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Knighton Mill

A contemporary new-build where glass and flint meet traditionally detailed Bath stone ashlar and a robust gritstone plinth.

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High Beeches The Belvedere The Castle Lutyens Surrey Property
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About AFJONES

Six generations of knowledge and an unbroken commitment to doing things properly. That is what every client inherits when they work with AFJONES.

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Est. 1858  ·  Ipsden, Oxfordshire

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Knowledge built from six generations of stonemasonry.

Guides, articles and education to inform every stage of your stone project — from material selection to on-site delivery.

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Post Tension
Stone Staircases

High-strength steel tendons, threaded through carefully drilled treads and tensioned after installation, placing stone into permanent compression. A free-standing stair that appears to float.

Service Details

Expertise Area

Structural Stonemasonry

Typical Stone

Limestone, Granite, Dense Sandstone

Scope

Design, Engineering, Fabrication, Installation

Typical Settings

Private Residences, Hotels, Institutional

Post-tensioned staircases push stone to its limits. High-strength steel tendons are threaded through carefully drilled treads and tensioned after installation, placing the stone into permanent compression.

The result is a free-standing stair in solid stone that appears to float, combining architectural ambition with structural engineering at the highest level.

Stone Held in Perfect Tension

Self-Supporting,
Structurally Precise

Post-tensioning allows the staircase to support itself from within. Rather than relying on embedment into a load-bearing wall, the stone and steel work together as a single, self-supporting structure.

This unlocks forms that would otherwise be difficult to achieve in stone, from slender straight flights to sweeping curved stairs that appear to hang in space.

Our role is to hold all of this complexity on your behalf, structural engineering, stone selection, fabrication and installation, delivering a staircase that reads as an effortless object while meeting every modern structural requirement.

Engineering Elegance in Stone

Span Further,
Read More Lightly

Post-tensioned stone staircases offer a rare combination of structural innovation and sculptural presence. Stone spans further, turns tighter and reads more lightly than traditional approaches allow.

Quality control and compliance are built into every stage. From load testing to inspection, we ensure the finished staircase meets engineering, safety and building control standards.

Our Process

From Brief to Completion

Brief, Feasibility
and Concepts

We begin by understanding the building, the desired geometry and how the stair will be used. At this stage we discuss whether a post-tensioned solution is appropriate and review plans and their constraints. Early conversations help align ambition, feasibility, budget and programme.

Stone Selection &
Detailed Design

The choice of stone is critical. Dense limestones, granites and fine-grained materials are typically preferred for their strength and consistency. We provide guidance on suitable stones and lead the detailed design process, including 3D modelling, tendon geometry and anchorage zones.

Workshop Production
and Trials

Fabrication takes place in our Oxfordshire workshops using advanced CNC cutting supported by hand finishing. Full-scale mock-ups or partial assemblies can be produced where beneficial, allowing teams to review the geometry and connection details before the staircase reaches site.

Installation &
Tensioning on Site

Installation is carried out by our specialist on-site teams, supported by temporary works until the structure is fully tensioned. We coordinate with specialists, manage tolerances and ensure the stair performs exactly as designed.

Quality, Compliance
and Safety

Because post-tensioned stairs are structural elements, quality control and compliance are built into every stage. From load testing to inspection we ensure that the finished staircase meets engineering, safety and building control standards.

Aftercare &
Ongoing Support

Once complete, we remain available for guidance on cleaning, protection and long-term care. Post-tensioned stairs are engineered for decades of performance, and thoughtful maintenance helps protect their strength and appearance.

Post-tensioned stone staircases represent the frontier of what stone can do — demanding precision at every stage.

Every project begins with a conversation. Whether you have structural drawings or an idea at concept stage, we bring the engineering knowledge and masonry craft to make it possible.

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