Hardwood Stairs: Treads, Risers and How They Tie Into Your Floors

In a lot of homes, the staircase is the first thing you see when you walk in. Worn carpet, mismatched treads or a staircase that doesn't match brand-new floors can drag down the whole entry.

We're Vision Flooring in Everett, WA. We spent more than 20 years in construction, including building and remodeling stairs. Today we focus on floors and baseboards, and on stairs that means hardwood treads and risers that tie straight into your new or refinished floors.

What are the parts of a staircase called?

The tread is the part you step on, the riser is the vertical board between treads, and the nosing is the rounded front edge of the tread. The skirt board runs along the wall, the newel post anchors the railing at the bottom, and balusters (spindles) hold up the handrail.

How much do new hardwood stair treads and risers cost?

Installation runs about $100–$160 per step, depending on the size and complexity of the stairs. Material is separate. Here's how we count steps:

• One step = one tread plus one riser
• A nosing, like the one at the top of the stairs, counts as one step
• A landing counts as two steps

Example: a straight staircase with 13 steps plus the nosing at the top counts as 14 steps, or about $1,400–$2,240 in labor. Add a landing, and it's 16 steps, about $1,600–$2,560. Stairs done together with new floors usually make the most sense, and projects have an $800 minimum.

Can I replace carpet on my stairs with hardwood?

Yes, and it's one of the most popular upgrades we do alongside new floors. We remove the carpet, pad and tack strip and check what's underneath. Carpeted stairs are usually built with rough treads that were never meant to be seen. Then we install new hardwood treads and risers, and finish them to match your floor.

Where hardwood meets carpet at the top or bottom of the stairs, the carpet may need to be cut, stretched and fitted against the new hardwood. That runs about $65 per doorway or area.

Should my stairs match my hardwood floors?

Usually, yes. The treads should look like part of the floor. The cleanest look uses the same species and stain on the treads as on the floor, with nosings that match too. With site-finished floors, we stain and finish the treads together with the floor so the color lines up.

• Matching treads and risers: a warm, all-wood look that works in traditional homes.
• Wood treads with painted risers: a popular look that makes each step stand out. The risers are painted by your painter.
• LVP or laminate floors: many homeowners choose hardwood treads stained to complement them, and many vinyl products also offer matching stair nosings. We'll go over the options at your estimate.

Browse our floor stain colors to see how different finishes look.

Prefinished or unfinished stair treads: which is better?

Unfinished treads match site-finished floors best. Prefinished treads are faster. Unfinished treads are sanded, stained and finished on site together with your floor, so the color and sheen line up exactly. Prefinished treads arrive with a factory finish, so there's no finishing time on site. They're a good match for prefinished floors.

Either way, the stairs can't be used while stain and finish are being applied, so plan another way up and down, or a few hours away, while that happens.

Are hardwood stairs slippery?

They can be, especially in socks. A few simple choices make a big difference.

• Choose a satin or matte sheen instead of semi-gloss. It shows less wear and looks less slick.
• Add a stair runner or tread rugs for kids, pets or older family members.
• Keep the nosing profile rounded and consistent, so your foot lands the same way on every step.

Can you refinish my existing hardwood stairs?

Yes. We sand and refinish hardwood stairs, usually together with the floors they connect to. Stairs are mostly detail work by hand, so they're quoted per project. Refinishing them with the floor means everything gets the same stain and the same number of finish coats. Learn more about hardwood floor refinishing.

How long does a stair project take?

Installing new treads and risers usually takes a day or two for a typical staircase, plus finishing time if the treads are finished on site. When stairs are part of a bigger flooring project, we schedule them so the stairs and floor are stained and finished together.

Do you install railings, balusters or skirt boards?

Not ourselves. We built and remodeled stairs for years, but today Vision Flooring installs treads and risers only. On larger flooring projects, we arrange handrails, balusters, newel posts and skirt boards through trusted contractors we've worked with for a long time. That way the whole staircase comes together under one plan.