Hardwood Stairs in Scottsdale, AZ

Hardwood stairs are often what ties a two-story Scottsdale home together after new floors go in. A carpeted staircase next to new white oak looks unfinished, and tile stairs can be slippery and cold to the eye. We replace stair coverings with wood treads and risers, or refinish existing wood stairs, and match the color and edge detail to the floor.

Carpet to wood

Most carpeted stairs were built with rough construction-grade treads meant to be covered. We pull the carpet, pad and tack strips, cut the nosing flush where needed, and install new solid hardwood treads and risers over the existing stair frame. Each tread is cut to fit its own step, since stair walls are rarely square. HomeAdvisor lists carpet removal and subfloor fixes at about $150 to $1,560 as part of a stair project.

Matching floors and stairs

Engineered flooring is sometimes too thin to use as a stair tread, so stairs are often built with solid treads in the same species, stained to match. Many flooring makers sell matching stair nosing for their engineered planks, which helps where the floor meets the top step. We order matching pieces when available and test stain on a sample tread before the staircase is done.

Risers and details

Risers can be wood to match, or painted white or a color for contrast, a common look in newer homes. Open sides get return nosing that wraps the tread end. If you have metal, glass or wood railings, we work around the posts and balusters, or coordinate with your railing installer if the railing is being replaced at the same time.

Refinishing existing wood stairs

Wood stairs wear first at the front edge and the center of each tread. Refinishing means hand sanding each tread and riser, staining, and finishing, which takes more labor than an open floor. HomeAdvisor lists refinishing existing hardwood stairs at about $300 to $1,000; Fixr gives $25 to $45 per step. We include stairs as their own line on the quote.

Safety and grip

Glossy treads get slick under bare feet and socks. Lower sheens grip better, and stair runners are another option. We talk through traction for children, older family members and pets before you pick a sheen.

Stairs in multi-level and split-level homes

Hillside homes in north Scottsdale and Fountain Hills often have short runs of three or four steps between levels, in addition to a main staircase. Those small runs are easy to overlook, but they sit in plain view in open plans. We count every step in the house at the estimate so the quote covers them all and the wood matches from one level to the next.