Hardwood Stairs
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Hardwood Stair Installation in Charlotte
Custom hardwood treads, risers, and stained railings - the Charlotte crew that builds staircases worth photographing.
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Stairs Take More Abuse Than Any Other Floor in the House
Every step on a staircase gets more direct impact and wear than a typical square foot of flooring, which is why stair treads need to be built differently than the boards next to them. We cut and finish treads and risers specifically for that kind of traffic, rather than treating stairs as an afterthought to a flooring order.
It's also one of the trickier parts of a flooring job to get right — treads have to be sized and nosed correctly, and risers have to line up cleanly with whatever's at the top and bottom of the staircase.
Matching Your Stairs to the Rest of Your Floor
Most of the stair jobs we take on around Charlotte are there to connect a new hardwood installation upstairs or downstairs — nobody wants a staircase that looks like it came from a different house. We match species, stain color, and finish sheen to your existing or newly installed hardwood so the transition looks intentional.
If your stairs currently have carpet over what might be original wood, we can also check whether there's a hardwood tread underneath worth uncovering, similar to what we often find on main-level floors in Charlotte's older homes.
Solid or Engineered Treads
Stair treads are typically built from solid hardwood because of how much wear and point-loading a step takes, even in homes where the rest of the floor is engineered. We'll talk through tread thickness, nosing style, and riser material — wood or painted — as part of your estimate. For more on the difference between solid and engineered wood generally, see our hardwood flooring page.
- Custom-cut treads and risers to fit your exact staircase
- Species and stain matched to your existing hardwood
- Options for open or closed risers
How We Approach a Stair Project
Because every staircase is a little different — different widths, different nosing, different transitions at the top and bottom — we measure everything in person during a free in-home estimate rather than quoting stairs sight unseen.
Installation is usually quicker than a full-room flooring job, but we still take the time to make sure each tread is level and secure before we consider it finished.
Hardwood Stair Pricing
Stair pricing is quoted per step rather than per square foot, since treads and risers are cut and fit individually. Ranges below are typical for a straight staircase.
| Option | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hardwood Tread & Riser, Installed | $75 – $150 per step | Varies by species and width |
| Tread-Only (Painted Risers) | $60 – $120 per step | Lower cost option |
| Refinishing Existing Wood Stairs | Quoted on site | Depends on condition |
Curved or open staircases typically run higher — we'll give you an exact price after measuring in person.
Hardwood Stairs - frequently asked questions
We'd recommend it for the cleanest look, and it's what most homeowners in Charlotte choose, but it's not required. We can match species and stain closely, or work with you on a different combination if that's what you'd rather have.
Yes — treads are usually solid hardwood regardless of what's on the surrounding floors, since they hold up better to the constant impact of foot traffic on a step.
A typical straight staircase often takes one to two days once we start, though timing depends on the number of steps and whether we're removing carpet or old treads first.
Often, yes. If your treads are solid wood and structurally sound, refinishing can bring them back to looking new for less than a full replacement — we'll let you know honestly which option makes more sense during your estimate.
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Devoted to Charlotte
Charlotte is home — it's where we're raising our own families, so every install is treated like it's for a neighbor, not just a customer.
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Because you'll actually talk to the people doing the work. Smallwood Flooring is a small, owner-led company, so when we're in your home, we already know your project inside and out — no call centers, no handoffs, no pressure to upgrade to something you didn't ask for.
We treat every estimate and install like we're working in our own home — showing up when we say we will, communicating clearly about timeline and cost, and cleaning up the job site before we leave. If something isn't right afterward, we come back and fix it.
We focus on three categories so we can do them well: hardwood (including engineered hardwood and refinishing existing floors), carpet, and luxury vinyl plank. Staying focused lets us give honest advice instead of pushing whatever happens to be on sale.
Yes. Every installation we complete is backed by our own workmanship warranty, on top of whatever manufacturer's warranty comes with the materials you choose. If an issue shows up after the fact, give us a call and we'll take care of it.
We're based in Charlotte and work throughout the surrounding area, including Huntersville, Concord, Matthews, and other nearby communities. Not sure if your home falls in range? Just reach out and we'll let you know.
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