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HERITAGE & INSTITUTIONAL PROJECT · STAIRCASE RESTORATION · TORONTO

150+ Year-Old Heritage Staircase Restoration for York General Hospital

York General Hospital was converting a Toronto heritage building more than 150 years old for modern medical use. We restored its two connected staircases rather than replacing them, preserving original wood, repairing damaged treads and integrating a complementary railing system.

Toronto, OntarioHeritage and institutional staircase restoration
Client
York General Hospital
Location
Toronto, Ontario
Property
Hospital-owned Toronto heritage building more than 150 years old
Building use
Conversion for modern medical use
Staircase scope
Two connected staircases from basement to second floor
Preservation
Original treads and posts, plus several original spindles, retained where practical
Tread repairs
Horizontal dowel stabilization and custom red-oak inserts
Sanding system
Festool ROTEX 150 with Festool dust extractors
Railing
Complementary new system installed with stainless-steel brackets
PLANNING A HERITAGE RESTORATION?

Project overview

Restoring two staircases for modern medical use

York General Hospital was converting a Toronto heritage building more than 150 years old for medical use. We restored its two connected staircases, from the basement to the second floor.

BEFORE - the original staircase retained valuable historic structure despite years of wear and later alteration.
AFTER - the completed interior preserves the staircase geometry while integrating repaired wood and new railing elements.

Preservation before replacement

Preserving before replacing

We kept original treads, posts and several surviving spindles. Damaged wood needed repair, and later additions had to be removed before the staircases could be refinished.

The original landing combined historic posts and spindles with later alterations that needed individual attention.
Years of wear and incomplete railing sections called for repair rather than wholesale replacement.

Basement to second floor

One staircase system across three levels

The work followed the stairs from the narrow basement flight to the upper landing. Treads, risers, railing and adjoining walls needed attention at each level.

The narrow basement flight forms the lower end of the connected staircase system.
From above, the lower flight reveals its worn surfaces and confined original geometry.

Original tread condition

Revealing the original wood

Carpet glue, paint, plaster and old finish covered the treads. Removing those layers exposed the wood and showed which areas needed repair.

Carpet adhesive, paint, plaster and old finish covered much of the original wood.
Progressive sanding exposed usable historic wood beside the remaining residue.

Festool dust-controlled sanding

Dust-controlled sanding with the ROTEX 150

We used a Festool ROTEX 150 connected to dust extraction to remove the old coatings and glue.

A Festool ROTEX 150 with connected extraction removes old coatings from an original tread.
The ROTEX 150 cuts through the difficult old surface while the extractor controls sanding dust.

Progressive surface restoration

Restoring the surface in stages

As the coatings came off, we checked each tread for cracks and damage. The amount of residue varied across the stairs, so some areas needed more sanding before repair.

Initial sanding exposed the condition of each tread beneath the accumulated coatings.
The original wood emerged one tread at a time as the old finishes were stripped away.

Cracked original tread repairs

Stabilizing cracked original treads

We drove dowels horizontally through cracked treads at intervals to stabilize the wood. The ends were cut flush before further sanding and finishing.

Irregular residue and surface damage remained visible as the original treads entered the repair stage.
The treads after further sanding exposed the original wood.

Later alterations and custom wood repair

Repairing openings left by later spindle platforms

Removing later spindle platforms left square openings in the original treads. We fitted thin red-oak inserts into the openings, following the surrounding grain and setting the repairs flush with the surface.

Removing the later spindle platform exposed several square openings in the original tread.
The fitted red-oak plank sits flush and follows the surrounding wood direction before final refinishing.

Original and new railing components

Combining preserved and new railing components

Original posts and several spindles remained in the railing. We restored usable handrail pieces and fitted new sections where the railing was incomplete.

Original posts and surviving spindles remained in place while incomplete railing sections were rebuilt.
Existing handrail elements were restored where practical before final railing integration.

New railing integration

Completing the railing with stainless-steel brackets

Stainless-steel brackets secure the new railing sections beside the restored posts and treads.

New railing components were fitted around the restored main staircase.
Railing installation beside the repaired treads.

Surrounding interior work

Finishing the rooms around the stairs

We repaired drywall and trim and painted the risers, stringers and surrounding woodwork. The main-floor window trim was repaired and painted, with the curved radiator kept beneath it.

Drywall and painting formed part of the wider interior restoration around the stairs.
The existing radiator remained in place while the surrounding window trim and finishes were completed.

Before and after · basement flight

Restoring the narrow basement flight

The narrow basement flight kept its original shape. Dark treads now sit between painted risers and walls, with handrails along the approach.

Before view looking up the worn basement stair in the York General Hospital heritage building.
BeforeWorn treads, risers and walls on the narrow basement flight.
After view looking up the completed basement staircase with restored wood treads and finished handrails.
AfterThe same lower flight restored with dark wood treads, painted risers and completed handrails.

Before and after · main staircase

Restoring the main staircase

The restored main flight retains its old posts and several original spindles. Repaired treads and new railing sections fill the gaps left by damage and later alterations.

Before view of the worn main heritage staircase with original posts and altered railing components.
BeforeThe main staircase before tread restoration, railing integration and surrounding finishes.
After view of the completed main heritage staircase with restored treads and complementary railing.
AfterThe main staircase after tread repairs, refinishing and railing work.

Finished heritage interior

Historic character retained

Original wood remains throughout the finished staircases, including the repaired treads. The replacement railing and freshly painted surfaces complete the work around those retained pieces.

The completed staircase retains its original posts and repaired treads.
Preserved posts and selected historic details remain visible within the completed railing arrangement.

Landings and railing details

Connecting the landings and railing details

At the landings, the new railing meets the existing posts, window and exposed brick. The curved stair base remains visible below.

The curved stair base and original post remain beside the new railing.
Original posts and restored treads meet the complementary new railing at the main flight.

RESTORATION DETAILS

From worn surfaces to a completed heritage staircase

Before restoration, the upper landing had worn treads, altered railing and unfinished surroundings.
The upper flight retained the worn original surfaces that would be repaired.
The ROTEX 150 removed difficult old layers with dust extraction connected.
Original wood emerged gradually across the connected flights.
Later spindle platforms left square openings that required custom red-oak inserts.
A complete handrail arrangement was fitted to the lower flight's existing geometry.
Handrail beside the wall and trim during finishing.
The upper landing connects new railing components with the retained historic stair.
The completed staircase preserves its original geometry within the renewed interior.
The upper landing retains the historic window and exposed brick.
The finished upper railing completes the connection between the flights and landing.

CONTINUE EXPLORING

Related projects, guidance and services.

Planning a heritage or institutional staircase restoration?

Strataline repairs historic wood, integrates complementary railing systems and coordinates surrounding finishes for difficult existing-condition projects across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.

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