Stair Repair & Recapping — St. Catharines

Squeaks fixed, broken treads replaced, carpeted stairs recapped in solid hardwood — without tearing out the entire flight. Serving St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Thorold and the surrounding Niagara Region.

What stair recapping actually is

Recapping leaves the existing stringers, framing and rough treads in place and clads them with new pre-finished hardwood treads, risers, returns and skirt boards. The result looks like a brand-new staircase, but the structural carriages — and the floor framing they tie into — are never disturbed. For most St. Catharines homes built between 1950 and 2010, recapping turns a tired, carpeted utility flight into the focal point of the entry hall in 2–3 days, at roughly half the cost of a full rebuild.

Common Niagara repairs we handle

Squeaks and creaks — typically caused by tread/stringer separation as decades-old framing dries; we fix from above using calibrated wedges and structural adhesive. Cracked or split treads — single-tread replacement matched to species and stain. Loose newels and balusters — re-pinned, re-glued, or replaced where required by OBC guard-load demands (1.0 kN at the top rail). Worn or damaged nosings — replaced individually rather than re-running the whole flight. Refinishing — sand, stain and seal in place when treads are still structurally sound.

Material choices for recapping

Red oak is the most popular recap species across St. Catharines and Niagara Falls because it matches existing oak flooring and resists humidity-driven cupping. White oak with a wire-brushed finish has overtaken red oak in newer Niagara-on-the-Lake builds. For period properties in old downtown St. Catharines and Welland, we also work in maple, walnut and reclaimed pine. Treads are 25 mm thick (1 inch nominal) full-stave, never finger-jointed, and pre-finished with three coats of UV-cured polyurethane in our shop before installation.

Code, safety and what we check first

Adding a 19–25 mm cap to existing treads changes the rise of the first and last steps unless the landing is also re-leveled. Before we quote, we measure every rise — OBC 9.8.4 limits variation to 5 mm across the whole flight. We also check headroom (1950 mm minimum), nosing projection (≤25 mm), and guard heights. If anything is non-compliant we surface it before contract, not after.

Recent repair projects

Full oak recap of a 14-step carpeted flight in north St. Catharines (2025); single-tread walnut replacement in a Welland heritage home (2025); squeak-elimination on a 1970s split-level in Thorold (2024); balustrade rebuild with code-compliant guards on a Niagara Falls rental property pre-resale (2024). See finished examples in the gallery.

Process and warranty

Free in-home assessment, written quote within 48 hours, then schedule. Repair work carries a 5-year workmanship guarantee; recapping carries 10 years on finish and structural fastening. Browse all services, see typical pricing, or get in touch through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

What is stair recapping and is it cheaper than a new staircase?

Recapping installs new hardwood treads, risers, stringers and skirts directly over your existing carpeted or pine staircase — no demolition. It costs roughly 40–60% less than a full rebuild and finishes in 2–3 days. Typical recapping in St. Catharines runs $3,500–$7,500 depending on flight count and species.

Why do my stairs squeak — and can it actually be fixed?

Squeaks come from wood-on-wood movement: shrunken treads rubbing against stringers, loose nosings, or fasteners that have backed out as joists settled. Most squeaks can be eliminated permanently from above (without removing carpet) using glue-injection and screw-from-the-side techniques in 2–4 hours.

Can you repair a single broken or split tread without replacing the whole stair?

Yes. We routinely replace one or two damaged treads in St. Catharines, Welland and Niagara Falls homes — matching species, grain direction and finish to the surrounding flight. Most single-tread replacements complete in one visit.

How long do recapping projects take from quote to completion?

Standard 13-step recap: 1 day for measurement and species selection, 1–2 weeks for material prep and pre-finishing in our St. Catharines shop, then 2–3 days on site. The staircase is usable each evening — we never leave a flight unsafe overnight.

Do repaired or recapped stairs still meet the Ontario Building Code?

They must, and we make sure they do. Recapping changes nosing geometry by adding 19–25 mm to each tread; we verify rise/run uniformity (5 mm tolerance under OBC 9.8.4), nosing depth, and headroom before quoting. If existing geometry is non-compliant we discuss options before any wood is cut.

Squeaky, dated, or damaged staircase?

Send a photo and we’ll come back with whether it needs repair, recap, or replacement.

Request a Repair Quote