Costs and Budget

Replacing or redesigning your stairs requires a considerable amount to get done, but how much should you really pay for? And up to what range is it acceptable or cost-efficient? Let us walk you through the process

How to Renovate Your Staircase on a Budget

June 26, 2024

Bring Joy and Style to Your Home with a Renovated Stair

April 12, 2024

5 Budget-Friendly Stair Renovation Ideas

July 21, 2021

How to Choose the Right Staircase for Your House

June 14, 2021

Cost and Staircases: Choosing the Best Staircase for your Space

September 21, 2018

Tips for remodeling your staircase while on a budget

August 3, 2018

Eco-friendly Ways to Add value to your home

November 23, 2016

How to Renovate Your Staircase on a Budget

Budget-friendly staircase renovation can dramatically enhance the look and feel of your home without breaking the bank. Whether you’re looking to update an old design or fix structural issues, there are several budget-friendly options to consider. Here are some tips on how to renovate your staircase on a budget while maintaining quality and style with the help of iStairs, your premier stair contractor in Northern California.

1. Assess Your Current Staircase

Before diving into renovations, take a close look at your current staircase. Identify any structural issues, worn-out parts, or aesthetic elements that need improvement. Understanding the extent of the renovation will help you plan and budget effectively.

Look at this stunning before/after. Read more about our Renovation service

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2. Plan Your Renovation

Create a detailed plan outlining the changes you want to make. Decide whether you want to do a full renovation or focus on specific parts like the balusters, handrails, or treads. Having a clear plan will help you stay within budget and avoid unnecessary expenses. iStairs can assist in planning and executing your staircase renovation to perfection.

3. DIY Where Possible

Taking on some of the work yourself can significantly reduce costs. Simple tasks like painting, staining, or replacing minor parts can be done without professional help. However, for more complex jobs, it’s best to hire experienced stair contractors for residential and commercial properties in Northern California, such as iStairs.

 

4. Use High-Quality Stair Parts and Accessories

Invest in high-quality stair parts and accessories to ensure durability and longevity. At iStairs, we offer a wide range of affordable yet premium products perfect for DIY projects. From stylish balusters to sturdy treads, our selection will help you achieve a professional finish on a budget.

 

5. Refinish Instead of Replace

Instead of replacing entire components, consider refinishing them. Sanding down and repainting or staining your treads and handrails can give your staircase a fresh new look at a fraction of the cost of replacement.

Ready to start your budget-friendly staircase renovation? Click below

Small aesthetic changes can make a big impact. Updating the balusters, adding a fresh coat of paint, or installing new lighting can transform the look of your staircase without major structural changes. iStairs specializes in aesthetic enhancements that make a noticeable difference.

 

6. Incorporate Affordable Materials

Using affordable yet stylish materials can help you stay within budget. For example, opt for engineered wood or laminate instead of solid hardwood for your treads. These materials are cost-effective and come in a variety of finishes to match your desired look. iStairs can recommend the best materials to fit your budget and design preferences.

7. Focus on Aesthetic Changes

8. Hire Professional Help for Complex Tasks

While DIY can save money, some tasks require professional expertise. Hiring experienced stair contractors for complex installations or structural repairs ensures safety and quality. At iStairs, our team of experts can handle any staircase renovation, big or small.

Contact iStairs today to schedule a consultation and get a free quote for your staircase renovation! 

 

Renovating your staircase on a budget is possible with careful planning, smart material choices, and a mix of DIY and professional help. By focusing on both structural integrity and aesthetic appeal, you can achieve a stunning transformation without overspending. iStairs is here to assist you every step of the way, ensuring a successful renovation that fits your budget.

Bring Joy and Style to Your Home with a Renovated Stair

In these uncertain times, it’s natural to be cautious about where you invest your hard-earned money. But what if I told you that transforming your home with a renovated stair could not only enhance your living space but also increase the value of your property? At iStairs Inc. Sacramento, we understand the importance of making wise investments, and we’re here to help you create a home that you love coming back to every day.

