Planning a staircase refresh? Here's what's involved

A staircase gets more daily footfall than almost anything else in the house, and it shows. Worn carpet, scuffed risers, a bannister that's seen better days, it's usually the first thing people notice walking through the front door, and one of the last things they get round to fixing. A proper refresh isn't a single job, it happens in stages, and each one matters for how the finish holds up.

Stage 1: Strip back and inspect

The old carpet or covering comes up first, right back to the bare treads and risers. This is the point where any structural issues, a squeaky step, a loose tread, a bit of movement in the stringer, get found and dealt with. It's much easier to fix a problem here than to discover it after the new finish is already down.

Stage 2: Prep and board

Once everything's sound, the risers and treads get boarded, usually with OSB or ply, to create a clean, flat, consistent base. This stage looks rough, exposed board, tools everywhere, but it's what makes the final finish sit properly instead of showing every dip and gap in the original stairs underneath.

Stage 3: Choose the finish

This is where a staircase can go a few different directions, depending on the look and the budget:

• New carpet throughout, the most straightforward option, and the easiest to keep clean.
• Wallpapered risers with painted treads or a stair runner, a popular way to add some character without covering the whole staircase.
• Painted spindles and newel posts, refreshing the bannister alongside the treads makes the biggest visual difference for the least extra work.

Stage 4: Finish and snag

Final trims, edging and paintwork go in last, along with a proper check over every step for anything that needs a final tweak before it's signed off. A good staircase job shouldn't creak, shouldn't catch a heel on an edge, and should look like it was always meant to look that way.

"Most of the work on a staircase happens before you ever see the finish, get the prep stage right and the rest looks after itself."

How long it takes depends on the size of the staircase and the finish chosen, but as a rough guide, most straightforward refreshes are a few days' work rather than weeks.