What standards guide the architectural woodworking process?

All work is guided by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. These standards shape how materials are evaluated, how repairs are approached, and when replacement is appropriate.

What types of properties does Fifty Three Restorations work on?

The team has completed more than 1100 projects across a wide range of property types including private residences, museums, and public or institutional buildings.

What architectural woodworking services are offered in Greenwich?

Services include interior and exterior architectural woodwork, wood windows, doors, and millwork restoration and installation, staircases and handrails fabrication and repair, building cornices restoration, period reconstructions for museums and private properties, and custom wood finishes such as staining and painting.

How long has Fifty Three Restorations been in business?

Fifty Three Restorations has supported the historic preservation community since 1990, providing detailed and thoughtful woodworking services.

How can I start an architectural woodworking project?

Call Fifty Three Restorations at (212) 566-1053 to discuss your project. From initial assessment to final installation, every step is handled with care and precision.

Historic Staircase Restoration

Stair Case Restoration in Manhattan

Historic staircases tend to reveal the history of a building in ways walls often don’t.

Years of use leave marks. Renovations change layouts. Original craftsmanship remains visible long after structural conditions begin to shift.

At Fifty Three Restorations, stair case restoration in Manhattan is approached with an understanding that restoration projects rarely involve only one problem.

A staircase may need structural work.

Historic details may need preservation.

Existing components may still deserve a place within the finished result.

Since 1990, our work has focused on restoration and architectural woodwork intended to preserve character while helping older systems continue to function.

Historic interior staircase restoration and millwork reconstruction in Manhattan

Stair Restoration Projects Often Begin With Existing Challenges

Why Historic Staircases Need Restoration

Not every staircase requires full reconstruction.

Some need targeted repair.

Others no longer fit renovated interiors.

Some have original components worth preserving despite structural concerns elsewhere.

Historic restoration work often starts with understanding:

Existing conditions
Structural limitations
Salvageable components
Architectural details worth preserving
Areas requiring fabrication or reconstruction

Restoration solutions usually grow from those findings.

Detailed woodworking for staircase restoration and architectural preservation

Preservation and Reconstruction Often Happen Together

Restoration Is Rarely One or the Other

There’s a common assumption that preservation means leaving everything untouched.

In practice, restoration often involves balancing preservation with rebuilding.

Original details may remain.

New fabrication may become necessary.

Replacement components may be created to complement existing architecture.

The process depends on what the staircase needs.

A Manhattan Staircase Example

Rebuilding Around Existing Historic Components

A restoration project involving a mid-19th century Manhattan townhouse required a staircase solution that addressed multiple challenges at once.

The original staircase no longer fit updated interior spaces and was no longer structurally sound.

Rather than replacing everything entirely, existing handrail components were documented and preserved where possible.

New curved stairs were fabricated around those preserved dimensions.

Matching replacement pieces helped maintain continuity throughout the final installation.

Historic staircase restoration often involves careful decisions about what can be saved, what must be rebuilt, and how the finished work should feel connected to the original architecture.