A staircase may seem obsolete to some homeowners but a true project-loving individual knows the importance of a stable staircase. Have you ever gone to the attic? Have you just walked up the second floor of your home and heard a frustrating squeak in one of your steps? There is an incessant annoyance in stepping on the staircase and feeling the creak echo into your hallways. Your guests will feel it and they may think that they’re overweight. It’s a vain thought to carry in your mind. Homeowners rarely prioritize remodeling a staircase but they eventually come around to starting the task.
Depending on the significance and size of a staircase remodeling, the billing will vary. The fewer materials you decide you need to use, the lesser your remodel project will cost. Most homeowners will decide how much of their budget will go into fixing or replacing a staircase.
Your staircase installation cost can also vary from the replacing staircase cost or the new staircase cost. But you also have to think about the areas you’re installing these staircases. If you’re looking for an attic ladder or a main staircase installation, the prices of the locations will vary. An attic ladder, on average, can cost you between $500 to $1000. An unfinished basement can have installed stairs and can range anywhere from $800-$1800. Installation of stairs into a finished basement can vary as an estimate from $1000 to $3000. Meanwhile the main stairs installation can cost you between $2000 to $5000.
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To DIY or Hire A Professional
Whether you wish to start a project yourself or hire someone, you need to consider your own expertise on the matter. In every project you look forward to starting, you need to understand the capacity of the size of your remodel. The capabilities in hiring additional carpenters depends on if you’re updating your staircase, or rebuilding it, can affect your budget.
Material Costs
If you’re installing a staircase into your home, the costs can vary between the range of $2000 and $5000. But it all depends on the materials you’re thinking of using to build that set of stairs. At the low cost range, you’ll be expected to spend around $1040, but at the high cost range, expect to spend around $8870. Remember, every staircase set requires you to also install handrails.
The installation of an interior or exterior design will also matter. In most cases, as a homeowner, you’ll be expected to install interior staircases. Materials like wood, tile, or glass are estimated in vastly different ranges. Wood can range from $50-$150 per step, while tile material can range from $80-$150 per step. Glass is estimated to cost around $150-$250 per step.
Other materials like brick, stone, composite, and metal have similar cost ranges. Brick material can range from $60 to $100 per step, while stone can be expected to cost a little more, it ranges from $80 to $120 per step. Composite material is around $80-$150 per step, while metal materials can cost around $100-$200 per step.
Concrete is the most expensive material. It has a cost range of about $200 to $300 per step. Unlike most installations that are affected by the per-square-footage method, all materials used to construct staircases are billed by a per-step method instead.
Handrails are affected by the per-linear-footage method, and there are only two types to consider. There are the wall-mounted handrails which will cost around $25-$40 per foot, while the integrated handrail will cost between $30-$100 per foot. Keep in mind that the materials for handrails also create adverse effects on your budget.
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Labor Costs
If you’re looking to renew your stairs or update them, a team of carpenters might be required. One carpenter can install a simple staircase, like a straight staircase, which is just a linear direction. A complex remodel, like an L-Shaped staircase, or a Bifurcated staircase, may require hiring several contractors and carpenters.
For one professional you decide to hire, the craftsperson is usually paid at an hourly rate of $45. Depending on how many hands you hire, the estimated cost will, in most cases, multiply. New staircase costs will always vary on the amount of professionals you’re looking to hire. The costs can also vary whether you’re demolishing and replacing everything or the amount of materials you’ll need for the job.
Demolish & Replace
For a demolition job, a contractor will most likely be required into your budget. Are you destroying your current staircase and replacing it with a new design? Look to spend about $2000. Remember, a professional task like this, will also require you to install drywalls and if you prefer, you’ll also need to repaint the area.
