Custom Hardwood Stair Building
& Staircase Remodeling in Philadelphia

Yes — it's one of the things we're asked to do most. We identify your floor's species and grain, then test stain samples directly on your new treads until the color, tone, and sheen read as a seamless continuation of the surrounding hardwood. You approve the sample before we finish a single step. If your floors are being refinished at the same time, we finish stairs and floors together with the same stain batch for the closest possible match.

It depends on the number of steps, the tread material you choose, whether the sides of the staircase are open or closed, and whether railings or balusters are part of the scope. Rather than quote a range that may not fit your staircase, Christopher provides a free written estimate after measuring in person — with options broken out so you can decide what's worth it for your home.

Stair sanding and refinishing typically takes 1–2 days. Carpet-to-hardwood conversions usually run 3–5 days including finishing time. Full custom builds and staircase remodels with new railings vary with complexity, and you'll get a specific schedule with your estimate. We plan the work so your household can keep functioning around it.

Yes. Squeaks come from movement — treads rubbing against risers or stringers as fasteners loosen over time. During any conversion, rebuild, or repair we refasten and shim the structure at the source of the movement rather than masking the noise. It's a permanent fix, not a temporary one.

We do. Curved runs, winders (the pie-shaped steps that turn a corner), split landings, and open-sided staircases all require individual templating and fitting — stock parts rarely fit them well. Christopher measures and scribes each piece to its exact position, which is exactly the kind of detail work a 20-year craftsman enjoys.

Site-finished treads are sanded, stained, and sealed in your home, which gives the truest match to existing hardwood floors and a perfectly uniform surface. Prefinished treads arrive with a durable factory coating and speed up the timeline, but color options are limited to the manufacturer's line. We'll show you both and recommend what fits your project — for floor-matching work, site-finished usually wins.

Absolutely. If your railing, balusters, and newel posts are solid and you love how they look, we'll work around them and replace only the treads and risers. The reverse is also common — keeping good treads and updating a dated railing system. You only pay for the scope your staircase actually needs.

Yes — full railing systems are part of our stair work. That includes handrails in traditional and modern profiles, wood or iron balusters, and newel posts from simple boxed designs to turned statement pieces. Everything is installed at code-compliant handrail heights and baluster spacing.

Yes. Consistent rise and run, handrail height, and baluster spacing are all governed by code — and older Philadelphia homes frequently have stairs that were built before those standards existed. When we rebuild or remodel, we bring the staircase up to modern safety standards while keeping the character that makes it belong in your home.

For refinished or site-finished stairs, light foot traffic in socks is typically fine 24 hours after the final coat, with full cure taking longer. Because stairs are often the only route between floors, we plan around access — that can mean scheduling coats for times you're out, or discussing options like finishing in stages during your estimate so you're never stranded upstairs.

Yes, and it's the smartest way to do it. One mobilization, one dust-controlled sanding setup, one stain batch across floors and treads — which means a better match and a lower combined cost than doing them separately. See our sanding and refinishing service for how we handle the floors themselves.