How Long Does a Stair Refurbishment Take? (GTA Guide)

Stair refurbishment is uniquely disruptive. Unlike a kitchen renovation where you can still access the rest of your house, a staircase connects your floors — which means any work on it affects your entire daily routine.

We get asked about timelines on almost every enquiry we receive from Brampton, Toronto and Mississauga homeowners. Here is an honest, step-by-step answer.

Stage 1: Consultation and Design (1-2 weeks)

Before any work starts, we visit your home, assess the existing structure, and discuss what you want to achieve. This is where we confirm whether your stringer and newel posts are structurally sound (they almost always are), and what the most cost-effective path to your desired result looks like.

We will show you wood samples, baluster options and finish swatches at this visit. Most clients make their selections within a week. See our wood species guide if you want to research options before your consultation.

Stage 2: Fabrication (2-4 weeks)

Once you have approved a written quote, we order materials and begin fabrication of any custom components — new treads, balusters, newel posts. Standard oak or maple treads are typically available within 2 weeks. More unusual species (Walnut, Ash, Hickory) can take 3-4 weeks to source.

During this period there is no disruption to your home. We are working in our workshop, not on your staircase.

Stage 3: On-Site Installation (1-3 days)

This is the part most homeowners worry about. For a standard 13-step residential staircase in Brampton or the GTA, our crew typically completes a full refurbishment — tread replacement, baluster swap, newel post installation and handrail refinishing — in 1-2 days.

Day 1: Remove existing treads and balusters. Inspect stringers. Install new treads and risers. Day 2: Install new balusters, newel posts and handrail hardware. Sand and refinish handrail in place.

During installation the staircase will be unusable for most of the day. We always discuss access with clients beforehand — in a two-storey home, this means planning your day around one floor.

What to Expect on Installation Day

Our crew arrives with drop cloths and dust containment set up before any cutting or sanding begins. Existing treads are carefully removed to check the stringer condition underneath — this is also our last chance to flag any unexpected issues before final materials go in. We work in a single continuous session wherever possible rather than spreading a job across multiple partial days, since a half-finished staircase is the most disruptive state for a household to be in.

Living in Your Home During the Renovation

Most refurbishment projects are completed while you continue living in the home. We recommend planning to spend installation day(s) primarily on one floor, since the staircase itself will be inaccessible during active work. For two-storey homes, this typically means arranging to sleep on the main floor for one night if the project spans two days, though many single-day refurbishments avoid this entirely.

Stage 4: Finishing and Curing (24-48 hours)

If we are applying a site finish (oil or lacquer) to the new treads, you will need to stay off them for 24 hours after the final coat. Water-based finishes cure faster than oil-based — another reason we default to water-based lacquers on most projects.

Total Timeline: 3-6 weeks from first contact to completion

For most stair refurbishment projects in Brampton, Toronto and Mississauga, the total time from your first call to us to walking on your finished staircase is 3-6 weeks. Complex projects — full structural replacement, curved geometry, bespoke metalwork — will take longer. See our complete staircase renovation guide for how refurbishment timelines compare to full replacement.

What Causes Delays?

The most common cause of delays is material availability. Unusual wood species, custom-length balusters and specialty hardware can all extend fabrication time. We always flag these risks at the quote stage.

If your project is time-sensitive — you are preparing to sell your home, or hosting an event — tell us upfront. We can often source materials faster, and we are transparent about what is and is not achievable in a given window.

Seasonal Timing Considerations

Spring and fall are our busiest fabrication seasons, as many homeowners plan renovations around these shoulder seasons — booking a consultation 4-6 weeks ahead of your ideal installation window helps avoid scheduling delays. Summer often has faster material turnaround for standard species since supplier stock is typically at its highest, while winter can see slightly longer lead times for specialty hardware due to broader holiday-season shipping delays across the supply chain.

Coordinating With Other Renovation Work

If your stair refurbishment is part of a larger renovation — new flooring, a repainted stairwell, updated lighting — sequencing matters. We generally recommend completing wall painting and any flooring work adjacent to the staircase before final stair installation, since our crew can then work without needing to protect freshly finished adjacent surfaces, and any minor touch-ups needed after stair work are easier to coordinate with your painter directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I speed up the timeline by paying more? Material lead times are largely fixed by species availability, but we can sometimes prioritize scheduling for time-sensitive projects — ask us directly during your consultation.

Do I need to move out during the refurbishment? No, the large majority of our refurbishment clients remain in their homes throughout the project.

What's the difference in timeline between refurbishment and full replacement? Full replacement typically adds 1-2 weeks to fabrication and 1-2 additional days on site — see our staircase cost guide for how this affects your budget as well.

Contact RiseOnStairs for a free assessment and fixed-timeline quote for your stair refurbishment anywhere in Brampton, Toronto, Mississauga or the GTA.