A timber staircase is usually the first thing people see when they walk in, and it takes more wear per square metre than any floor in the house. Bringing it back to bare timber and refinishing it can lift a whole entry. It's also one of the most fiddly jobs a floor sander does, which is why it's quoted separately from the floors.
Geelong Floor Sanders is an enquiry service, not a contractor. With your consent, we pass your enquiry to an independent local floor sander, once one is appointed, who can look at your stairs and quote. This page explains what's involved so you can compare quotes sensibly.
Why stairs are quoted per step
A floor is mostly sanded with a large machine, and the edges take a fraction of the time. Stairs are nearly all edges. Each tread has a front nosing, two ends against the stringers, a back corner against the riser and often a bullnose or return. A typical flight has dozens of corners that have to be done with small sanders, scrapers and by hand. Then every surface needs several coats with drying time in between, and the stairs are often the only way upstairs.
That's why most floor sanders price stairs per step rather than per square metre, and why a flight of 14 stairs can cost as much as a medium-sized room.
Types of staircase job
Clear-finished timber stairs
The simplest case: the stairs have an old clear coat that's worn on the treads. They're sanded back and recoated to match, or to go with a newly sanded floor.
Carpeted stairs
Under old carpet there's often good timber, along with hundreds of staples, tack strips and glue. Removing all of them is slow, and it should be done before quoting so the contractor can see what's underneath. Some stairs were built from cheaper timber because they were always meant to be carpeted, and may not look good with a clear finish.
Painted stairs
Paint has to be fully removed before timber can be finished clear, and paint gets into the grain and corners. Expect this to cost more and take longer than a clear-to-clear job. In older homes there's an extra step: test the paint for lead before it's sanded.
Treads only, painted risers
A popular look is clear or stained treads with white-painted risers and stringers. It can be easier and cheaper than stripping every surface, and it hides the parts of the stairs that were never meant to be on show.
Outdoor timber steps
Steps leading down from a deck are exposed to the weather and need an exterior oil or deck finish, not an indoor floor coating. They're usually quoted as part of deck sanding and oiling.
Lead paint in older Geelong homes
Many homes in Geelong's older suburbs have stairs and skirting painted decades ago. Australian Government advice is that paint in homes built before 1970 may contain lead, and lead dust from dry sanding is a health risk, especially for children and pregnant women. Test the paint before any sanding. Simple test kits are available, and laboratory testing is more reliable. If lead is present, the paint should be removed using lead-safe methods, not dry-sanded. Ask your contractor how they handle this.
Matching stairs to the floor
If you're sanding the floor at the same time, doing the stairs in the same job gives the best match, because the same product and colour go on both. Matching new work to an existing floor is harder, especially when the original finish or stain is unknown, and solvent-based finishes keep darkening with age. A test patch on a lower step helps. If you want the stairs a different colour from the floor, stained treads with painted risers can look deliberate rather than mismatched.
Safety and slip resistance
Polished treads can be slippery in socks. Options include:
- A satin or matt finish instead of gloss
- A finish with an anti-slip additive on the treads
- Stair runners or individual tread mats
- Contrasting nosing strips to make the edge of each step easier to see
Keeping the stairs usable
Coats take time to dry, and stairs that are the only access to bedrooms can be a problem. Contractors often finish alternate steps on different days so you can still get up and down, or schedule the stairs so they dry overnight. Ask how the work will be staged. Water-based finishes dry faster, which helps.
Typical costs
Published 2026 Australian guides list stair sanding and finishing at about $40 to $100 per step, with some guides quoting $60 to $120 per tread and riser. Painted or carpeted stairs, stain colours and decorative balustrades add to the price. Replacing a damaged tread is a separate job, at about $80 to $300 per tread in Victorian guides. These are typical ranges, not a quote. Our prices page has the full sources.
If you're also sanding floors, see our floor sanding and floor polishing pages. For broken or split treads, see floorboard repairs.
What to include in your enquiry
- The number of steps and whether the risers are timber or painted
- What's on the stairs now: carpet, paint or a clear finish
- Whether you want the floors done at the same time
- Whether the stairs are the only way to bedrooms
- Photos of the full flight and a close-up of a tread
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to sand and polish stairs?
Published 2026 Australian guides list about $40 to $100 per step, and some quote $60 to $120 per tread and riser. Painted stairs, stains and complex shapes cost more. A flight of 12 to 15 steps often costs as much as a medium-sized room, because nearly all of it is detailed hand work.
Can painted or carpeted stairs be sanded back?
Usually, yes. Carpeted stairs need every staple, tack strip and glue patch removed first. Painted stairs take longer because paint sits in the grain and corners. In homes built before 1970, test the paint for lead before sanding. Some stairs built to be carpeted are made of lower-grade timber that may not suit a clear finish.
Can stairs be matched to the floor colour?
The closest match comes from doing the floor and stairs together with the same product. Matching to an older existing floor is harder, especially if the original finish or stain is unknown. A test patch on a lower step is the best way to check.
Are polished timber stairs slippery?
They can be, especially in socks. A satin or matt sheen, an anti-slip additive in the topcoat, or a runner reduces the risk. Mention it when you ask for a quote so the contractor can suggest a suitable product.