WWF 1995 Club, showcasing our early commitment to sustainability. In 2000, we built on this foundation by achieving ISO 14001, the benchmark for effective environmental management. Over the past 25 years, this certification has reflected our dedication to reducing environmental impact, conserving resources and driving sustainable operations. Now, with the addition of ISO 45001:2018, we are proud to be formally recognised for our robust approach to occupational health and safety. This globally recognised certification demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Archwood Group’s senior management to providing a safe, healthy and supportive working environment. By systematically identifying and managing workplace risks, we are ensuring that every member of our team is protected and empowered. Here at Archwood Group, this milestone is more than a certification it is a testament to the great work already being done across our brands. It reflects the collective efforts of our workforce and leadership in maintaining the highest standards and continually striving to do better. Fostering a culture of continuous improvement and best practice is one of our core values and this latest achievement strengthens an already impressive portfolio of certifications. We believe that certifications aren’t just about meeting standards, they’re about setting them. As we look ahead to the future, we remain committed to driving progress in every area of our business, from sustainability and quality to the safety and well-being of our people. Together, we’re building not just better products but a better future. Download our ISO45001:2018 certificate here
READ ARTICLE
Combining fantastic design with the finest craftsmanship
Established in 1867, family run Richard Burbidge has been passionate about the design, manufacture and supply of timber products for over 150 years. Today we offer a range of innovative products designed to transform your home.
about us