Staircase Renovation North York
North York homes from the 1960s and 1970s bring us a lot of split-level half flights and L-shaped centre-hall stairs with landings. We recap, rebuild and re-rail them across Willowdale, Bayview Village, Don Mills, York Mills and Lawrence Park North.
- Same-day response Monday to Friday
- Postal codes M2N, M2K, M3B, M3C, M2L
- WSIB crew, $2M liability
- 22 Years Staircase work across the GTA since 2004
- WSIB Clearance Clearance letter available on request
- $2M Liability General liability insurance, COI on request
- Ontario Registered Ministry of Labour construction registration
Fixed two-person WSIB crew on every install.
Split-Level Stair Problems in North York?
Most calls start with one of these. Here's what each one usually means and the service that fixes it.
Loose open-side guards on split-level half flights
What you notice: The short flight between split-level floors has an open side with a thin iron or wood guard that rattles when kids lean on it.
Why it happens here: Split-levels spread across Don Mills and its neighbours in the 1950s and 1960s, often with half flights open to the room below. Where that drop is more than 600 mm, the Ontario Building Code requires a guard, and 60-year-old anchors rarely hold tight.
How we fix it: We reset or replace the guard with iron balusters set in epoxy, or a new wood railing, laid out to the 4-inch sphere rule on every level.
Balusters wobble or spacing looks dated
Painted 1990s spindles loosen over time and often fail the 4-inch sphere rule. Iron balusters set in two-part epoxy fix both problems at once.
Iron balusters installationRailing does not meet code for a condo or resale
Condo boards and home inspectors flag handrails that miss Section 3.4.6 height and graspability. We supply a COI and code-compliant railing.
Wood stair railingsTreads creak or feel soft underfoot
Usually a loose tread or a stringer that has started to move. We check it at the free estimate and tell you if it is a repair or a sign the structure needs work.
Stair tread replacementRecapping and Railing Work for North York Split-Levels
The jobs we do most often in these neighbourhoods, with published price bands.
Iron Balusters Installation
From $1,500Swap dated wood spindles for wrought or powder-coated iron balusters, anchored with a two-part epoxy system.
See scope and pricing
Wood Stair Railings
From $1,200Solid wood handrails, newel posts and wall-mount rails that meet Ontario Building Code Section 3.4.6.
See scope and pricing
Stair Recapping (Hardwood)
From $2,800New hardwood treads and risers over your existing stairs without full demolition, stained to match your floor.
See scope and pricing
Straight Staircase Renovation
From $6,500Turnkey renovation of straight-flight stairs, the most common layout in GTA bungalows and semis.
See scope and pricingOther staircase services
- Vinyl Stair CappingFrom $1,800
- Glass Stair RailingsFrom $3,500
- Curved Staircase RenovationFrom $18,000
- Custom Staircase DesignFrom $1,500
- Basement Staircase RenovationFrom $4,500
- Exterior Stair RebuildFrom $2,500
- Cable Stair RailingsFrom $2,800
- Stair Tread ReplacementFrom $180
- Newel Post ReplacementFrom $450
Half Flights, Landings and Centre-Hall Stairs
Two layouts make up most of our North York work.
Split-levels from the 1960s and 1970s, common around Don Mills, Bayview Village and parts of Willowdale, have three or four short half flights of 6 to 8 steps between the levels. Each flight wears differently. The one from the front door to the main level takes the most traffic, and the one to the lower family room often still has its original carpet. We usually recap every flight to one stain so the house reads as one staircase, and we price per flight and landing.
Centre-hall two-storeys in York Mills, Lawrence Park North and around Earl Bales Park typically have an L-shaped stair with a landing partway up, an oak handrail and painted wood spindles. These are good candidates for recapping plus an iron baluster swap, or a new wood stair railing where the original rail has loosened at the newels.
Newer infill homes along Yonge Street and the side streets of Willowdale bring open-riser and glass railing requests, which we handle through custom staircase design.
