PROJECT STORY · CALEDON
Stair Renovation & White Oak Flooring in Caledon
A projecting first step, floor-mounted posts and heavily trimmed columns were crowding this Caledon hallway. We reworked the staircase, rebuilt and capped the shallow basement steps, and installed white oak flooring. A custom stain brought the existing red oak into the same lighter colour, with the work finished on December 23, just in time for Christmas.
- Completed
- December 23, 2021
- Location
- Caledon, Ontario
- PLANNING A STAIR RENOVATION?
Making space beside the stairs
A projecting first step, posts standing on the floor and broad column bases took up space in this hallway. We reworked those details together to open the passage toward the dining room.
One column could go
We began by removing the bulky trim from the columns. Their bases and upper mouldings projected beyond the line of the beam overhead, making the hallway feel more crowded than it needed to.
The column beside the staircase brought a useful discovery: it was decorative, not a structural support.
We removed that column entirely. The awkward passage between the column and the stair post was gone, opening the route into the dining room.
The other two column treatments stayed, but their proportions changed. We stripped away the heavy detailing and brought their finished outlines into line with the beam. The hall kept its architectural features without all the extra bulk around them.
A better starting point for the stairs
The old first step projected on the left, where the handrail curled around its post. On the right, the handrail met the post directly.
We replaced the leading step, revised the left side to match the right and moved the right-hand post onto the tread. Both starting posts now sit on the step, clear of the hallway floor, and align with the post on the main-floor nosing.
Rebuilding the shallow basement stairs
The basement treads were about 8½ inches deep, compared with nearly 10 inches upstairs. We rebuilt the basement stairs and fitted caps to bring their depth into line with the upper flight.
The new basement handrail is mounted on wall brackets.
White oak floors, red oak stairs
New white oak flooring was installed on the main floor and landings, with white oak baseboards on the landings. The existing staircase was red oak.
We developed a separate, lighter stain for the red oak to match the new floor. Applying the same stain to both species would not have produced the same colour.
Five new posts, with the spindles kept
We fitted five square posts with metal inserts: one upstairs, one on the landing, two on the first step and one on the main-floor nosing. The existing matte-black spindles, in plain and knuckle designs, stayed in place.
A ledge below the brick inset
A wood ledge finishes the bottom of the brick wall inset. Its colour matches the nearby woodwork, and its shallow surface provides space for small objects.
Keeping the work in the hall
Plastic separated the living room, kitchen and dining room from the work area. The dining room was enclosed with a ZipWall barrier. We used the hall and staircase for tools, assembly and stair components drying between finishing stages.
Ready for Christmas
The work was complete on December 23, 2021. The Christmas tree stood beside the finished staircase.
The compact first step and relocated posts leave more hallway floor clear. The lighter stain matches the new white oak, and the rebuilt basement flight has deeper treads.
FINISHED PROJECT
The completed renovation
Planning answers
What homeowners can learn from this project
Can a staircase renovation make a narrow hallway feel larger?
It did in this home. We replaced the projecting starting step, moved the starting posts onto the first tread and removed a column after confirming it was decorative. The remaining column treatments were made slimmer. Those changes recovered usable space without enlarging the hallway itself.
Can shallow basement stairs be improved as part of a capping project?
Here, the basement staircase was rebuilt before the new caps were fitted. Its approximately 8½-inch treads were brought into line with the nearly 10-inch steps upstairs. This was not simply a matter of making the caps project farther; the reconstruction and the new treads were planned together.
Can red oak stairs be made to match white oak flooring?
We achieved that appearance on this project with a custom lighter stain. The staircase remained red oak, but its finished colour was developed to match the new white oak flooring rather than leaving a noticeable contrast between them.
Do the existing metal spindles have to be replaced when posts are changed?
Not always. We reused the existing matte-black spindles here and fitted five new square posts with metal inserts. The retained spindle designs worked with the new woodwork.
Did you remove a supporting column?
No. The column removed beside the staircase was established to be decorative. The remaining two column treatments were retained and simplified. Removing that unnecessary obstruction improved access to the dining room.
What flooring and trim were installed?
White oak flooring was installed on the main floor and landings, with white oak baseboards on the landings. A coordinating wood ledge also finished the brick wall inset.
CONTINUE EXPLORING
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Planning stair capping, new floors or a better entrance layout?
Send us photographs of your staircase, hallway and adjoining floor. We’ll review the steps, posts, railing and finishes together—including the details that may be taking up more space than they need to.