Staircase Renovation Toronto provides straight staircase renovation, straight-flight stair rebuilds, split-level half-flight renovations and bungalow staircase replacement throughout Toronto, ON, backed by 22 years of staircase work across the GTA. A straight renovation is fully turnkey: we remove the old treads and risers, inspect the stringers and rough carriage, repair or replace anything compromised, then install new solid treads and risers cut in our Etobicoke shop to the measured width and depth of your opening. We finish with a handrail and balusters set to Ontario Building Code Section 3.4.6 and the 4-inch sphere rule, then stain or paint. Installs are led by senior crew leads trained under Andriy for at least five years. Pricing runs $6,500 to $14,000 for most 12 to 13 step flights.
A typical straight renovation we see in Alderwood or Long Branch: a post-war bungalow with a narrow 13-step stair under old carpet and a pine handrail that’s been painted three times. With the treads off, one stringer shows a crack near the top. We sister it, fit red oak treads and white risers cut in the shop the week before, add a wall-mounted oak rail to code, and the family keeps using the side door to reach the basement during the two install days that need the stair closed.
What Is a Straight Staircase Renovation?
A straight staircase runs in one direction from bottom to top, with no turns or landings. It’s the most common stair in Etobicoke, Scarborough and North York bungalows, storey-and-a-half homes and semi-detached houses, usually with 12 to 13 steps.
A renovation replaces everything you see and fixes anything you don’t. The old treads, risers, nosing and often the railing come out. We look at the stringers, the rough carriage and how the stair meets the floor framing at the top. Then new parts go in, cut to fit the actual opening rather than a standard size.
Types of Straight Stair Projects
| Project | Typical scope |
|---|---|
| Closed straight flight | Walls on both sides, wall handrail, new treads and risers |
| Open-side straight flight | New newels, handrail and balusters on the open side |
| Split-level half flights | Several 6 to 8 step flights and landings |
| Straight flight with structural repair | Sistered or replaced stringers before new treads |
Straight Staircase Cost Guide
| Cost factor | Toward $6,500 | Toward $14,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Sides | Closed, wall rail | Open with newels and balusters |
| Structure | Sound stringers | Stringer repair or replacement |
| Species | Red oak | White oak or maple |
| Risers | Painted | Matching hardwood |
| Layout | Straight 12 to 13 steps | Landing or winders added |
If your stringers are sound and you’re mostly changing the surface, stair recapping from $2,800 may do the job. For a full renovation on larger or more complex stairs, the typical Toronto range is $8,000 to $18,000.
When Does a Straight Stair Need a Full Renovation?
- Treads crack, sag or bounce in the middle.
- The rise is uneven from step to step.
- A stringer has cracked or pulled away from the wall.
- The nosing is worn round and slippery.
- The railing is loose, too low or not graspable.
Straight Renovation vs Recapping vs Prefab Replacement
| Straight renovation | Recapping | Prefab kit stair | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $6,500 to $14,000 | $2,800 to $6,500 | Varies |
| Fixes structure | Yes | No | Replaces it |
| Fit in older openings | Cut to measure | Cut to measure | Standard sizes |
| Time on site | Several days | 3 to 5 days | Varies |
Several Toronto contractors ship prefabricated stairs from out-of-province suppliers. That can work in new builds with standard openings, but older GTA homes rarely have square, standard openings. We cut to your measurements instead.
Straight Stairs and the Building Code
Ontario Building Code Part 9 sets limits on rise, run, tread depth, nosing projection and headroom for residential stairs, and Section 3.4.6 covers handrails. A same-footprint renovation keeps the stair within those limits. Changing the rise and run or the opening can trigger a building permit, and we tell you at the estimate if yours does.