Types of Staircases to Consider
In any project a homeowner tackles, there are decisions in the design process that one should carefully consider. What kind of materials should I use to build this? Is there a specific pattern I have in mind? Should I do it myself or hire someone to remodel the staircase for me? The most common types of stairs to look at are: the Straight stairs, the L-shaped staircase, the winder, the Half-Turn, etc. Consider these designs and choose which one might be right for you.
| Types of Staircases | Estimated Costs |
| Ladder | $220 to $647 |
| Straight Staircase | $800-$2000 |
| Winder Staircase | $800-$2000 |
| L-Shaped Staircase | $900 to $2000 |
| U-Shaped Staircase | $1000 to $2000 |
| Curved Staircase | $1200 to $2800 |
| Spiral Staircase | $1500 to $3500 |
| Circular Staircase | $1500 to $4000 |
| Cantilever Staircase | $1800 to $5000 |
The Ladder
Opposite to the Bifurcated staircase, the Ladder is a literal ladder. This design is meant for the homeowners with the least bit of space. If going up to the second floor isn’t important, then you can just add in a ladder to lead you upstairs.
Straight Staircase
A Straight staircase will cost around $800-$2000, depending on the material you wish to use.
If you’re searching for simplicity, this is the staircase for you. This flight of steps is just unilateral and singular. It is a linear path to go into your second floor. You can directly head into the halls and see the secondary sets of rooms in your home. It is a less complicated approach to remodeling your path of stairs.
The Winder
The Winder staircase and its materials will vary your cost into the estimate of about $800-$2000.
Unlike your common Quarter-Turn, the Winder uses less space and doesn’t fully construct a landing in between. It has a turn as the landing platform to save up space, although the two staircases may seem similar, the middle step has a wider angle.
The L-Shaped
The L-Shape staircase will range from about $900 to $2000.
You can always spruce up the design of your old staircase by implementing the L-shaped or quarter-turn staircase. There are designs similar to this one where you can construct a small room underneath. The “spandrel” can be a closet space, or if you’re a Harry Potter nerd like me, it can be considered your personal “Cupboard Under the Stairs”. In most cases, this part of your home is most commonly used as a closet to store your guests’ shoes or coats.
The U-Shaped
The U-Shaped staircase’ materials can range from $1000 to $2000.
With a wider landing platform, the U-Shaped staircase, or the Half-Turn, is a common sight to behold for offices or a condo in the city. There are two separate flights of stairs parallel to each other and bends to form the self-proclaimed ‘U-Shape’. It utilizes a much larger space so if your home is big enough, this is the design you may want to look for.
Curved
The Curved staircase can be complex and range from $1200 to $2800.
These steps are the costliest of all the different architectural designs. The Curved staircase is similar to the Winder and L-Shaped staircase. They each have the same respective purpose of bending upwards. But do not mistake the Curved design to have any resemblance to the rest. They’re more elegant and have a more contemporary look. It’s precisely the reason as to why this design is the most expensive out of the list of staircase designs.
The Spiral
The Spiral staircase can be a little costly, and is estimated to cost around $1500 to $3500.
If you want to save up the most space in your home, a spiral staircase may be the flight of steps you may want to take a glance at. By fully spiraling the steps around a pole, the staircase condenses the space into a narrowed edge. They may not be simple in efficiency of walking upwards, but the design is sleeker and more modern.
Image Contributed By PxFuel
The Circular
A Circular staircase works similarly to a Spiral design but it doesn’t have a pole wrapped around it. The cost range is between $1500 to around $4000.
It can be nicknamed the Helix staircase because the name is reminiscent of the design. A Circular design is useful for the amount of items and amount of people that go up those steps.
The Cantilever or Floating
The Cantilever or Floating staircase can be very costly, probably the second most expensive design on this list. This job is based on structure and can cost you about $1800 to a whopping $5000.
The Cantilever design is quite the optical look for a spacious home. It is a staircase remodel meant for the visualistic aspects of homeowners. By conceptualizing the right amount of torque meant for the step, the Cantilever takes into consideration the form of aesthetics.
