Staircase Sanding & Polishing
Priced POA
A hardwood staircase is one of the most visible timber elements in a house — and one of the fastest to show wear. Traffic wears the leading edge of every tread, and any refinish job on the ground floor makes an untouched staircase look tired by comparison.
We sand and polish treads, risers, and where relevant nosing and stringer — matching the finish to the adjacent floor so the whole space reads as one.
Because staircase work is detail work, it is priced on the individual job. Ballpark: a standard 12-step staircase in a Peninsula home is usually a two-to-three-day project.
OUR PROCESS
- 01 Site check: count treads, risers, note carpet history, check for existing coating.
- 02 Remove carpet or old runner where present.
- 03 Punch nails, fill gaps, address any loose treads.
- 04 Sand each tread by hand with detail sanders.
- 05 Sand risers and stringer for a consistent look.
- 06 Sealer plus two topcoats, staged so at least half the stairs are usable at a time.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Priced per project — POA.
- Matched finish to adjacent floor.
- Detail sanding by hand for tread edges.
- Staged coating so the stairs stay usable.
COMMON QUESTIONS
How long does a staircase take?
A typical 12- to 14-step Peninsula staircase runs two to three days. We stage the coating so you always have half the stairs available.
Can you sand stairs at the same time as the floor?
Yes, and it’s the smart way to do it. Matched finishes read as a single continuous timber surface.
What if there’s carpet on the stairs?
We pull the carpet and gripper strips, punch the staples, fill and sand. Underneath is usually pine or hardwood — we assess before quoting a final finish colour.
How do you handle the nosing?
By hand, with detail sanders. Nosings take the hardest wear, so we spend the most time here to get a straight, even edge.
Can you do the stringer to match?
Yes. Sanded and coated stringers pull the look together. Some homes prefer the stringer painted — we’ll discuss both options.
What about balustrades and handrails?
Sanding and coating handrails is included where they’re timber and match. Full balustrade work is a joinery job — we can refer.
Do stairs need a special coating?
They benefit from a harder-wearing topcoat and often an anti-slip additive. We use commercial-grade finishes on staircases as standard.
How do we use the stairs during the job?
We stage the coating — every second tread — so you can move up and down carefully at all times.