Custom Staircase Design and Build in Sacramento: Tailored to Your Vision

Your home should be a reflection of your unique style and personality. With our custom staircase design and build services in Sacramento, we’ll work closely with you to bring your vision to life. Whether you dream of a grand staircase that makes a statement or a sleek, modern design that maximizes space, our team of skilled craftsmen will turn your ideas into reality. And the best part? A beautifully crafted staircase isn’t just a functional element of your home – it’s a work of art that adds value and charm to your living space.

Staircase Remodeling Specialists in Sacramento: Enhance Your Living Experience

Is your current staircase outdated or in need of a refresh? Let our staircase remodeling specialists in Sacramento revitalize your home and elevate your living experience. From updating worn-out stairs to enhancing safety features, we’ll transform your staircase into a stunning focal point that complements your home’s interior design. With attention to detail and quality craftsmanship, we’ll breathe new life into your home and create a space that you’re proud to show off to family and friends.

Protect Your Investment

Safety should always be a top priority when it comes to your home. That’s why iStairs offers comprehensive staircase repair and maintenance services in Sacramento. From fixing squeaky stairs to addressing structural issues, our team will ensure that your staircase is in optimal condition, keeping you and your loved ones safe. By investing in regular maintenance checks with iStairs, you can protect your investment and avoid costly repairs down the line.

Contact Us Now for a Special Offer!

Ready to transform your home and elevate your life with a renovated stair? Don’t let uncertainty hold you back – take the first step towards a brighter future today. Call us at (844) 78247-48 and mention this blog post to receive a 10% discount on your renovation projects*. With iStairs Inc. Sacramento, you can trust that your investment will not only enhance your home but also add long-term value to your property. Let’s create a home that you’ll love coming back to, every single day.

Transform your home and elevate your life with a renovated stair from iStairs. Contact us now to schedule your consultation and claim your discount!*

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5 Budget-Friendly Stair Renovation Ideas

You may not be aware that your staircase can serve as a rich architectural element instead of just being a boring functional structure. In addition, you don’t even have to spend a fortune renovating your outdated or insipid stairs. 

Here is the list of 5 budget-friendly stair renovation ideas you may want to try. 

1) Add a new carpet runner

A carpet runner will not just make your stairway look more elegant, but it can also provide traction to prevent slip and fall accidents and absorb noise when making trips up and down the stairs. 

Opt for a runner that can cover most of the stair’s width, or at least 80% of the tread. By showing a small amount of floor on each side of the tread, you can create a beautiful contrast between the floor and the fabric; plus, the thin border lines create a longer, more elegant-looking carpet. 

Meanwhile, the ideal color for your runner depends on what you want to achieve. For instance, if you want a little pop of color, go for something with a vibrant hue or pattern, or if you are into a more serene effect, choose a more subdued color. 

These are the other things you have to consider when choosing a carpet runner: 

  • Choose a fabric that can withstand high traffic (nylon and polyester are hard-wearing synthetic fabrics, the same thing with wool with a small amount of synthetic blend). 
  • Opt for a carpet that is relatively thick but not too “fluffy.” Find the right balance between softness and durability. 

2) Consider painted runners

If you like the look of stair runners but hate the process of installation or the upkeep that they require (such as regular vacuuming), you may want to consider painted runners, which are an easy DIY weekend project. 

When it comes to the colors and patterns, the right one depends on your personal taste. However, there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind. 

Allow at least 4 inches between the edge of the painted runner and the wall. 

For a more finished look, fill the cracks with wood filler, sand the surface, and apply primer (if the surface has never been painted ) before painting your stairs. 

To ensure clean edges, apply painter’s tape before painting. And to prevent paint from seeping under the tape, seal its edge by applying some base color and allowing it to dry before painting the actual runner. 

