Stair Sanding & Staircase Restoration Brisbane

QBCC #64691 · ATFA #98 · Est. 1964 · Customer reviews on Google

Free stair sanding quote

Tell us about the floor and we’ll get in touch to arrange a quote.

Why stairs are a specialist job

Stairs are all edges — and edges are where floor sanding gets hard

Timber stairs cop more wear than any other surface in the house. Every trip up and down lands on the same narrow strip of each tread, so the finish wears through years before the floors around it do. A big drum sander does the heavy lifting on an open floor, but it never touches a staircase.

Whether it's a worn set of hardwood stairs in a Queenslander, a painted staircase you want stripped back to timber, or stairs that need to match freshly sanded floors, we do the lot.

Every tread is edge work. A tread is a small surface hemmed in by risers, stringers and balusters. There’s no run-up for a big machine, so each step is sanded with edgers, orbital sanders and hand tools, one at a time.
Balustrades and handrails get in the way. Sanding around balusters without chewing into them takes patience and a steady hand — it’s detail work, not production work.
Nosings take a beating. The rounded front edge of each tread is the most worn part of any staircase. Sanding a nosing back to clean timber while keeping its shape is a genuine skill.
Mistakes are on show. Stairs sit at eye height as you climb them. Swirl marks, dips or missed patches that might hide on a floor stand out on a staircase.

That's why staircases are worth handing to an experienced floor sander. Weighing up doing it yourself? Read our honest comparison of DIY vs professional stair sandingbefore you hire a machine.

Elegant wooden staircase with white balusters and wooden handrail for a stylish interior

Real Brisbane staircases restored by Quality Floors.

How it works

Our stair sanding process

Inspection and repairs first

We check every tread, riser and nosing before any sanding starts — loose boards, protruding nails, movement in the stringers, damaged nosings. Anything that needs fixing gets sorted first, and it all goes into your itemised written quote so there are no surprises.

Coarse sanding back to bare timber

Old coatings, paint and surface damage come off with coarser grits. Because the machines are smaller, this stage is slower on stairs than on an open floor — it’s step-by-step work.

Fine sanding and detail work

Progressive finer grits smooth each tread and riser, with hand and detail sanding around balusters, in corners and along the stringers where even the small machines can’t reach. This is the stage that separates a proper job from a rough one.

Coating

Once everything is sanded clean and vacuumed, we apply your chosen finish coat by coat, allowing proper drying time between coats. We plan the coating sequence with you so you’re not stranded upstairs while it dries.

We run dust-controlled sanding on stairs the same as on floors — extraction at the source with containment and cleanup — and we seal off the work area and clean up properly when we're done.

Hand work, step by step

Detail work, not production work

Each step is sanded with edgers, orbital sanders and hand tools, one at a time — with hand and detail sanding around balusters, in corners and along the stringers where even the small machines can't reach. Sanding a nosing back to clean timber while keeping its shape is a genuine skill.

Max has worked in the flooring trade since 1982, and his son Kyle is the third generation in the trade. We've restored staircases in every style of Brisbane home — hardwood stairs in Queenslanders, painted staircases stripped back to timber, and modern stairs with glass balustrades.

Stairs restoration gallery Book an inspection

Modern wooden staircase with glass railing in a bright home interior

Stair repairs Brisbane

Not every staircase just needs a sand and coat. Common repairs we handle before refinishing:

Worn or damaged treads — treads that are cupped, split, gouged or worn thin can often be repaired; badly damaged ones can be replaced to match.
Squeaky stairs — squeaks usually come from movement between the tread and the riser or stringer. Fixing them properly means securing the timber, not just masking the noise.
Nosing damage — chipped or crushed nosings are repaired or built back so the front edge of each step is safe and clean before coating.
Gaps and old filler — gaps get filled and old, failed filler is raked out and redone so it doesn't show through the new finish.

If your stairs have a problem you're not sure about, send us a photo or book an inspection — an honest assessment costs nothing.

Finishes for timber stairs

Stairs take concentrated foot traffic, so the finish matters more than almost anywhere else in the house. The same coating systems we use on floors work on stairs:

Water-based polyurethane — low odour, fast drying, keeps the timber's natural colour. Quick recoat times are handy on stairs, where you want access back sooner.
Solvent-based polyurethane — a warm amber tone and excellent durability for hard-working staircases.
Hard-wax oil — a natural matte look that's easy to spot-repair, which suits stair nosings that wear first.

Sheen is worth a thought too — full gloss shows wear and dust on treads faster than satin or matte. We'll recommend the right system for your timber and traffic. Read more about your options on our floor finishes page.

One visit, one colour match

Matching stairs to freshly sanded floors

The most common time to do stairs is when the floors are being done. If the floors get sanded and the staircase doesn't, the stairs look tired next to fresh boards — and the colour difference is obvious where they meet.

Doing both together means one visit, one colour match and one consistent finish from the front door to the top landing. Our floor sanding services page covers the full process for floors, and we quote stairs and floors together on the same itemised quote. As specialists in floor sanding and polishing in Brisbane, we treat the staircase as part of the floor, not an afterthought.

Straight pricing

We quote the actual staircase — not a sight-unseen rate

Every staircase is different, and each of these changes the scope. We inspect in person and give you a free itemised written quote showing exactly what's included:

Number of stepsTimber conditionOld coatingsRepairsBalustrade detail

Get a written stair quote Call Max 0411 883 249

Our stair work

Full gallery

Elegant hardwood staircase with white balusters and rich wood flooring

Wooden staircase with white railing and natural wood finish steps for modern interior design

See the full set of before-and-after photos in our timber stairs restoration gallery.

Planning from real photographs

Stair treads, edges and landings

The stair photographs show different tread colours, edges and changes of direction. A staircase needs its own scope: the treads, risers, landings and any included handrail work should be identified before quoting.

Which treads, risers and landings are included?
Is any timber damaged or moving?
How will people access the next level during preparation and coating?

Explore the photographs · Refinish or replace stair treads?

QBCC 64691Licensed contractor

ATFA #98Timber Flooring Assoc.

Est. 196462+ years in Brisbane

Third generationMax & son Kyle

Stair sanding FAQs

Straight answers on stair sanding

How much does stair sanding cost in Brisbane?

Every staircase is different — the number of steps, timber condition, old coatings, repairs and balustrade detail all change the scope. We inspect in person and give you a free itemised written quote showing exactly what’s included, so you know what you’re paying for before we start.

How long does staircase sanding take?

Stair detail work, repairs, coating and access determine the schedule. Confirm when the stairs must be closed and when light traffic and full use are permitted. We discuss those timings for the actual scope and product.

Can you sand painted stairs?

Yes. Painted staircases can be stripped back to bare timber and refinished — it takes more sanding and prep than a clear-coated staircase, but the result is worth it. You’ll find painted staircase restorations in our gallery.

Do you only do stairs, or floors as well?

Both. We sand staircases on their own, and we sand stairs and floors together as one job — which is the best way to get a consistent colour and finish through the whole home.

Do you sand internal and external stairs?

Yes. Internal staircases get the same coating systems as interior floors. External timber stairs are a different job — weathered timber and exposure to Queensland sun and rain call for exterior-rated coatings and oils, and we’ll recommend the right system when we quote.

If your stairs are worn, squeaky, painted or just tired, talk to us.Call Max on 0411 883 249 or use our contact form and we'll respond to discuss the staircase. Quality Floors by Max Francis — QBCC Lic #64691 | ATFA Member #98 | Third-generation family business serving Brisbane since 1964.