The UK’s largest joinery manufacturer has introduced a mechanical fixing method for stairs which it says will cut installation times by a third.
The company has spent 12 months developing a mechanism which locks two major stair components together with a turn of an allen key, rather than relying on specialist joinery skills. It is similar to locking methods used in the furniture industry.
Instead of the standard string to newel mortice and tenon joint, the Quick-Lock system uses a mechanical fixing, with the locking tongue projecting from the string and engaging with the newel keep to allow for final alignment.
JELD-WEN product manager Vicky Severn said the solution was a response to demand from housebuilders and contractors for a quick and simple mechanism for installing stairs.
The system is not in widespread use yet and costs slightly more than existing stair systems, but JELD-WEN says this can easily be recouped in installation time savings.
The company also expects housebuilders to be able to make major savings in labour costs.
