Hardwood Stairs in Cary, NC
We put new hardwood treads on stairs, take stairs from carpet to wood and refinish worn wooden steps in homes across Cary, North Carolina.
- Quotes in writing
- 10 areas covered
Cary Hardwood Flooring fits and refinishes hardwood stairs in homes across Cary. We fit new wood treads, take up old carpet and sand worn steps, so your stairs match the floors at the top and bottom.
What we do on stairs
When we say tread, we mean the flat part of each step you stand on, and the riser is the upright board between one tread and the next.
We fit new hardwood treads and risers over the stairs you have, or in place of the old ones. We can also take up carpet and fit wood in its place, and we sand and refinish wood stairs that are already there.
We measure each step on its own and cut its tread to fit.
Going from carpet to hardwood
The CDC's home fall checklist says that if the carpet on your steps is loose or torn, you should make sure it is firmly attached to every step, or remove the carpet and attach non-slip rubber treads to the stairs.
When we take carpet off a staircase, we pull the tack strips and staples and look at the wood under it. If the old steps are sound wood, we sand and finish them. If they were built to sit under carpet, we fit new hardwood treads and risers over them.
Step height and safety
A 1985 study for the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH, looked at accidents on workplace stairs. It found that risers taller than 6 to 7 inches, treads less than 10 to 11 inches deep, and tile or linoleum treads each played a part in accidents.
The CDC says more than one out of four older people falls each year, and it lists broken or uneven steps among the home hazards that make a fall more likely. We keep every new tread the same height as the one below it, so your foot finds each step where it expects it.
Dust, finish and older homes
OSHA, the federal workplace safety agency, says wood dust becomes a possible health problem when sanding and cutting put wood particles into the air. We close off the stairwell with plastic and cover the air vents nearby while we sand.
The EPA says that if your home was built before 1978, it may have lead-based paint, and the older the home, the more likely it is. It says any renovation, repair or painting project in a pre-1978 home that has lead-based paint can easily create dangerous lead dust. We'll ask when your house was built, and we'll talk with you about any painted risers, trim or spindles.
What changes the price
We price hardwood stairs for your house once we've looked at the staircase, and you get that quote in writing.
We set our price by how many steps there are, whether we fit new treads or refinish the old ones, and the wood and stain you pick. We also count in landings, curved or open-sided steps, carpet removal and any painted risers.
What to get in writing
Ask for these in writing, whoever you hire:
- Whether the stairs get new treads and risers, or a sand and refinish.
- The wood, the stain color and the finish by name, plus the number of coats.
- How the stairs will be matched to the floor at the top and bottom.
- Who takes up and gets rid of the old carpet.
- How you will get up and down the stairs while the work and finish are going on.
Questions about hardwood stairs in Cary
Do I need a permit for hardwood stairs in Cary?
The Town of Cary lists replacing floor coverings and moldings and trim among the jobs that don't need a building permit. It also says state law requires a permit to build, alter or repair any building, so if you are unsure, the town says to call its Inspections and Permits Department on 311 inside town limits or (919) 469-4000.
Can you match the stairs to my floor?
Yes, we can stain the treads to match the floor at the top and bottom. We put sample patches on a spare piece of tread first so you can see the color in your own light.
Can you refinish my stairs without replacing them?
Yes, we can sand and refinish wood treads that are sound. If a tread is cracked or loose, we'll replace that one and match it to the rest. See our hardwood floor refinishing page for how we sand and finish.
Can I still use the stairs while you work?
We'll plan the job with you so you still have a way up and down. We can finish every other step first, then come back for the rest.
Can you make wood stairs less slippery?
We can talk with you about the finish we put on the treads and how it feels underfoot before we start. The CDC's checklist also says to always keep objects off the stairs.
What about the smell of the finish?
The EPA says varnishes contain organic solvents that can release chemicals into the air while they are used. Its advice is to make sure you have plenty of fresh air when using these products, and to keep them out of reach of children and pets.
What happens to leftover finish and rags?
The Town of Cary says household hazardous waste should not go out with your ordinary trash, and it lists turpentine and other flammable materials among those wastes. We take our own leftover finish, thinners and used rags away with us when the job is done.
Which towns do you cover?
We do hardwood stairs across Cary, plus Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs and the other towns we list on this page.
Get a quote for hardwood stairs
Call us, or send the quote form with your ZIP code and how many steps you have. We'll look at the staircase, go through wood and stain options with you, and give you a written quote. To see the other flooring work we do, go to the Cary Hardwood Flooring home page.
Ready to talk about your hardwood flooring job?
Call us or send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.