Stairs Staining & Refinishing Newmarket

Stairs get worn fast in family homes. Kids running up and down all day, everyone rushing for the GO train. We refinish stairs throughout Newmarket. Downtown heritage homes, newer developments, everywhere. Most stairs are oak or maple. Good wood, just tired looking. Faded stain, scratches from years of traffic. Refinishing brings them back. Takes a few days, costs way less than replacing. We work around school schedules, busy families. Been doing this for years around here. Know the local homes, what works. Fresh stairs make the whole house feel better.

new stairs staining with white stringers and risers Newmarket

Why Choose Paint Lions For Stairs Staining

In 15 years of painting business we’ve seen it all, from colors not matching at all even though they tried to match it to the floor, to all walls messed up with stain drips and fingerprints.

Why choose Paint Lions for stairs staining? We’re not gonna leave mess behind. Staining stairs not ending with clear coat application it ends with painting, and we finish it the right way. Decided to go with stringers and risers white? Flooring guy who will stain stairs, can definitely do it, will it look professional? Never seen before! Edges looks too thick from too much caulking, paint all over top of tread and total look of stairs is ruined.

I will hire flooring guy to stain my stairs, and painting company to finish with painting part, you might say. True! If you want to spend more, not save.

Experience matters – We have 15 years of experience and have witnessed many poorly executed staining jobs, including colour mismatches, drips, and fingerprints.
Staining requires painting expertise – Properly finishing stairs involves both staining and painting (especially for white stringers and risers), not just applying clear coat.
Flooring professionals may not deliver quality painting – While flooring contractors can stain stairs, their painting work often looks unprofessional with issues like excessive caulking and paint on treads.
Using one company saves money – Hiring separate contractors for staining and painting costs more than using a single painting company that can handle both tasks properly.

New Stairs Staining

Staining stairs enhances the natural beauty of wood and gives it an irresistible appeal. Paint Lions offers professional stair staining services for new staircases. Our team has an eye for detail and never loses sight of your vision. Crown your new staircase in your custom home or addition with beautiful staining that seals the deal.

Stairs Refinishing

Scratches and dents are signs of a well-worn staircase. As time goes on, staining colour fades and imperfections begin to stand out more. Paint Lions will give your staircase the attention it needs with outstanding staircase refinishing that renews its appeal and protects the wood from further damage.

Stair Staining Procedures

First, whether dealing with new or old stairs, we need to take a floor sample to the stain manufacturer to match the stain color. This process takes up to 10 business days.

We start by carefully removing any protective coverings and staples your stairs. Next, we sweep and clean the stairs, making sure it’s free of any dirt and debris. Then we fill all dents and damages on your staircase with wood filler to ensure a smooth surface.

We use a dustless system for sanding along with a palm sander connected to our vacuum to sand the stairs and nosings. This step is crucial to smooth out any rough areas and remove any water or stains.

This part starts with staining the stairs and to achieve the best results, we make sure to follow the wood grain. After the stain is dry, we apply the first coat of varnish evenly across the stairs. Once the first coat is dry, we sand the surface to ensure a smooth finish, then clean off any dust.
Lastly, we apply a second even coat of varnish to protect and finish the stairs.

For existing old stairs, the refinishing procedures follow a similar process. We start by removing the railings and pickets. Next, the old finish is sanded down to bare wood then we follow the same staining and varnishing process.

Our Latest Projects

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FAQs

Yes. With proper sanding, stain selection, and the right clear finish, builder-grade staircases can look significantly richer and more consistent, especially when the colour is chosen to suit your floors.

We can provide sample options so you can see the tone on your actual wood. This helps avoid surprises, especially when trying to coordinate with nearby flooring and trim colour.

Blotching is usually caused by uneven sanding, glue residue, or differences in wood absorption. We prep the surface thoroughly and build a consistent stain process so the colour lays down evenly.

Cost depends on the number of steps, condition of the wood, how much prep is required, and whether railings/spindles are included. As a general reference, older stairs are often around $250 per step and new installs are often around $150 per step.

Contact Paint Lions for a custom quote.

Most projects take about 4–5 days due to the prep work and the time needed between stain and protective coats. We’ll confirm timing once we see the staircase and access setup.

Yes. We can take a small sample to our supplier for matching and create stain options that blend well. This process can take around 10 business days depending on supplier timing and the target tone.

Yes. Glue and old coatings need to be fully removed so the stain doesn’t turn patchy. We address these during sanding and prep before applying stain and finish coats.

In most cases, yes. We typically use water-based, low-VOC products and we’ll provide simple ventilation guidance and access timing while the coatings dry.