Stairway Refinishing & Painting

Stairs take more abuse than any other surface in your home. We refinish oak treads, paint risers and stringers crisp white, and re-stain or repaint handrails and spindles. The result is a focal point that ties your whole main floor together.

How we do it

1. 1

   Sand to bare wood

   Treads and handrails sanded down to remove old finish, dents, and scuff marks.

2. 2

   Stain or paint

   Your choice of modern stain colour or a clean two-tone painted look.

3. 3

   Risers & spindles

   Crisp, brush-marked-free finish on every riser and spindle — masked perfectly to the carpet or floor.

4. 4

   Durable topcoat

   Multiple coats of durable Sherwin-William Emerald waterborne urethane trim paint that won't yellow.

5. 5

   Cure & reopen

   We stage the work so you always have a way upstairs, even while we are working on the project.

Why choose us

• Specialty stair experience — not a side job for us
• Low-VOC finishes safe for occupied homes
• We stage our work to keep your stairs accessible throughout the day.
• Gap filling and Caulking is already included in our scope of work.

Common questions

Can I still use my stairs while you're working on them?

Yes. We stage the work so there's always a way up and down — typically finishing one side or section at a time rather than closing the whole staircase. We'll tell you at the start of each day which parts are wet and when they'll be walkable.

Can you change my stain colour, or go two-tone?

Both are common requests. We sand treads and handrails back to bare wood, which means you're not limited to the original colour — you can go lighter, darker, or switch to the modern two-tone look of stained treads with crisp white risers and stringers.

What finish do you use, and will it yellow over time?

We use Sherwin-Williams Emerald waterborne urethane trim paint, applied in multiple coats. It's chosen specifically because it stays white instead of ambering the way older oil-based enamels do on risers and spindles.

Do you fill the gaps between treads, risers, and spindles?

Yes — gap filling and caulking are already in our scope of work, not an upcharge. Those gaps are what make a refinished staircase still look old, so closing them is part of the job.

Is it safe to have this done with kids or pets in the house?

We use low-VOC finishes specifically so stairways can be refinished in occupied homes. That said, stairs are a high-traffic area with wet finish, so we'll agree on timing with you and keep the work zone blocked off while coats cure.

My spindles are dated — do they have to be replaced?

Usually not. Repainting spindles and re-staining or repainting the handrail is often enough to modernize the whole staircase at a fraction of the cost of new railings. Tell us about them in your quote notes and we'll give you an honest read on whether paint will get you there before we start.