What North York split-level owners usually choose
Split-levels have a lot of stairs, but each flight is short, so recapping the whole house often costs less than people expect. The bigger decision is the railing. Many 1970s split-levels have low wooden rails or decorative wrought iron that doesn't meet today's 4-inch sphere rule. Replacing those railings at the same time as recapping makes the house safer and ties the levels together.
For centre-hall homes, the landing is the detail to watch. We recap the landing with matching hardwood and a landing nose, and we check the landing newel. A wobbly landing newel is one of the most common problems we see in these homes, and it's fixed properly with a lag bolt into the floor joist.
What split-level stair work costs
| Common job here | Published band |
|---|---|
| Recapping one split-level flight and landing | Priced per flight within $2,800 to $6,500 |
| L-shaped centre-hall stair recap | $2,800 to $6,500 |
| Wood spindles to iron balusters | $1,500 to $3,800 |
| New wood railing run | $1,200 to $3,500 per run |
| Straight or L-shaped renovation | $6,500 to $14,000 |
Split-level quotes list each flight and landing separately, so you can see exactly what you're paying for.
Planning around school and work schedules
Late winter and early spring are good times to book North York recapping, before the spring listing season fills our calendar with pre-sale updates. If you're finishing a lower level in a split-level, book the stair work after framing and before final flooring so the bottom flight lines up with the new floor.
Response time: Same-day response Monday to Friday.
How We Handle Several Short Flights in One Job
You deal with the person who measures and builds your staircase, from the first visit to the warranty.
- 1
Free In-Home Estimate
On-site measurement, structural inspection and scope discussion. Andriy or a senior lead attends every estimate. Written quote within 48 hours.
- 2
Design and Material Selection
Wood species, stain samples against your floor, baluster and railing style. Full material list and shop drawings for approval before anything is ordered.
- 3
Fabrication and Prep
Straight staircases are cut in our Etobicoke shop; curved work is fitted on site. Several Toronto contractors ship prefabricated stairs from out-of-province suppliers, which limits custom fit. We build to the exact measurements of your opening.
- 4
Installation by Owner-Supervised Crew
Andriy Kovalenko supervises every install from tread removal through final trim. A two-person WSIB crew works behind dust barriers with floor protection throughout the home.
- 5
Final Walkthrough and Warranty
We walk every tread, riser, baluster and handrail with you against the written scope, then issue your written workmanship warranty.
Get Every Flight Priced in One Quote
Andriy measures your stairs and checks the structure for free. Your written quote arrives within 48 hours, the price is fixed before work starts, and every job ends with a written workmanship warranty.
- Written quote within 48 hours
- Owner attends every estimate
- Written workmanship warranty
- No hourly billing, no hidden fees
Why North York Homeowners Pick Us
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Split-level half flights are one of our most common North York jobs, and we match every level to one stain.
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Split-level quotes are itemized per flight and landing, not one vague number.
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Landing newels are anchored to the floor joist, which fixes the wobble for good.
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Railings are brought up to Ontario Building Code Section 3.4.6 and the 4-inch sphere rule.
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Andriy runs every estimate himself and supervises the install.
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Same-day response Monday to Friday for Willowdale, Bayview Village, Don Mills and York Mills.
What Homeowners Say
Feedback from homeowners across the GTA.
"Our curved oak staircase on The Kingsway took six weeks, and Andriy told us that on day one. The iron balusters and the new handrail line up perfectly with the old curve."
"We wanted to keep the character of our Edwardian stairs. They refinished what could be saved, replaced the railing, and finished in three weeks as quoted."
"The basement stairs were soft and the back steps had rotted at the bottom. One quote covered both and the price didn't move."
Getting to North York jobs
From our Etobicoke shop we reach most of North York along Highway 401, getting off at Yonge Street, Bayview Avenue or Don Mills Road depending on the neighbourhood. Mid-morning arrivals avoid the worst of the 401, so install days usually start a little later here and run later in the afternoon.
