Staircases near you

The right approach depends on the condition of the stringers underneath, whether the steps are comfortable and even, and whether the layout still works.

Under old carpet you may find hardwood treads worth refinishing, or construction-grade treads that were never meant to be seen. The installer removes the carpet, tack strips and staples, then refinishes what is there, installs new hardwood treads and risers, or fits caps over the existing steps. Adding thickness to the treads changes the height of the bottom and top steps unless it is planned for, and that one odd step is exactly what trips people, so a careful installer measures the whole flight before ordering.

The handrail is what you hold; the guard is the barrier along the open side of a stair or landing. Many stairs need both, and each has to be strong enough for the loads people put on it, not only good-looking.

Stairs in houses are regulated by Part 9 of the National Building Code of Canada, or by the provincial code based on it, such as Quebec's Construction Code, in the edition adopted where you live. It sets requirements for the rise and run of steps and their uniformity, stair width, headroom above the stair, and the height, strength and openings of handrails and guards. Because the exact figures depend on the edition and the province, your stair builder should work from the code that applies to your address, not from a rule of thumb.

Building a new staircase, replacing one or changing its layout usually calls for a building permit and inspection, while refinishing or replacing treads and balusters within the same layout often doesn't; your municipality decides. In Quebec, the contractor must hold an RBQ licence that covers the work. An old stair that doesn't meet today's rules can often stay as it is, but once you rebuild, expect the inspector to hold the new work to the current code.

The Public Health Agency of Canada's guide to preventing falls advises keeping stairs well lit and installing solid handrails on both sides of the stairway, and warns that rushing up or down stairs is a major cause of falls. A second handrail is one of the most useful upgrades for older adults, young children and anyone carrying a laundry basket, and it is a small job during a stair renovation.

Basement stairs in older homes are often the steepest, narrowest and darkest in the house, sometimes with open risers, no handrail and stringers sitting on a damp slab, and they are the stairs people use while carrying laundry or boxes.

Stair work takes a main route through the house out of service, so ask how you'll get upstairs during the job. Many installers finish treads in stages or work on alternate steps so the stair stays usable, but a full rebuild of the only staircase needs a plan.