Design Guides
Staircase Renovation Guide
Updated 3 min read
The short answer
Staircases are the most technically demanding carpentry in a house because every component sits on a rake and the building code governs riser consistency, tread depth, handrail height and baluster spacing. The most common project is converting carpeted stairs to hardwood, and what is under the carpet determines whether treads can be re-clad or must be replaced.
The main projects, smallest to largest
- Railing and baluster replacement only
- Replacing dated spindles with metal balusters, cable or glass, often keeping the existing treads. High visual impact, comparatively modest cost, and the most popular update in Calgary’s 1980s and 1990s housing.
- Skirt boards and wall trim
- Adding the trim running up the wall alongside the stair. Frequently missing, and adding it markedly improves how the staircase reads.
- Carpet to hardwood
- Carpet removed, existing structure assessed, new hardwood treads and risers fitted. The most requested full renovation.
- Newel post replacement
- Newels anchor the railing structurally, so replacing them properly means fixing into structure rather than just to the stair.
- Open-riser conversion
- Removing risers for a floating look. Only possible where the structure supports it and where the resulting gap between treads still complies with code.
- Basement stair finishing
- Cladding bare construction stringers to match the upper stairs. A small job that makes a basement feel connected to the house.
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What is under the carpet
Carpeted stairs were frequently built from rough construction-grade lumber, because nothing was going to be seen. That is normal and not a sign of poor building — it was simply the appropriate specification at the time.
What it means for a renovation is that the condition can only be fully assessed after the carpet comes off. Sometimes the treads are sound and dimensionally suitable for re-cladding with hardwood. Sometimes they are not, and treads have to be replaced outright. Occasionally riser heights turn out to be inconsistent, which is a code matter that has to be corrected rather than covered.
A reputable quote acknowledges this uncertainty rather than pricing as though the structure is known. We assess what we can before quoting and flag clearly which items are conditional on what we find.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- Do stair renovations need a permit?
- Replacing treads, risers and railings in the same configuration typically does not require a permit, but altering the stair structure, changing its geometry or relocating it does. Code requirements for riser consistency, baluster spacing and handrail height apply regardless of whether a permit is needed.
- Can I replace just the railing and keep my stairs?
- Yes, and it is a very common project. Replacing dated spindles and newels while keeping the existing treads is far less disruptive and delivers a large share of the visual change at a fraction of the cost of a full renovation.
- How long will my stairs be unusable?
- For a typical straight flight, stairs are generally usable outside working hours within a day or two, with restricted access during the work. Site-finishing treads adds curing time. Where a household has no alternative route between floors, we plan the sequence around that.
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