Capability
Read the original
We can identify the species and lift an exact profile off a surviving newel, baluster, finial, or rail — the read most suppliers skip, and the reason the match comes back exact, not close-enough.
Period Restoration · Lehigh ValleyKeeping old homeslooking original.
Historic homes deserve more than off-the-shelf parts. We specialize in sourcing and matching period stair components so your restoration looks true to the home's original character. Can't find a matching part? We can help.
─── Call line
(610) 443-2240Send photos · estimate inside a week
Can old stair parts be matched instead of replaced?
Usually, yes. We match existing newels, balusters, and handrail profiles — turned and carved parts sourced through our specialist suppliers, fitted and finish-fit in our Whitehall shop — so restored sections read as original. Send photos of the damage and we'll tell you honestly what's matchable.
Reviewed July 2026 · Nick & the Snyder Stairs team, Whitehall PA
- Est. 198739 yrs
- Family-Owned
- Veteran-Owned
- 4.8★ Verified
- Lehigh Valley
Why we can match it
Three things a parts counter can't do.
A box store sells stock profiles; a general contractor orders close-enough. Matching a period part takes a stair shop that reads the original, coordinates the sourcing, and finishes the piece by hand — all under one roof.
Capability
Source or have it made
We carry the supplier relationships to track down matching period parts where they still exist — or have them turned and carved to match by our specialist suppliers, all coordinated under one roof.
Capability
Fit + finish in our shop
We have a full Whitehall shop to fit, finish, and detail every part before it goes in — so the new piece sits like it always belonged in the run, not like a replacement.
How a restoration runs
Document → match → fit → install.
Most restoration projects come in via a contractor or a homeowner with a historic home. The four-step process is the same.
01Site visit + document
We measure the surviving piece, document the wood species, and photograph the run in context so the match is exact.
Your site
02Confirm the match
We confirm proportions and profile with you — and, on complex or curved work, draw it up in CAD (not engineer-stamped) before anything is made.
Snyder shop · Whitehall
03Source or have made + fit
We source matching period parts or have them made to match, then fit and finish them in our Whitehall shop. 6–10 weeks depending on complexity.
Snyder shop · Whitehall- 04
Install finished
On-site install of the finished parts. Finishing happens at the Whitehall shop before delivery, not on your floors. We document the work for your records.
Your home
A real project
Matching newel posts that look like they were always there.
This homeowner wanted to preserve the original character of their home while replacing damaged newel posts. We sourced matching replacements and carefully installed them so the finished staircase looks true to the home's original design.
Drag the slider to see the transformation.
After
Document → match → fit → install
Newel-post matching — period preservation.
Faucett · Hackettstown NJ · Period restorationWhat we match
The period parts, matched to the original.
Newels, balusters, handrails and volutes, finials and fittings — whatever the original carried. Each is sourced or made to match the survivor, then fit and finished in the Whitehall shop.
Newels
Sourced or made to matchTurned and box newels matched to the original proportion and cap profile.
Balusters
Matched to the survivorsWhole runs matched to the survivors — same bead, same taper.
Handrails & volutes
Fit to matchPeriod rail profiles and curved volutes matched and fit to the original.
Finials & fittings
Matched to originalCarved finials and irregular fittings matched from the original and fit in our shop.
What's included
Everything your restoration includes.
Historic stair restoration takes more than finding the right part. We carefully measure, source or recreate the match, and install everything with attention to detail so it looks like it has always belonged.
In-home consultation
We visit your home, take detailed measurements, and document the original part.
Matching guidance
We'll help identify the correct profile, wood species, and details to create the closest possible match.
Sourced or custom made
If the part isn't available, we'll work with trusted suppliers to have it recreated to match your original.
Fit + finished in Whitehall
Fit, finished, and detailed on our own floor — never on your floors.
Professional installation
Our experienced team installs the new parts with care, making sure everything fits and blends seamlessly.
We stand behind our work
If something loosens later, give us a call and we'll come back and fix it.
CAD for preservation boards
Documented drawing + specs your historic board can sign off on.
Outside our 50-mile core service area, site visits add mileage at IRS rates. Builders and restoration contractors get trade pricing — call us.
What to expect
Here's what the process looks like.
Historic stair restoration is a little different from a typical renovation, but we'll guide you through every step. Here's what you can expect when you work with Snyder Stairs.
- 01EstimateInside 7 days
- 02Site visitWe measure on-site
- 03Deposit50% on contract
- 04Source + fit6–10 weeks
- 05Preservation boardCoordination included
- 06We come backIf it's not right
Recent Projects
Built across the Lehigh Valley.
Right fit for restoration
Why a stair shop, and not a parts counter?
Restoration only works if someone can read the original and match it part-for-part — same proportion, same wood, same hand. That's a capability a box store and a general contractor don't carry.
