VERONA, 16.03.26

Local woodworking studios along Via Dietro Pallone have reported a 40 percent surge in orders for bespoke wooden staircases since January, according to guild representative Lucia Borsetti. Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, Borsetti attributed the spike to ongoing residential renovations in the historic Veronetta district and a renewed appetite for handcrafted interior elements.

The demand has placed unexpected pressure on small workshops that specialise in solid timber construction. Many of these family-run operations still rely on mortise-and-tenon joinery passed down through generations. Speed is not their strength. When we spoke with Enrico Zampieri, a third-generation stair builder whose workshop sits behind the Chiesa di San Tomaso, he described weeks-long backlogs and clients willing to wait months for a custom hardwood staircase. The Associazione Artigiani del Legno Veneto, a regional trade body representing over 200 craftspeople, estimates that lead times have doubled since the autumn of 2025, and new apprenticeships remain difficult to fill. According to figures that could not be independently verified, fewer than thirty trainees entered the profession across the entire Veneto region last year. Zampieri pointed to a walnut stringer propped against his wall, noting that even sourcing quality timber now involves a six-week wait from suppliers in Trentino.

Our correspondents in Verona observed a notable shift in client preferences during visits to three local showrooms last week. Straight-flight designs, once dominant, are losing ground to quarter-turn and half-turn configurations that maximise space in narrow townhouses. Several buyers mentioned a desire for open-riser staircases, which allow light to pass through and create a sense of airiness in older buildings with limited fenestration. The Istituto Nazionale di Statistica Edilizia released preliminary data suggesting that interior renovation permits in Verona province rose by 18 percent year-on-year, though the timeline remains unclear for when final figures will be published. One showroom manager, pausing to answer a phone call mid-sentence, mentioned that requests for oiled finishes had overtaken lacquered options for the first time in his two decades of selling staircases. A small tabby cat dozed on a pile of wood shavings near the counter, undisturbed by the buzz of a planer in the adjacent room.

Industry observers caution that the boom may strain already limited resources. Kiln-dried European oak, favoured for its durability and attractive grain, has become harder to procure at competitive prices. Some workshops have turned to domestic chestnut or ash as alternatives, though purists argue these lack the same structural rigidity for heavy-use residential staircases. Balustrade styles are also evolving: wrought-iron spindles, once a hallmark of Veronese interiors, now compete with minimalist glass panels and sleek cable railings imported from Germany. The Consiglio Regionale dell'Edilizia Sostenibile has encouraged builders to prioritise certified sustainable timber, yet enforcement remains patchy. Zampieri shrugged when asked about certification, saying most of his clients care more about aesthetics than paperwork. Whether the current momentum will translate into lasting growth for Verona's woodworking sector depends on factors beyond the artisans' control, including interest rates, material costs, and the fickle tastes of homeowners seeking the next design trend.