Stairs · 6 min · Updated August 2026
Carpet to hardwood stairs in the GTA
How to convert builder-grade carpeted stairs to solid oak or walnut treads in Vaughan, Markham, Milton, and the rest of the Greater Toronto Area.
The most requested job of 2026
New builds from Vaughan to Milton still ship with carpet on the stairs and a laminate or cheap engineered floor in the field. The first winter, the carpet looks like a rental. We pull it, inspect the stringers, sister anything that flexes, and install solid treads with returned ends on the open side.
What goes wrong when you hire a floor guy
A leftover plank glued to drywall on the open side. A 5/8" tread next to a 3/4" floor. A rail that is furniture, not structure. The inspector fails the nosing. The stain does not match. This is not a flooring accessory. It is millwork.
What it costs
A standard 13-step flight with oak treads, wood or painted risers, and a matching nosing typically runs $5,000–$11,000 installed in 2026. Custom walnut, curved flights, and iron balusters move that number up. Railings are quoted as a system, not an extra.
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