Willowdale and the streets off Yonge Street near Sheppard get the most estimate requests, followed by Bayview Village, York Mills and Don Mills. Lawrence Park North sits closer to midtown and is an easy trip down Avenue Road or Yonge.
Because split-level jobs have several short flights, the crew brings more pre-cut stock per visit than on a single straight stair. We measure every flight and landing at the estimate so the shop can cut everything in one batch, which keeps your stairs out of use for as few days as possible.
- Housing stock
- 1960s to 1970s split-levels and centre-hall two-storey homes
- Typical stairs
- Half-flight split-level stairs of 6 to 8 steps and L-shaped centre-hall stairs with landings
- Local landmarks
- Don Mills Centre, Bayview Village Shopping Centre, Earl Bales Park, Highway 401
- Municipality
- City of Toronto
Serving all of North York
We cover Willowdale, Bayview Village, Don Mills, York Mills, Lawrence Park North and the streets around them from our Etobicoke shop, with the same owner-supervised crew that handles our staircase renovation in Toronto work. Call (416) 000-0000 or book a free in-home estimate below.
Postal codes we cover: M2N, M2K, M3B, M3C, M2L
Open in Google MapsQuestions About Split-Level and Centre-Hall Stairs
Can you recap split-level half flights?
Yes. Each short flight and landing is custom cut, and we match all levels to one stain so the house reads as one staircase.
How do you price split-level stairs?
Per flight and landing. A split-level with three half flights costs more than one straight flight, but each flight is short, so the total is usually reasonable. Every flight is itemized in the written quote.
Which neighbourhoods north of the 401 do you serve?
All of North York, including Willowdale, Bayview Village, Don Mills, York Mills, Lawrence Park North and the areas around Earl Bales Park. Postal codes include M2K, M2L, M2N, M3B and M3C.
Does my split-level railing need a guard on the open side?
If the open side of a half flight or landing drops more than 600 mm, Ontario Building Code 9.8.8.1 calls for a guard. Many 1950s and 1960s split-levels in Don Mills and Bayview Village have guards that meet the height but have loosened at the anchors, which we fix with new iron or wood balusters.
Can you replace the old wrought iron railing on my split-level?
Yes. Many 1970s railings don't meet the 4-inch sphere rule. We replace them with iron balusters or a new wood railing laid out to Ontario Building Code Section 3.4.6.
My landing newel wobbles. Do I need a whole new railing?
Usually not. We replace or re-anchor the newel with a lag bolt into the floor joist below. Newel post replacement runs $450 to $1,200 per post.
Do you work in Willowdale infill homes with modern stairs?
Yes. We handle open-riser stairs, glass and cable railings through custom staircase design and our railing services.
How much does recapping cost for a split-level?
$2,800 to $6,500 for a standard 13-step staircase. Split-levels are priced per flight and landing within the same logic.
Can I stay home while you work on the stairs?
Yes. Split-levels are easy to work around because we can do one flight at a time, and we use dust barriers and floor protection throughout.
Do you coordinate with other trades on a whole-house renovation?
Yes. We slot in with your flooring installer and general contractor so the stairs match the new floors and nothing is held up.
Also Serving Areas Near North York
See every city and district we cover on the service areas page.
Book a North York Staircase Estimate
Book a free in-home estimate. Same-day response Monday to Friday, and a written quote within 48 hours of the visit.
- Written quote within 48 hours
- Owner attends every estimate
- Written workmanship warranty
- No hourly billing, no hidden fees
Prefer to talk it through? Call (416) 000-0000. Mon to Fri 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, closed Sunday.
Request Your In-Home Estimate
Andriy reviews every request himself and we reply the same day, Monday to Friday.
Thanks, we got your details.
Andriy will be in touch the same day, Monday to Friday.