3) Paint the balusters

A quick way to improve your worn-out or outdated stair posts is to repaint them. While you can never go wrong with white, you can also choose a more vibrant or “playful” color if you want to give your staircase a trendier look. 

But if you have some qualm in painting your hardwood stair posts, wood stain is a good alternative, especially if you are into rustic effect. 

4) Add a splash of color to the stair risers

You can cover your stair risers with vinyl or wallpaper to give your stairs a splash of color. The good thing about this makeover is that it requires minimal investment and effort: You can simply peel and stick the vinyl decals onto the vertical surface of the stair. 

In case you get tired of your vinyl decals or want another pattern or color, they are easy to remove. Simply warm them with a hairdryer before you peel them off the stair risers. 

5) Add a staircase molding

Adding a staircase molding to your walls is a surefire way to make it look more opulent without having to do major renovations or spending thousands of dollars. Another bonus: This is a relatively easy and quick DIY project. 

If you need staircase molding, balustrade, handrail, newel post, or other parts, contact iStairs. Inc. at 916-853-1499 or visit their showroom at 11270 Pyrites Way, Gold River, California. Aside from selling high-quality stair parts, they also install, repair, and renovate stairways in NorCal. 

How to Choose the Right Staircase for Your House

While a staircase is an “architectural” necessity–connecting one floor to another– it doesn’t have to be boring. With different types of staircases to choose from, you can always find something that suits your taste, your budget, and your home’s design. 

Budget 

The cost of a staircase primarily depends on the material and its design. In general, straight stairs style (stairs without any change in direction) and stairs made of aluminum metal are more affordable than solid timber staircases and split or bifurcated staircases which are commonly found in grand homes. 

Occupants 

If there are seniors and children in the family, a good rule of thumb is to choose a staircase design with landing plates and handrails. While the avant-garde and minimalist look of a floating staircase might appeal to you, it is not practical or even dangerous if you have small kids at home. 

Safe Design 

A safe design doesn’t necessarily mean a boring-looking staircase. These are tried-and-tested ways to ensure that your stairs are safe for everyone, including children and people with mobility issues. 

  • Install rail grips and add a second railing. 
  • Make sure the steps have a “gentler” rise. 
  • Choose stairs with longer runs. 
  • Avoid types of staircase with solitary steps, which are “unpredictable.”
  • Increase lighting.  
  • Prevent slip and fall accidents by adding a carpet runner. Some wood and stone staircases are easy to clean, but their surface can be slippery, especially when damp or wet. 

Materials 

There are different kinds of materials used to make staircases; they include timber, aluminum, steel, stone, marble, concrete, glass, wrought iron, glass, wire rope, brick, to name a few. Oftentimes, two or more materials are combined to create a functional and stylish staircase. 

From the interior design’s perspective, the “ideal” material depends on your home style and the “texture” you want to create. For instance, wood and carpet runners (fabric) are “warm” to the eyes, while stone and glass are considered as “cold” materials. 

Space

The amount of space and location will also determine the right types of staircase. For instance, a straight staircase is ideal if you want more room on the upper floor and don’t mind if it eats up more space in the area below. 

In contrast, a spiral staircase eats up less space in the downstairs area but requires a larger opening in the ceiling above. 

If you want the spiral staircase look but don’t like to sacrifice space on the upper floor, you may opt for a combination staircase design that combines straight and spiral treads. 

Related blogs:

Different Types of Stairs, Their Pros, and Cons
14 Stairway Design Ideas
Creative Staircases for Tiny Houses 

Staircase Designs 

The right staircase design depends on your space and style. For instance, spiral staircases are ideal for tight spaces and can also serve as a focal point in your home with the right material and structural design. 

Glass stairwells, meanwhile, are ideal if you like the minimalist look or want to utilize the natural light, which makes any space appear bigger than it is. 

But if you’re into a grand look, you may want to consider a double or split staircase, which consists of two staircases leading to a broad flight at the bottom that is often situated facing the home’s front door to create a more dramatic entrance. 

