How to Remodel a Staircase

A staircase is the focal point of many homes and is often the first thing guests see as they come in the front door or entry hall. Staircases like other parts of the house have styles that reflect the time period in which the house was built. Updating a staircase not only makes it more attractive, but needed repairs will make it sturdy.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Decide what kind of staircase you want. All wood staircases or a combination of wood with lighter trim are great choices.

2. Look at your existing staircase and compare it to design possibilities you have found in magazines or on the Internet.

3. Determine if any demolition needs to happen. Remove old carpeting, handrails, spindles and pony walls as needed for the look you're trying to achieve.

4. Refinish solid wood steps by using a sander with coarse, medium and fine grit sandpaper. Follow with a stain of your choice or a clear polyurethane coating for a lighter, natural look.

5. Choose handrails, newel posts and spindles to match your home décor. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

6. Cover any painted areas that you want to be wood with solid wood sheeting. This is a great option for risers that are beyond repair with paint. Simply cut the sheeting to the appropriate size for your risers and finish along with the rest of the staircase.

7. Follow manufacturer's directions for installing new spindles and newel posts to your existing stairway. Add decorative trim on the outside of the staircase to give it a nicely finished look.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't remove any support walls. Pony walls are normally there for style reason and can be easily taken out, but consult a builder or architect to make sure you're not removing something that needs to stay.
• Stay timeless with your new design. Trends in staircases come and go, but a nicely finished wood staircase is always in style and will last a lifetime.
• Replacing treads and risers is a big job and shouldn't be handled by an amateur. When at all possible work with the stairs parts you have and remodel. If you need to rip out treads and risers from an original construction, consult a pro.

[pmosca]

on 2/13/2009 We had a great company do our staircase remodeling. Trinity Stairs, in the DFW area. I think they also have offices in Austin and San Antonio Texas. We tried to replace our balusters ourselves, but we ran into issues with glue and sizing the new balusters and if you plan on changing the rail, then I really suggest a pro for the job. These guys came highly recommended! We were very happy.