The stairs are worn down to bare wood — can those be refinished separately from the rest?

Yes, stairs can absolutely be refinished separately from your main floors. This is actually a common approach since stairs experience the heaviest wear and often need refinishing more frequently than the rest of your hardwood flooring.

Stair refinishing is more complex than regular floor refinishing because of the angles, edges, and tight spaces involved. Each tread and riser needs to be carefully hand-sanded around the edges, while the main surfaces can be machine-sanded. The process typically involves sanding down to bare wood, applying stain if desired, and finishing with 2-3 coats of polyurethane for maximum durability.

In Ottawa's market, expect to pay $40-80 per step for a complete sand and refinish, depending on the wood species, stain requirements, and complexity of your staircase. If your stairs have nosing or decorative elements, this may increase the cost. The work usually takes 2-3 days including drying time between coats, during which you'll need alternative access to upper floors.

One important consideration is color matching if you plan to refinish your main floors later. Wood ages and changes color over time, so newly refinished stairs may not perfectly match older floors. However, if the stairs are worn to bare wood, they likely need immediate attention regardless. Professional contractors can often get very close color matches using custom stain blends.

The key advantage of separate stair refinishing is that it's less disruptive than a whole-house project and addresses your most worn areas first. Many Ottawa homeowners tackle stairs first, then plan main floor refinishing for the following year.

For a free estimate on your stair refinishing project, request a quote from Ottawa Floor Install - stairs are detailed work, so ask to see a contractor's previous stair jobs.