We've been in the stair runner business for about 22 years. We've found that newel posts, particularly in a very old home may be so wide in relation to the staircase that they complicate the placement of the stair runner. That is, centering it - in a case like that, we often just hug the post with the runner allowing it to be centered on the remaining stairs. In some cases we have cut the runner material around the post - had we not the runner would be completely off-center on the remaining stairs. StairRunnerStore

catbuilder, I really do like the idea of building out and wish I had thought of that sooner. I didn’t realize the stairs would be such a pain until now. I’m not able to do anything on the right side of the stairway because of the HVAC access and vent underneath taking up that whole wall. On the left, I’m thinking about adding a 12in deep cabinet or shelf in the area between the door and bottom step though to help. I guess I could add a newel on the right side and handrail up the right side wall. At this point we are trimming out and set to move in in about a month so just trying to do what we can. Thank you for the suggestions

The code has specific requirements for winder stairs. I consider them to be an accident waiting to happen and I avoid them unless there is no other workable alternative. Installing the rail on the side where there is full tread depth encourages use of that (safer) portion of the stairs. I'd relocate the rail, but insurance agents might suggest leaving where it is and increasing your liability coverage as the preferred alternative.

Yeah, all three are owned by the same company, MBPGroup. It's pretty clear that these offer the same products. For example, when you configure the Mylen Reroute spiral, you get the same options as when you configure the Paragon Express spiral. Certainly MBPGroup is aiming for production efficiency by selling the same products under its different brands. Of course, this isn't to say that all brands offer exactly the same product lines. MBPGroup (mbpgroup.com) ..Mylen Stairs (mylenstairs.com/about/) ..Salter Spiral (salterspiralstair.com/why-salter/) ..SS Industries (ss.industries) ....Paragon Stairs (paragonstairs.com/about-us/)