Staircase Refinishing Services in Toronto
Refinishing brings an existing stair back without tearing it out. Any new treads, nosings or handrail parts are milled in our Etobicoke shop to match what you have, the same shop that builds our custom staircases and railings in Toronto.
Dustless Sanding
Sanding with HEPA extraction at the tool, so the dust is captured where it’s made. It’s the fastest way to take a worn stair back to bare wood without covering your house in grit. From $65 per tread for a basic sand and restain.
Full Strip
For stairs buried under decades of varnish, shellac or paint, a chemical strip removes the old finish without sanding away the wood’s character. Common on heritage stairs in Cabbagetown, Rosedale and Downtown Whitby. $110-$140 per tread.
Water-Based Polyurethane
Low-VOC water-based polyurethane in matte, satin or semi-gloss. It stays clear instead of yellowing, dries fast and has little odour. Dustless sanding with water-based poly runs $85-$125 per tread.
Tread Replacement
Cracked, cupped or badly worn treads are replaced with new ones milled from the same species, $145-$225 each. We also recap builder pine treads under old carpet with hardwood caps.
Handrail Restoration
Handrails and newels stripped or sanded by hand, loose balusters re-set and the rail finished to match or contrast the treads, $18-$32 per lin ft.
A Recent Job: A 1908 Riverdale Semi
The stair in this Riverdale semi had four layers of varnish, a few treads that had been replaced with the wrong oak years ago and a handrail gone almost black. We stripped it rather than sanding hard, so the quarter-sawn ray fleck stayed crisp. Three treads were replaced with quarter-sawn oak milled in the shop, then the whole stair was stain-matched to the original on sample boards, which we do everytime. $6,800 CAD, and it looks like it did in 1908. Some days the shop is chaos, some days a masterclass, and this one was the second kind.
Refinish, Recap or Replace?
- Refinish solid hardwood treads that are worn but sound. It’s the lowest-cost option.
- Recap builder pine or particleboard treads found under carpet. A hardwood cap goes over the old tread.
- Replace treads that are cracked, split or cupped beyond sanding.
- Replace the stair if the stringers are failing or the layout can’t meet code. See full staircase and railing replacement.
Refinishing Options Compared
| Option | Best for | Downtime | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic sand and restain | Sound treads, colour change | 2-3 days | $65-$95 / tread |
| Dustless water-based poly | Occupied homes, clear finish | 2-3 days | $85-$125 / tread |
| Full strip and restain | Heritage stairs, heavy old finish | 3-4 days | $110-$140 / tread |
| New tread replacement | Cracked or cupped treads | Same visit | $145-$225 / tread |
What Moves a Refinishing Price
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Finish level | Basic sand lowest; full strip highest |
| Tread count | Priced per tread, so longer stairs cost more |
| Replacements | Each new tread or recap adds $145-$225 |
| Handrail and newels | Priced per lin ft, more for turned or ornate parts |
| Risers | Painted risers with stained treads need extra masking |
Detail Notes
We use dustless HEPA sanding with Festool-style tools, Bona Traffic HD or equivalent water-based polyurethane, and low-VOC stains. Chemical stripping is used when sanding would remove too much wood. Tread recapping, riser cladding and new nosing profiles are milled in house, and stain matching is done on your species. Sheen levels from matte to semi-gloss are available, and squeak elimination is done from below where we can reach.
Want new balusters too? Pair a refinish with iron balusters. Need a whole new stair? See custom wood staircases.