The Bifurcated
The grandiose and what should be considered the most artisanal, the Bifurcated staircase is a design recognizant of the icon, Titanic. The bifurcated staircase remodel splits one staircase leading upwards and spreads them into two staircases adjacent to each other. This type of staircase requires a grandeur for a larger-sized home. It adds quite the flair for your visitors and it is remodeled to impress your guests. However, this design isn’t considered the optimal decision if your home isn’t a mansion.
Additional Features to a Staircase Remodel
Every staircase needs some of these installations added to their projects. Don’t be afraid to ask your contractors and carpenters about these additions. The features on this list are not just added to make the stairs look more appealing but they’re also added to serve a purpose.
Choose your options to include and ask your contractor for their estimate into your installations. Homeowners, in most cases, need a professional to help them with these jobs. On minimum, the very skilled contractors will charge $500 or more.
| Additional Features | Costs |
| Treads And Risers | $1800-$2500 |
| Balusters | $1200-$1600 |
| Carpeting | $500-$2000 |
| Railings | $340-$580 |
| Newel Posts | $35-$550 |
| Banisters | $30-$45 per foot |
| Cable Railing Systems | $50-$70 per foot |
Which Areas Are You Installing the Staircase?
| Areas Inside Your Home | Cost Range |
| Unfinished Basement Stairs | $900-$1500 |
| Finished Basement Stairs | $920-$2880 |
| Main Staircase | $2400-$4000 |
| Attic Staircase | $500-$900 |
| Deck Staircase | $4110-10640 |
| Front Steps | $1200-$2500 |
The Attic Staircase or Ladder
The Attic is sort of like the basement, it is an underrated and underutilized portion of your home. But the second a homeowner realizes the potential in the space, another project idea will quickly come to fruition. Traditionally, the attic is only installed with just a ladder. But with a staircase, the home quickly becomes a picturesque definition of the modern Americana.
Although the ladder was an efficient enough tool to go up and down from your attic, attic stairs are a measurement of reliability. Unlike wood, which is usually the material used to install a ladder, steel is engineered for safety and durability. Wood has the possibility of falling apart after a few years or collapsing after putting down too much weight.
If your basement or your garage is running out of space, naturally, it is the attic you’ll be searching for next. Depending on the amount of storage you need and the items you’d be bringing up, you’ll need a wider space to go upwards.
Foldable Attic Staircases and Ladders
Either you own a smaller home or a bigger home, in any case, the attic staircase was meant to be easily accessible and narrower than your average staircase. There’s a reason why traditionally, most homes had ladders instead. But because times have changed, you need to progress with your installation.
With attic staircase remodel costs, it all depends on whether you’re moving the entryway or keeping it where it is. It is important to keep the space where the installation will go from encumbering your wires or pipes. If you don’t do so, you’ll have to pay your contractor a handsome amount of money to fix what could’ve been avoided in the first place.
A DIY project is very possible when in the realm of attic entries since an attic opening need not be moved. The challenge of this project is to follow up on the building codes of your county or city. Remember, most locations will require you to maintain a specific measurement in access space. Although exceptions can be made, it’s best not to step on your own toes and research this information, depending on where you live.
Repairing your Staircase or Railings
An average cost to repair your stairs is affected by the per-square-footage method. The cost is estimated to be $4.50 to $8 per square foot, this includes the materials, the expertise, and the fittings. Although you may be looking into just replacing your staircase, if you’re considering the replacement of your handrails as well, that will cost you an additional estimate of $30-$45 per foot. The total average cost may vary from $306 to $1055.
If you’re thinking of just repairing your staircase on your own, the average cost may very well be around $1.25 to $3.50 per square foot. Since all you’d be paying for is materials, it is less expensive than hiring a professional. But you, as the homeowner, should seriously consider hiring a professional to assist you with the replacement. Why risk any potential damage to your home?
Hiring a Professional on House Tipster
Now that you know more about repairing, refinishing, and renovating your staircase and the various jobs that you might need, try looking into hiring a professional. Check out House Tipster, and find the perfect pro for your home repair needs. How much does a staircase remodel cost? Find out from professionals in your area.
