La Cumbre FloorCovering & Design · Lic. #1125785 Español (805) 698-9745Text
Stairs

Hardwood stairs

Updated Oct 7, 2026 · La Cumbre Floor Covering & Design · CA Lic. #1125785

Call (805) 698-9745Free estimate · Mon–Sat 8 am to 10 pm
A curved stair seen from above, each wedge-shaped tread covered in gray-brown wood
A curved stair. Every tread is a different wedge.

We install and refinish hardwood stairs: new treads and risers, carpeted stairs changed to wood, curved stairs where every tread is a different shape, and stairs stained to match the floor they land on. The photos are from our own stair jobs. The estimate for yours is free.

The parts of a stair

  • Tread. The flat part you step on. It takes more wear than any board in the house.
  • Riser. The upright face between two treads. Often painted white, sometimes wood or tile.
  • Nosing. The front edge of the tread that hangs over the riser.
  • Landing. The flat platform where a stair turns. We floor it like a small room.
A stair halfway through: thick oak treads on the lower steps, bare plywood above, a speed square resting on one tread
Halfway up. Each tread is cut to its own step.

Carpet to hardwood

The carpet and pad come off first, and what’s under them decides the job. Sometimes it’s good wood we can sand and finish. More often the steps are rough framing lumber, and each one gets a new hardwood tread and riser cut to fit.

“They did a wonderful job renovating the staircase, replacing carpet with hardwood floor. The whole crew is very friendly and easy to wok with. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a remodeling job done well.”Marcelo R. · Google review

The carpet and pad come up, new treads and risers go in, and the stair gets finished to match.

Curved stairs and landings

On a straight stair the treads are close to identical. On a curved stair every tread is its own wedge, measured and cut one at a time. Landings and turns get the same boards as the floor so the stair and the room read as one.

Light oak stair treads with scalloped white tile on the risers, turning at a landing
New treads at a landing, with scalloped tile on the risers.

Matching the stair to the floor

Treads are often a different wood from the floor, and different woods take the same stain differently. We test the color on the stair’s own wood before it goes on. More on that in color and mixed woods, and on stair pricing on the cost page.

A two-story entry with a dark wood floor, dark stair treads and black iron balusters
Dark treads to match a dark floor.

What customers said

“Tony is a magician! I hired his company, LA CUMBRE Flooring to re-do my staircase and his work exceeded my expectations. Tony pays attention to all of the details and his work is of the highest quality. His associate Jesus was also exemplary! They were very respectful and used great care while working in my house. Tony’s knowledge and expertise brought my staircase back to life! BRAVO LA CUMBRE FLOORING!”Trini L. · Google review
“Tonatiuh installed beautiful hardwood flooring in our upstairs main suite, along with the stairs. The work was completed on time and on budget. The quality and attention to detail were excellent. Great value for money, plus everything about working with Tony and his team exceeded my expectations!”Don S. · Google review

La Cumbre Floor replied “Hello Don! Thank you for giving us your opinion of our service and thank you for being splendid with my work team. I am also going to give you 5 stars for being a good human being and good boss”

More stair photos

A straight stair seen from the bottom, with light oak treads and scalloped white tile risers
The same stair from the bottom.
A crew member in a La Cumbre shirt kneels on a narrow stair, fitting oak treads over white risers
Fitting treads, one step at a time.
A straight stair with oak treads and oak risers between white walls
Oak treads and oak risers.

Questions

Can carpeted stairs be changed to hardwood?

Yes. The carpet and pad come off, and what’s underneath decides the method: sand and finish the wood that’s there, or fit new hardwood treads and risers over the framing.

Can my stairs match my floor?

Usually. Two woods rarely take one stain the same way, so we test it on the stair’s own wood and adjust it until the stair and the floor read as one color.

Do you do handrails and balusters?

No. We do the treads and risers. The railing and balusters stay as they are, or go to a stair-rail specialist, and the new treads are fitted around them.

Do you do curved or winding stairs?

Yes. The photo of a curved stair seen from above is one of ours. Each tread is a different wedge, cut for its own step.

Can we use the stairs while the work is going on?

Plan on the stair being closed while the glue and finish dry. Ask us how we’ll stage the work so you can still reach the rooms you need.

More guides

All guides

Free estimate

Want us to look at your floor?

Call or text with the rooms, the wood if you know it, and what’s wrong. We answer Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm, and usually come out within one to three days. Hablamos español.