Renovating stairs: refresh, overlay or replace?

You use the stairs every day, so wear soon shows. Worn treads, creaking timber or stairs that no longer match the rest of your interior. Renovating stairs is a way to give the hall and landing a fresher look in one go. You can paint the stairs, cover them with overlay treads or replace them altogether. In this article you will read the differences, what to look out for in terms of safety and when a new staircase is the better choice.

Renovating stairs: three approaches

The simplest form is painting. After sanding, filling holes and priming, the stairs get a new coat of lacquer. That is affordable, but paint on treads wears quickly. A hard-wearing stair lacquer helps.

With overlay treads, new treads and risers are fitted over the existing stairs. They come in timber, laminate or vinyl. The stairs then look as good as new, while the structure stays in place. Replacing is the biggest step: the old stairs come out and a new made-to-measure staircase goes in.

• Painting: affordable, but wears faster
• Overlay treads: a new look on the old stairs
• Carpeting: warm and quiet
• Replacing: new shape, position or a safer staircase

When are overlay treads a good choice?

If the stairs are sturdy and the structure is sound, overlay treads are a smart solution. You keep the shape and position, but get new treads in a material of your choice. That goes well with a new floor, so stairs and floor match.

Do watch the dimensions. Overlay treads add a few millimetres to centimetres. At the bottom and top step, the height must connect properly with the floor, otherwise you trip. That is why we measure every tread separately. If you are also planning a new floor, read about floor renovation and insulation.

With timber overlay treads you also choose the finish: lacquered, oiled or stained. Laminate and vinyl are hard-wearing and easy to clean, but feel less warm.

Creaking, wobbling and safety

Creaking stairs can often be fixed by securing treads again or gluing loose joints. If the handrail wobbles, it needs to be refixed. These are small fixes that make a big difference.

Renovation is also a good moment to look at safety. Is there a sturdy handrail, are the treads not slippery, and is there enough light? For new stairs, a maximum rise of about 18.8 centimetres and a minimum going of 22 centimetres generally apply. An existing steep staircase often does not meet that.

Think about lighting too. A light point at the top of the stairs and a switch at both the bottom and the top make the stairs safer. Lighting in the wall along the treads is a nice addition.

When do you replace the stairs?

Replacing makes sense if the stairs are really worn or too steep, or if you want them in a different place. In a large renovation that happens often: a new layout sometimes calls for a different stairwell or an open staircase instead of a closed one.

In the renovation of a house in the Zwolle region we completely rebuilt the interior, with new walls, ceilings and a new staircase. A new staircase also involves carpentry around the stairwell, such as boarding out and a new balustrade.

What does renovating stairs cost?

Painting is the most affordable option. Overlay treads cost more, depending on the material and the number of treads. A new made-to-measure staircase is the most expensive choice, especially if the stairwell needs adjusting. For overlay treads on a standard closed staircase, allow roughly €1,500 to €4,000 (indicative, 2026 price level), but always ask for a tailored quotation.

At our company, stairs fall under other carpentry work. If you combine it with other jobs, also read renovating while you live there. Shahiro is happy to come and take a look and will tell you honestly whether a refresh is enough. Request a quotation.

Frequently asked questions