A well-designed staircase is a daily touchpoint. It affects safety, flow, and how light moves through your Toronto home. Whether you want to refinish squeaky treads, replace dated railings, or reconfigure the stairs for better headroom, this guide covers code basics, materials, timelines, and real-world budgets for 2025.
When to renovate a staircase
- The stairs creak or feel bouncy, and you suspect loose stringers.
- The railing is wobbly, or the baluster spacing looks unsafe.
- Treads are narrow and nosings are worn, which causes trips.
- A main floor remodel changed the layout, and the stair needs new geometry.
- You want to brighten a dark center stair with glass or open risers where code allows.
Code and safety basics in Ontario
Every house and staircase is unique. Always confirm specifics with your designer and your permit drawings. For planning purposes, these points keep projects on track:
- Consistency matters: keep rises and runs consistent from bottom to top to reduce trips.
- Rise and run: aim for comfortable proportions that meet code in your jurisdiction. Your designer will size treads and risers to suit your home.
- Headroom: plan adequate headroom at landings and under beams.
- Guards and handrails: guards are required where there is a drop. Handrails must be graspable and continuous with secure returns.
- Spacing: baluster openings should prevent a 100 mm sphere from passing through in most residential cases.
- Open risers: allowed in many situations if the opening is within limits and the edge profile is safe.
- Stairs near party walls: in semis and rowhouses, consider sound and fire separation when modifying stringers and landings.
Structural and layout considerations
- Stringers: assess for rot, splits, or notches cut too deeply. New LVL or solid stringers may be required for wider stairs.
- Landings and winders: a landing is easier to navigate than tight winders and it simplifies handrail continuity.
- Framing conflicts: watch for duct runs, plumbing stacks, and electrical in the way of a new stair opening.
- Basement stairs: coordinate headroom with beam locations and consider moving posts or lowering the floor in rare cases.
- Squeak fixes: glue and screw from below where accessible, add construction adhesive at treads to stringers, and use wedges where traditional.
Materials and style options
Treads and risers
- Oak or maple hardwood for durability and easy refinishing.
- Engineered treads keep movement in check in variable humidity.
- Painted risers with stained treads for contrast and light bounce.
- Prefinished treads speed up timelines and reduce on-site odor.
Railings and guards
- Wood newels and rails for a classic look that matches heritage trim.
- Metal balusters in square or round profiles for a clean line.
- Glass guards to keep sightlines open in narrow Toronto homes. Use laminated glass and code-compliant hardware.
- Wall-mounted handrails with continuous brackets for safety.
Finishes
- Natural oil or low sheen polyurethane to hide scuffs.
- High-build waterborne finishes for fast recoat and low odor.
- Carpet runners for grip and quiet. Choose a dense pad and bind edges neatly.
Permits and when you need them in Toronto
- Like-for-like cosmetic refresh, sanding, staining, painting, and new balusters often do not need permits.
- Structural changes, new openings, headroom changes, stringer replacements, moving landings, or changing stair geometry require a Building Permit with drawings.
- Heritage settings, front staircases visible from the street, or protected interiors may need heritage review.
Ballpark budgets for Toronto in 2025
Your home, access, and finish choices drive price. These ranges help with early planning.
- Refinish existing treads and risers, sand, stain, and topcoat with minor repairs: $2,800 to $5,500
- New railings and balusters, only wood rail, newels, and metal balusters installed: $3,500 to $8,500
- Replace treads and risers on existing stringers, hardwood treads, painted risers, and new nosings: $6,500 to $12,000
- Full stair rebuild in existing opening, new stringers, treads, risers, railings, basic drywall patching: $12,000 to $22,000
- Reconfigure stair with new opening or landing structural framing, permits, drywall, finishes, and rails: $22,000 to $45,000+
Timeline and sequencing
- Site review, measurements, and design
- Permit drawings if the geometry changes
- Demolition and structural work
- New stringers, treads, and risers
- Railings, guards, and handrails
- Drywall and paint touch-ups
- Final clean and protective runner install
Typical on-site duration is 3 to 10 working days for cosmetic or tread and rail updates. Structural changes add time for permits and inspections.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing multiple handrail profiles that do not join cleanly.
- Leaving too much space between balusters, which fails safety checks.
- Skipping proper blocking for railing posts so fasteners loosen later.
- Choosing glossy finishes on treads that feel slippery.
- Not protecting finished floors during demo, which leads to damage.
FAQs
Can I keep my existing stringers?
Often yes, if they are sound and the stair geometry will not change. We can add glue blocks and screws to stiffen squeaky connections.
Are glass guards safe with kids and pets?
Laminated glass with proper hardware is very strong. We specify top or side-mounted systems that meet guard loading requirements.
Do I need to upgrade the stairs during a main floor remodel?
Not always, but it is cost-effective to address squeaks, lighting, and rail safety while the space is open.
Ready for safer and better-looking stairs?
We can evaluate your existing stairs, propose compliant geometry, and install durable materials that fit your home’s style. Contact us today to book a consultation.
📞 Call us at: 437-259-9632
✉️ Email us at: jgcontractingyyz@gmail.com
🌐 Website: https://jgcontractingyyz.com
