Whether you’re looking to remodel your staircase to match a trending interior decor or your aim is to correct a long-standing anomaly, one crucial factor that determines how the project will turn out is its cost.
On average, a staircase remodeling project will cost you around $1,000 to $2500, and although these prices are subject to variations if your aim is to replace the staircase completely, budget $4000-$8000.
In this article, we’ll help you decipher how deep you have to dig in your pockets when remodeling a staircase and the factors that influence these prices.
How Much Does a Staircase Remodeling Project Cost?
As stated earlier, the average cost of remodeling a staircase stands at $1750 while a complete staircase replacement averages $6000. Additionally, for a custom staircase remodel, expect to spend around $2000 to $30,000 or more; this is especially if you decide to add flashy accessories, floating treads, and modern dressing.
As a homeowner getting ready to remodel your staircase, a proper understanding of the parts that make up a staircase is crucial. This way, you’ll get clarity in defining the aims and goals of your project, be fully aware of these terms when discussing estimates of the job (material and labor costs), and generally improve your makeover experience.
1. Risers
Staircase risers are vertical objects that link the treads (think the piece of the staircase in front of your legs as you climb). They’re often made of wood to make them durable and perfect for extended use. Installing new risers will cost you between $1,800 – $2,500.
2. Spindles
Also known as Balusters, they extend from the stair treads to the handrail to create a site for the stairway where there’s no wall. For the spindles, you can choose to customize a material that’ll suit your state.
We recommend wooden spindles for traditional art enthusiasts and metal or glass for homeowners looking to incorporate modern aesthetics into their décor. Set aside a sum of $1,400 to get new balusters.
3. Treads
The stairs tread refers to the part you step on. They’re usually made of wood and have an extra layer on top for the finish, like tile or carpet. Getting new treads for your staircase will cost you about $2,150
4. Handrails
Like the name says, this is the part of the stairs where your hands rest. They’re made from wood, metal, composite, or marble, or you can add your creative twist to them as you see fit.
It is important to note that there’s more than one handrail piece in staircases, depending on the number of angles and turns, and purchasing them will cost you between $3-$15 per linear foot.
5. Newel Posts
The newel post is located at the base of the staircase, at turns and landings along the way (the handrails begin and end in newel posts). They’re vertical posts that follow the spindles and make an ending to the railing.
Post caps are decorative accessories that stay atop the newel post to enhance the appearance and newel posts range between $35 – $600 depending on the materials.
Factors that Determine the Cost of Remodeling a Staircase
Now that you are familiar with the different parts of the staircase there are several factors that come into play when trying to determine the cost of remodeling a staircase. In this section of the article, our aim is to help you understand how these factors contribute to the cost of the remodeling process.
1. The Extent of the Damage
Depending on the extent of damage, choice, or severity of your staircase situation, remodeling may require the complete removal of the existing staircase. You’ll spend about $1,600 to professionally remove your staircase when calculating the labor and materials cost.
While some homeowners may attempt to remove their old stairs and staircase by themselves to save cost, we advise against that as it can cause severe injury. The only way to prevent removal is if you don’t change your staircase’s location and style; this way, you only spend about $700-$2000.
2. The Remodeling Process
In some cases, or depending on the homeowner’s choice, moving the staircase may be a part of the remodeling process. Changing the location of your staircase may be the ultimate game changer for your interior journey if done right by a professional.
This process is, however, money, time, and labor intensive and can cost you a whooping $2000-$6,500 when you add the cost of workmanship and purchasing materials. You can spend up to $100 in hourly rate on labor when done professionally, and this significantly increases the sum.
3. The Staircase Material
The material of your staircase is one determinant of your total project cost that you cannot overlook. For materials like tiles or composite, it’ll cost you about $80 per stair, while more complicated materials like concrete and glass will cost you between $350-$400 per stair.
Hand-made staircase treads and other materials that aren’t mentioned here can cost you way more than the prices we’ve listed in the body.
- Hardwood Stairs
Hardwood stairs are famous for their durability, smooth finish, and affordability, which makes them accessible to people in all tax brackets. Using hardwood, especially red oak, to remodel your stairs will cost you about $100 to $200 per step (add the cost of labor and materials).
Most exterior staircases are made from hardwood due to their nature, adding to the refined appearance of any doorway or balcony.
