A Stair Railing Should Fit Your Hand Before a Mood Board
Choosing a stair railing starts with grip, height and safety, then style. Learn what makes a handrail comfortable in Houston homes. Get a free estimate.
Harris County · Trim, Doors & Stairs
A worn, carpeted staircase can set the tone for an entire Bellaire home. We install custom hardwood stairs for homeowners throughout Harris County.
Bellaire is a small city fully surrounded by Houston, southwest of the 610 Loop near the Galleria and Meyerland. It has its own city government and building rules, quiet residential streets and easy access to the Texas Medical Center. We work here regularly on both original homes and newer rebuilds.
Bellaire's original 1950s and 1960s ranch homes have largely been replaced by two-story new construction, but plenty remain. Older houses need full kitchen layouts and updated baths, while newer homes often want better closets, built-in offices and upgraded trim. Some streets have flooded in past storms, so raised bases in lower cabinets come up in conversation.
Many newer homes in Bellaire were built with carpeted stairs over pine or particleboard treads, often with hardwood or tile on the floors around them. Converting to hardwood treads and painted risers ties the stair into the rest of the flooring and makes the entry feel finished. It is one of the more visible upgrades you can make without a full remodel.
Every project starts with an in-home measurement in Bellaire. We build in our Houston shop and the same crew handles installation, so the person you talk to at the estimate is accountable for the result. Learn more about our full custom stair installations service.
We install solid hardwood treads, typically 1 inch or thicker, in red oak, white oak, hickory, maple or walnut. Solid treads take sanding and refinishing over the decades, unlike veneered caps or laminate overlays that wear through.
We measure every rise and run, correct uneven first and last steps caused by flooring changes, and keep riser heights consistent within code tolerances. Consistent steps are what keep people from tripping, especially in the dark.
Each tread is cut and scribed to the stringer and skirt, glued with construction adhesive and fastened to prevent squeaks. A properly installed stair feels solid underfoot and stays quiet for years.
We match tread species and stain to your hardwood floors or choose a contrasting look, such as stained treads with painted risers. Matching nosings and landing treads tie the stair into the flooring for a seamless transition.


Many Houston two-story homes have stairs built over a slab with a first riser that sits directly on concrete, and flooring changes on that slab often throw off the first step height. We measure and correct this so the first riser matches the rest. Humidity causes wood to move, so we acclimate hardwood treads in the home before installation and leave room for seasonal expansion at the skirt. Builder-grade stairs in the area are often built with stringers and pine or particleboard treads intended for carpet, which need inspection before hardwood goes on. Stairwell walls in two-story homes can be tall, so we plan scaffolding or ladders safely around them.
Houston humidity is the main thing we design around. Solid wood moves with the seasons, so we use furniture-grade plywood for cabinet boxes and shelves, and frame-and-panel doors that let panels float. Sink bases get extra finish protection, and in neighborhoods along bayous or in flood-prone zones we can raise toe kicks or use moisture-resistant materials on the lowest components. Keeping the house conditioned during installation helps everything settle in properly.
As a general planning range, a straight carpet-to-hardwood stair conversion in Greater Houston often runs about $150 to $350 per step for treads, risers and finishing, so a typical 14-step stair may land roughly between $2,500 and $5,500 before railing work. Curved stairs and custom parts cost more. Get a written estimate after an in-home measure.
Choosing a stair railing starts with grip, height and safety, then style. Learn what makes a handrail comfortable in Houston homes. Get a free estimate.
Wood vs metal stair railings for Houston homes: looks, humidity durability, safety, maintenance and cost ranges compared. Get a free in-home estimate.
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Tell us about your kitchen, bath or built-in project. We usually reply within one business day.
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