The stair shop
Snyder Stairs
Alternative
Big-box / online parts
Alternative
General contractor
A part not in any catalog since 1910
Sourced, or made to match the survivor
Stock profiles only — no match exists
Subs hunt for a close-enough substitute
Reading an irregular original
Measured and documented from the surviving piece
Nothing to work from — you measure and guess
Eyeball-and-order, tolerances drift
Missing or broken pieces
Rebuilt from period precedent, you approve the design
If it's not stocked, you're stuck
Patched or swapped for whatever fits
Historic-preservation board
Documented CAD submitted to the board's standards
No documentation to submit
Coordination falls back on you
Period-accurate species
Cherry, walnut, oak, mahogany — matched, reclaimed if needed
Imported softwood, wrong grain
Whatever the supplier stocked
Where it's fit + finished
Fit and finished in our Whitehall shop
Drop-shipped, finish on you
Varies by job, source unknown
A part not in any catalog since 1910
Snyder Stairs
Sourced, or made to match the survivor
Big-box / online parts
Stock profiles only — no match exists
General contractor
Subs hunt for a close-enough substitute
Reading an irregular original
Snyder Stairs
Measured and documented from the surviving piece
Big-box / online parts
Nothing to work from — you measure and guess
General contractor
Eyeball-and-order, tolerances drift
Missing or broken pieces
Snyder Stairs
Rebuilt from period precedent, you approve the design
Big-box / online parts
If it's not stocked, you're stuck
General contractor
Patched or swapped for whatever fits
Historic-preservation board
Snyder Stairs
Documented CAD submitted to the board's standards
Big-box / online parts
No documentation to submit
General contractor
Coordination falls back on you
Period-accurate species
Snyder Stairs
Cherry, walnut, oak, mahogany — matched, reclaimed if needed
Big-box / online parts
Imported softwood, wrong grain
General contractor
Whatever the supplier stocked
Where it's fit + finished
Snyder Stairs
Fit and finished in our Whitehall shop
Big-box / online parts
Drop-shipped, finish on you
General contractor
Varies by job, source unknown
Family-owned & veteran-owned in Whitehall, PA since 1987 — two generations of stair specialists. If something loosens later, we come back and fix it.
Frequently asked
Restoration, answered honestly.
How much does period restoration cost?
Every project is a little different, so we don't use one-size-fits-all pricing. The cost depends on the type of part, the wood species, the amount of carving, and whether we can source a match or need to have one custom made. The easiest way to get started is to send us a few photos. We'll review your project, give you a realistic budget range, and let you know whether the original part can be repaired or if it should be replaced.
How long does a restoration take?
Most restoration projects take 6–10 weeks, depending on the complexity of the part and how it's sourced. We typically provide an estimate within about a week, and most installations take 1–2 days. If your project requires approval from a historic preservation board, we'll help coordinate that process as well.
How disruptive is the work?
Usually, not very. Most of the work happens before we ever arrive at your home. Once your parts are ready, our team completes the installation, protects the surrounding area, and cleans up before we leave. Most installations are finished in 1–2 days.
Can you work from photos alone?
Usually, yes. The best place to start is by sending us a few clear photos of your staircase. In many cases, that's enough for us to determine the next steps. If we need more information, we'll let you know and schedule a quick site visit.
How do you match a part that's no longer made?
If the part is still available, we'll source the closest match. If it isn't, we work with trusted suppliers who can recreate it based on the original. Our goal is simple: when the project is finished, the new part should look like it has always belonged there.
What if the original is damaged or missing?
That's actually pretty common in older homes. We use the remaining details, measurements, and similar period profiles to recreate the missing pieces. Before anything is made, we'll review the design with you to make sure you're happy with the approach.
Do you coordinate with historic preservation boards?
Yes. If your project requires historic preservation approval, we can provide the drawings and documentation needed to support the review process and help answer any questions along the way.
What wood species do you use for restoration matching?
Whatever the original was. Most period work in the Lehigh Valley is cherry, walnut, white oak, or mahogany. We can identify the species from a sample (sometimes from the photo). For matched-grain replacements, we source from American suppliers; for fully period-accurate matches (e.g., 1880s old-growth pine), we work with reclaimed-wood specialists. Either way, the species call goes in the project proposal.
Is restoration billed differently from new construction work?
Yes. Restoration carries a higher hand-labor share — documenting the original, confirming the match, sourcing or having parts made, and hand-finishing — so it runs above a catalog parts order. We share the breakdown in the proposal. For projects in our 50-mile core service area, site visits are included; outside that radius, we charge mileage at IRS rates. Builders and restoration contractors get trade pricing — call us.
Talk to a personStill have a question?
Period stair and railing restoration — we match the part, then fit it. If something loosens later, we come back and fix it.
Period-home owner?
Free estimate inside a week — start with photos.
Historic homes deserve historic railings. Send a phone snap of the original and we'll get you a free estimate inside a week — then source it or have it made to match and fit it in our shop.
- Free estimate
- Sourced or made to match
- Fit in our shop
- 01 Send a few photos
- 02 Real budget on the first call
- 03 Built in Whitehall, installed in 1–3 days
Restoration
Matching period stair parts for historic homes.
Have a broken newel, missing baluster, or worn handrail? Send us a few photos and we'll review your project, explain your options, and give you a realistic budget range. If we can match it, we'll take care of the rest.
- A real budget range on the first call.
- One of the Snyders replies.
- No obligation, no pressure, no sales meeting.
A real person answers — no phone menu · 117 Franklin Street, Whitehall, PA · (610) 443-2240