Hardwood Stairs in Rochester, NY

Hardwood stairs get walked on by everyone in the house, every day, in a narrow path near the center and the nosing. That is why a staircase often looks worn long before the hallway at the top. We refinish existing wood stairs, replace treads and risers, and convert carpeted stairs to hardwood, matching the stairs to the floors they connect.

Refinishing existing stairs

A drum sander does not fit on a stair tread, so stairs are sanded with smaller machines and by hand, which makes them slow work for their size. Balusters, newel posts and stringers are protected or taped off, and treads are finished in a sequence that keeps one way up and down available where possible. HomeAdvisor lists refinishing or resealing existing stairs at about $300 to $1,000, and Fixr lists about $25 to $45 per step.

What is under the carpet

In many Rochester homes the original stair treads are oak, covered by carpet at some point after the 1950s. Sometimes they are in good shape under the tack strips and staple holes; sometimes the treads were always meant to be carpeted and are a softer wood with a plywood riser. We pull back a corner at the estimate to see. If the treads are good, we strip the staples and nails and refinish. If not, new treads are the way to go.

New treads and risers

Replacement treads are cut and fitted to each step, because old stairs are rarely square or identical. Risers can be wood to match or painted. HomeAdvisor puts hardwood stairs at about $100 to $300 per step, with oak about $100 to $200 and engineered treads about $90 to $170, and an average full staircase around $2,400. Most homes have 10 to 20 steps.

Safety on the nosing

The nosing, the front edge of each tread, takes the most wear and is where slips start. A finish with good grip, and nosings that are solidly fastened and not rounded off by decades of sanding, matter more on stairs than anywhere else. Winter adds wet socks and boots, so stairs near an entry deserve a runner or a satin rather than glossy finish.

Painted parts in older houses

Many older staircases have painted risers, stringers or balusters. In a pre-1978 home, sanding or scraping painted parts can disturb lead paint, and the EPA's renovation rule exempts only 6 square feet or less of painted surface per room indoors. We do not sand painted stair parts without planning for that; often the painted pieces are left alone and only the clear-finished treads are sanded.