What stair refinishing means in Des Moines
A staircase has a tread, a riser, a nosing, a stringer at each side and often balusters landing in the middle of the tread. Every one of those is a different sanding problem and most of them are done with a palm sander and a scraper.
It is also the most worn surface in the house, and the front edge of each tread takes almost all of it, so the nosing usually needs the most material removed.
- How it is done
- hand and detail work, no drum sander touches a stair
- What goes on the floor
- the same finish system as the floor it meets
- Ready to use
- usable in one direction after 24 hours if the job is staged
- Typical cost
- $45 – $85 per step
- Service life
- 5–8 years, stairs wear faster than floors
How stair refinishing is fitted
Balusters either come out or get worked around. Removing them gives a far better result and means refitting and re-wedging them afterwards, which is real carpentry rather than sanding.
The flight is coated from the top down and every second step is left, so the house stays usable, then the alternate steps are done the following day.
Treads get a harder-wearing finish than the floor, because a stair takes concentrated load in a narrow strip. On a busy family stair we use a commercial-grade waterborne finish rather than the same product as the bedrooms.
What stair refinishing costs in Des Moines, IA
Quoted per step, and a step means one tread and one riser. Removing and refitting balusters, and stripping paint from risers, are separate lines because they are separate jobs.
Where stair refinishing goes wrong in Iowa
The mistake is a slick finish with no grip on a steep older Des Moines staircase. A gloss coat on a stair with a shallow tread is genuinely dangerous in socks, which is why we default to matte or satin on treads.
Where we do stair refinishing
We cover Des Moines, the western suburbs, the Ankeny corridor and the older neighbourhoods inside the city, including and 18 more areas.
Questions we get asked about stair refinishing
How much per step?
Priced per tread and riser pair, with balusters and painted risers quoted separately because they are extra work rather than extra area.
Can we still use the stairs?
Yes. We coat alternate steps so there is always a usable set, then do the others the next day.
Should stairs match the floor exactly?
In colour, yes. In sheen, no. A lower sheen on treads is safer underfoot and hides wear better.
Get a free estimate
Tell us what you need. We answer the same day, the free estimate is on site, and nobody chases you afterwards.
Get a price for your stair refinishing
Call and we will come out, measure, and leave you a written quote. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation afterwards.