Project example: refinishing a 13-tread oak staircase — what happens and what it costs

The scenario

Picture a two-story house where a straight staircase of thirteen treads runs from the entry to the upstairs hall. The carpet runner came up some time back, leaving bare oak treads with painted risers and a handrail the owner wants left alone.

Stairs are the one part of the house a family cannot use while the finish dries, so the plan matters more than the price. The work is split so that the upstairs and the downstairs can be reached another way for one night.

The treads are sanded with an edger and by hand because a drum sander does not fit. The nosing, the rounded front edge, takes most of the wear, so it gets extra attention. Before any sanding, each tread is checked for a loose nosing or a squeak, since fixing those first keeps the new finish from cracking at the joint.

What the job involves

1. The handrail, balusters and walls are masked, and the entry is sealed with plastic.
2. Each tread is sanded with an edger and by hand, and the risers are scuffed for paint.
3. Dust is vacuumed from every tread, riser and corner.
4. Coats of finish are brushed on, one tread at a time, with a light abrasion between coats.
5. The stairs stay off limits until the finish maker's walk-on time.
6. Rugs, treads covers or a runner are not placed until the finish cures.

Materials and prep

• Edger and hand scrapers
• Masking paper and tape
• Brush and finish suited to stairs
• Vacuum with a brush tool

Add-ons often paired with this job

• Stairs, 15 or more treads — +$1,800–$4,000. A longer staircase falls into the next price tier.
• Stain samples on the floor — +$50–$200. Stain samples on a spare tread are a separate line.
• One extra finish coat, whole floor — +$250–$900. An extra coat on high-wear treads is a separate line.

Why it is done this way

Stairs are priced by the number of treads rather than by square feet, because the work is slower per square foot than a room. The calculator groups them in three tiers, and thirteen treads fall in the middle one.

The price range is wide because the installer sees details a picture cannot: the condition of the nosing, whether the treads are solid, whether a tread has to be replaced.

The finish is chosen for the stairs, not the rest of the house. A sheen that hides scratches and a finish that grips are separate things; ask about both. Stairs deserve a second look at the end of the job. Treads are checked by hand for any slick spot, because a glossy finish on a step is slippery in socks, and the installer can recommend a sheen with more grip on the nosing. If the household includes small children or older relatives, mention it before the finish is chosen, and plan on a temporary way around the stairs for the cure time. The handrail is worth a quick look too, since a loose baluster is easier to fix while the stairs are empty, and so is a squeaking tread that bothers the household at night.

What would change the price

• One or more treads need replacing.
• The risers are painted and need touch-up.
• The staircase has a landing or curves.
• The handrail is refinished as well.
• Carpet staples and glue take extra time to clear.