Stair Sanding & Refinishing

Possible but risky — stairs are 4× the per-sq-ft labour of flat floor, and they're where DIYers most often hurt themselves (lost balance with sander in hand). Treads need to be sanded to a finer grit than the rest of the floor because bare feet touch them; risers need hand-sanding because no machine fits. Banisters should come off for clean work. Slip risk between sanding and the final coats is real. For a hardwood staircase in a high-traffic area, a pro is safer and the result lasts.

At JA Planchers: 2–3 days for a typical 14-step set with risers and banister. We sand on day one, let stain cure overnight, then return for two coats of poly with 12 h between coats. You can use the stairs after 24 h for light barefoot traffic, full traffic after 72 h.

Recommended. Refinishing only the treads and keeping original stain on risers and banister creates a visible mismatch that makes the staircase look dated. A full refinish (treads + risers + banister + balusters) costs 20–30% more but looks new rather than half-done.

Three differences: equipment — a pro uses hand-sanding with HEPA extraction, not a consumer belt sander (which gouges); stain — a pro mixes on site to match the adjacent floor; finish — a pro applies 2-3 coats with screen-buffing between each, getting 8–10 years of durability vs 2–3 years for a single-coat DIY job.