Stairs are detail work: every tread is edged by hand, every riser is cut in, and the nosing has to line up with the floor above and below. It's slower than a floor, and it's where a lot of crews cut corners.
Before
After
Two ways to do stairs
Refinish what's there
If the treads are solid wood in decent shape, we sand them to bare wood, stain to match the floor, and apply the same finish. Risers can be refinished in wood or painted white for the classic look.
New oak treads and risers
If the stairs are carpeted over plywood, badly worn, or pine that's splitting, we install new solid oak treads and new risers over the existing stringers. This is the route for the "carpet to hardwood" conversion most people are picturing.
What's included
- Carpet, tack strip and staple removal
- New treads, risers and nosings where needed
- Sanding by hand and machine
- Stain matched to the adjoining floor
- Finish coats, with a satin sheen recommended for grip and durability
- Landings and hallway thresholds done at the same time
Timeline and using the stairs
A typical straight staircase takes 2 to 4 days. If it's the only way upstairs, we can do every other tread first so you still have a path, then finish the rest. We'll plan it with you before we start.
Railings and balusters
We refinish wood handrails and newel posts to match. If you're replacing wood balusters with iron, coordinate it with us and we'll schedule the finish work around it.