Stairs Stripping & Restoration
Treads, risers and spindles stripped and refinished to bring timber stairs back to life.
A staircase is often the first thing visitors see. Many older staircases hide good timber under decades of paint and carpet.
Stairs need a different approach to floors, with more hand work and detail sanding. Our team brings the skills from our floor sanding service to treads, risers, strings and spindles.
Our stairs restoration process
Carpet, gripper rods and staples removed
Old coatings stripped back to bare timber
Loose treads secured and creaks fixed
Damaged nosings repaired or replaced
Hand sanding and a durable finish
Choosing a finish
Because stairs get heavy use, a hard-wearing lacquer is often the best choice. A popular look is stained or natural treads with painted risers. Colours can be matched to your floor with wood floor staining.
A complete look
Restoring the stairs at the same time as the hall floor gives a seamless finish — see our floorboards restoration service. Creaks and loose treads are fixed using the same methods as our floorboard repairs.
Bare timber stairs
A stripped and refinished staircase looks smart, is easy to keep clean and lasts for years. Removing old carpet also gets rid of trapped dust and allergens. We choose the stripping method to suit the coating and protect detailed mouldings. Older paint may contain lead, so we test first and take the right precautions.
Most staircases take two to four days, depending on the number of steps and how many coatings need removing. Where possible, we keep the stairs usable during the work. Balustrades, handrails and newel posts can be restored at the same time.
Who we restore stairs for
From grand period staircases to simple cottage stairs, we work in homes of every age around Esher. You receive a fixed written quote after a free survey, with no hidden extras. Hallways are sheeted and protected, and we tidy up every evening.
If you are unsure what lies beneath, we can check a hidden corner during the free survey.
Restored stairs are covered by our 3-month service guarantee. Prices per step are on our prices page.
Guide prices
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Floor sanding & oiling
Dust-free sanding back to fresh timber, finished with two coats of hardwax oil.
from £22 per m²
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Floor sanding & lacquer
Full sand and three coats of hard-wearing water-based lacquer.
from £24 per m²
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Parquet sanding & finishing
Multi-direction sanding for block and herringbone floors, with your choice of finish.
from £28 per m²
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Gap filling
Resin filler or reclaimed pine slivers between floorboards.
from £6 per m²
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Floor staining
Colour samples on your floor and an even stain before finishing.
from £5 per m²
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Stairs stripping & restoration
Paint and varnish removal, repairs and finishing of treads and risers.
from £45 per step
Guide prices — we confirm a fixed price after a free survey.
Questions about stairs stripping & restoration
Can we use the stairs while you work on them?
Usually, yes. We work on every other step so you can still get up and down, then complete the rest the following day. We plan this with you before we start.
Do you need electricity and water?
A normal plug socket and parking close by is all we need. Our machines run on domestic power, and we bring all tools, materials and dust sheets.
How many days does a staircase take?
Most staircases take two to three days from stripping to final coat. Lots of paint layers or turned balusters can add a day, which we include in your quote.
Do you strip painted stairs?
We strip and restore staircases, including treads, risers and handrails. Sanding stairs is detailed hand work, and we finish them with a hard-wearing lacquer or oil. See stairs stripping and restoration.
How are your prices worked out?
The cost depends on the size of the floor, its condition and the finish. Our prices page shows typical starting prices, and we confirm everything with a fixed written quote.
Can you quote from photos?
For many jobs, yes. A few clear photos and the room sizes let us give a guide price quickly. We confirm it with a short visit before work starts, so the final quote is fixed.
What our customers say
Exactly what we hoped for
“The hardwax oil finish in our dining room is beautiful. The only small thing was that they arrived a little later than planned on day one, but they kept us informed and still finished on time.”
Long Ditton
Great work at our school
“They completed our classroom floors in a single half-term week. The team were careful, safe and tidy, and staff were really impressed.”
Hersham
A transformed hall
“They worked around our services and events, finished on schedule and left the hall spotless. The hall feels bright and welcoming again.”
Hinchley Wood