Stairs Staining & Refinishing Richmond Hill

Your stairs get beat up. Kids, pets, stuff getting dropped – it adds up fast. We refinish stairs all over Richmond Hill. Oak Ridges, Bayview Hill, everywhere. Most stairs just need new stain and finish. The wood underneath is usually fine. Old honey-colored oak from the 90s? We can darken it. Scratched up maple? We sand it smooth. Takes a few days, way cheaper than replacing everything. Makes a huge difference how your house feels. We’ve done hundreds of staircases around here. Some are barely worn, some are down to bare wood. Either way, we can fix them.

new stairs staining with white stringers and risers Richmond Hill

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

We typically use a professional water-based clear finish because it’s lower odour and allows a smoother turnaround in lived-in homes. If a project needs a different system, we’ll recommend the best option for durability and look.

Usually, no. Most homeowners stay home while we work, and we’ll explain ventilation and access rules so you can move around safely during each stage of the process.

Dry time is the short window where the surface sets, while curing is when the finish reaches full strength. We’ll guide you on safe use during the job and recommend a gentler period for about five days.

Quotes are based on preparation work, the number of treads/risers, condition of the wood, stain selection, and how many protective coats are required. 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.

Stairs need staged prep, staining, and protective coats, with drying time between steps. Most homes land in the 4–5 day range so the finish can build properly and look even.

Yes. We can create a few sample options so the stairs sit well with your existing flooring. When a precise match is needed, sampling and supplier testing can take around 10 business days.

Yes. Old carpet installs often leave glue and tack-strip marks. We address those during prep so the stain absorbs evenly and the final finish looks clean across the whole staircase.

We aim for low-odour systems and commonly use water-based, low-VOC products. We’ll also share simple ventilation tips to keep the home comfortable during drying.