Stairs Staining & Refinishing North York

Stairs in North York take a beating. Condos, townhouses, old houses – all types. We’ve refinished stairs from Willowdale to Bayview Village. Traffic wears them down fast here. Scratches, dents, faded color. Most people think they need new stairs. Usually they don’t. Sand them down, apply new stain, add protective finish. Looks brand new for way less money. We work around your schedule. Know how to handle different building types. High-rise condo stairs are different from house stairs. Takes a few days either way. Big improvement for not much cost.

new stairs staining with white stringers and risers North York

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

For most homes, we recommend a professional water-based clear finish because it’s lower odour and performs well under daily traffic. We’ll select the best sheen and system based on your stair wood and the look you want.

We plan the workflow in stages and explain when it’s safe to pass through. If your layout requires full closure, we’ll tell you upfront so there are no surprises.

Dry-to-touch means the surface has set, but curing is when the coating reaches its full toughness. We’ll guide you on safe use right away and recommend a gentler period of about five days.

Pricing is based on number of steps, prep requirements, current condition, stain selection, and how many protective coats are needed. For 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 home stair projects take about 4–5 days. That timeline allows for proper sanding, staining, and building the protective coats so the finish looks even and lasts.

Yes. We can test a few stain options so the staircase doesn’t look out of place next to your floors. When a close match is needed, sampling and supplier testing can take around 10 business days.

Any glue residue can block stain absorption and cause patchy colour. We remove adhesives during prep so the stain penetrates evenly and the final result looks clean.

In most cases, yes. We commonly use water-based, low-VOC products and we’ll share ventilation guidance so your home stays comfortable while everything dries.