Stair Refinishing in Woodstock, GA: Treads, Rails and Newels

A floor can be sanded with a big machine. A staircase cannot. Our cost guide says there is no way to run a large floor sander over a staircase, so every tread, riser and stringer is worked by hand, with tight corners that take real time to sand and finish properly. It also says stairs are usually the single biggest cost driver per square foot on any job that has them.

Hand work has limits, and we state them up front. Rails and posts are hand-sanded, not machine-sanded flat like the floors, so expect a slightly different look and some roughness on the undersides and posts. That is written in our terms. Ask us at the free on-site estimate how it applies to your stairs.

Refinish when your treads, rails and newels are sound and the trouble is color, a worn finish, or stairs that no longer match a floor you just redid. Refinishing keeps the wood you already have.

Replace when the parts themselves are the problem, or when you want a different look. Worn or cracked treads, or treads that will not match, can be replaced with new red oak or white oak treads, and new risers where needed. Wood balusters can be swapped for iron, and old rails and posts replaced with new newels and handrails. Our terms say we cannot promise to completely remove the color of an original finish, and that can only be done on newly installed products that have never been finished. That is one reason to replace instead of refinish.

Replacing rails or balusters can change how stable a rail feels, especially on runs over 12 ft long. Going from a classic white baluster to an iron one may need a ledger piece to lessen movement. That is also in our terms.

Many stair companies only install. We install and refinish: tear-out, new treads and risers, balusters, newels and rails, sanding, stain-matching to your floors and the final finish, all by one crew.

At the free on-site estimate we look at your stairs in person and talk through what you want, whether that is refinishing, replacing or both. See stair tread and baluster replacement for the parts we install, including box newels, handrails and iron balusters. Thinking about new parts? Try our Stair Designer to see new treads, rails and balusters in 3D.

A typical stair job takes 3 to 5 days.

Every job starts with a free on-site estimate. We look at your stairs in person and talk through what you want. You then get an on-site measure and a written, itemized estimate before any work starts. We do not post prices for stairs, because the price depends on the staircase in front of us. The cost guide explains what drives the cost.

We offer painting of risers and balusters as an option, so ask about it at the estimate. If you skip it, stain can mark painted risers, stringers and trim, and you will want a painter to touch those up. To set up your estimate, call or text 470-826-3581 or send us a request.