- Metal Staircase
Many spiraling interior staircases are made of metal, and they cost about $200 per step. Metal staircases are durable, have an elegant glossy finish, and look great with lighting (you don’t have to worry about your stairs catching fire).
Metal exterior staircases are made from steel and can drain you between $2000-$3,500 when you add the cost of labor and materials.
- Composite Staircase
A composite staircase is a very economical and good option as they’re durable and hardly rot, mold, splinter, or corrode, which makes them the preferred choice for outdoor staircases. They’re low maintenance and remodeling them will cost you between $100-$300.
- Tile Staircase
Tile staircases are easy to clean and maintain and have the perfect glossy finish you’ve ever seen. They don’t come cheap, too; they range between $80 to $150 per step. Before you splurge, we advise you to consider using a textured, rough surface to ensure safety.
The downside to tile staircases is that they can easily crack if a sharp object falls on them, which can incur extra costs to fix.
- Glass Staircase
Glass railings are very delicate, if not the most delicate of all the materials, but they’re so elegant and have a near-perfect aesthetic for any indoor setting. Installing a glass staircase will cost about $3,500 to $6,900.
But if you don’t wish to replace the entire staircase, you can update it, and that will cost you less- between $1500 to $9000.
- Wrought Iron Staircase
Wrought iron is up there with the most expensive materials to make a staircase; remodeling them costs about $2,600. For interior stairs, wrought iron is suitable as balusters, columns, and numerous decorations between the steps and handrails.
Different Staircase Style Suggestions and Their Cost
If you’ve decided to remodel your staircase, here are some excellent suggestions regarding the latest modern styles. We should also inform you that the more complex your design is, the more additional costs it’ll incur.
1. Spiral Staircase
Spiral staircases are trendy and ooze architectural brilliance- these staircases are made of metal/iron. Depending on the general contractor’s rate and materials prices, they’ll cost you about $1,500-$20,000.
These staircases are excellent for small spaces as they effectively balance the deficiency while giving your home the perfect facelift.
2. Straight Staircase
They’re effortless to install, and you’ll most likely find them in old homes due to the safety hazard they possess (when taking a fall on one of these stairs, nothing stops you from doing it to the base).
As archaic as they are, the decision to remodel your staircase to look like them will cost you a minimum of $1,900 and extend to $5,500.
3. Curved Staircase
Their curves are not only exquisite, but they’ll also cost you a whopping $9,000 or even more. They take up more space compared to other stairs styles, making them suitable only for big homes.
4. U-Shaped Staircases
These staircases are the popular choice for one peculiar feature-safety! Wondering how? Well, they come with one or two turns like the letter U which means a landing at these turns, creating a perfect bend to navigate. Like L-Shaped staircases, they’re also found in large homes and cost you $2,250 to $5,800.
5. Helical Staircases
Think spiral staircases without the gracing presence of a central pole. They also fit great in a small space or exclusive villas depending on your taste and cost about $3,500 to $20,500.
DIY Vs. Professional Staircase Remodeling?
When remodeling staircases, the choice lies between two options: doing it yourself (DIY Project) which means you’re not paying for labor- only purchasing materials or hiring a professional to fix it. Remember that the foremost priority in constructing a staircase is safety which is why you need the Midas touch of a pro.
Hiring a professional is in two categories– you can choose to do it with a local carpenter who understands the basics of using wooden materials to build things and is very cost-effective (they charge about $45 per hour).
You can also use a remodeling contractor solely concerned with staircases (they typically charge between $60-$90 per hour).
A remodeling contractor will help collect the necessary permits, calculate accurate measurements, order quality materials, do needed quality checks, and give you a new staircase void of errors or half-knowledge.
You should erase the decision to fix it yourself from the brief regarding improving a staircase. You must hire a certified contractor for a well-done job.
Final Words
The average cost for staircase renovation is directly affected by the size of your project, the intent, and execution, but you can keep the whole process within a healthy price range by prioritizing the parts that need urgent attention and putting little updates to the least affected parts of your staircase.
A general contractor is the best person for remodeling your staircase. Contact as many as you can to get many quotes and ultimately settle for the right design and price for you. A fresh coat of paint might also be just what you need to renovate your old stairs.