Staircase sanding
Most of a staircase has to be done by hand. That is why it comes out so well.
A staircase takes more punishment than any other wooden surface in the house, and it is the first thing people see when they come in. It will usually take another sanding long after it looks finished.
A staircase is among the hardest things to sand. There is little flat surface to work on, a lot of edge, and every tread has a nosing that has to be followed exactly for the transition to come out even.
Treads and risers can be kept in different colours. The contrast makes the stairs easier to read in poor light, which is worth more than people think.
What's included
- Sanding of treads, risers and nosings
- Stain or pigment for darker or lighter treads
- Hard-wearing lacquer that takes shoes and vacuum cleaners
- Creaks and loose treads fixed before the finish goes on
How we work.
- 01
We look at the wear
Treads are always most worn in the middle, where people walk. We measure whether there is enough timber left, and check at the same time whether any treads have worked loose.
- 02
Creaks and loose treads first
A tread that gives has to be fixed before the finish goes on. Do it afterwards and the whole tread has to be sanded again.
- 03
Sanding, mostly by hand
There is little flat surface and a lot of edge. The nosing on every tread has to be followed exactly for the transition to come out even, and that cannot be done with a machine.
- 04
Colour and lacquer
Treads and risers can be kept in different colours. The contrast makes the stairs easier to see in poor light.
What it looks like.
All projects
Questions we get often
Can we use the stairs while the work is going on?
Partly. Where it is the only way between floors, we do every other tread at a time so you can still get up and down. It takes a little longer, but you do not have to move out.
Does the handrail have to be sanded too?
Not necessarily. The handrail often comes up well if it is done at the same time, since it is usually as worn as the treads, but it is a separate job and priced separately.
Can the treads be a different colour from the floor?
Yes, and it is often the point. A darker staircase against a light floor frames the stairs and makes the treads easier to see. We put samples on one tread before you decide.
Other services
Shall we take a look at your floor?
The site visit is free and you get a fixed price in writing. Send us a few photos first if you want a rough idea straight away.