Contrary to popular belief, you can turn your staircase into a focal point of your home or at least use it to set the tone for a room. For instance, dark wood banisters combined with matte black metal inserts can create a unique rustic staircase. 

To learn more about the different types of staircase, contact iStairs at 916-853-1499 or visit their showroom at 11270 Pyrites Way, Gold River, California, which is just a 30-minute drive east of Sacramento. 

Top 10 Design Tips to Make Your Staircase a Statement Piece
https://www.istairs.net/blog/functional-stairs-for-small-homes/

Cost and Staircases: Choosing the Best Staircase for your Space

A lot of us want a functional, elegant, and even a show stopping staircase to top off our dream homes. However, grand staircases or designer stairs are not too friendly to the pockets. But we do not want to compromise aesthetics and quality, so here are some tips to consider when getting yourself a budget friendly yet pretty stairs.

  1. Room Space
    The key word is efficiency. Often times we either overestimate or underestimate the space allotted for our stairs. Because of this, we end up buying more materials than we can actually use. The same goes for under estimating, construction items are cheaper when bought by bulk, retailing the parts when a bolt is missing will cost the homeowners more. Look up the designs for curved flight of steps while this design does not complete the circle because of the radial space it requires, this design speaks of romance and grandeur.
  2. Design
    The complexity of a staircase is a factor to consider when shopping for one. A spiral stairs that goes around three times is more expensive than a staircase that only curves twice. The same goes for the details that would go with the hand railings. If you’d like Victorian style handrails, expect a quote made for the queen and a prize meant for the treasury of a king. Choose designs that are presentable and affordable.  You can check the Straight Stairway. This type of stairs provides a non-complex yet functional design to a home. This model works best with minimalists and can become a favorite photo spot for your guests.
  3. Materials
    Often times, people think that a steel staircase would be more expensive than those made of wood. This is not always the case because there are imported woods like the ones from the Narra tree in the Philippines that promises strength and longevity but may require breaking a bank if you’d like one for your house. For us who work under a budget, it would be best to survey the available materials first before deciding on a popular choice. Maybe you’d like to see some metal spiral stairs. This is best for homes that have limited spaces and is easy to install. This choice radiates fun and is relaxed aura- perfect for your personal turf.
  4. Labor
    Installing stairs can take days or even weeks depending on size and design complexity. For budget conscious buyers, checking for the number of days required to complete the stairs would extremely help the decision making process and planning of the project. Carpenters sometimes require an hourly rate or daily rate which can range between 50$ per hour to 75$ per hour. A  U- shaped Stairwell is composed of two L-shaped stair that requires a 180 degree turn in the landing. This is a complex design that can build interest among your guests. This is finest placed in a corner of the room to emphasize the shape. It can take some days to finish this beauty.

Tips for remodeling your staircase while on a budget

There are a number of good reasons why homeowners will choose to remodel their stairs, be it to spruce up the interior of the home before putting in on the market, to modernize the design of the home, or simply to make repairs on an aging or damaged set of stairs.

While each staircase situation is unique So whatever the reason may be that you have decided to remodel your staircase, let’s take a look at some tips that will help you save money and plan your staircase remodel on a budget!

    1. Determine if any of the staircase components can be savedBased on the condition and continued functionality of the staircase component, there are many parts of the staircase that could be salvaged during a remodel. The newel posts, tread caps, and handrail are often components of the staircase that don’t need to be completely replaced during a remodel. Instead, focus on replacing the balusters if you are to replace something on the staircase, as they take up most of the visual impact of the staircase in general.
    2. Improve appearance of existing staircase parts with paints and/or stains
      Simply with an updated shade of paint or for example, painting the balustrades white and staining the newels posts, landing caps and handrail a darker color, you can dramatically makeover the appearance of your entire staircase, without spending an arm and a leg.
    3. Upgrade lighting and tread features to give staircase inexpensive makeover
      You’d be surprised by the dynamic change that can take place with a little improvement in lighting and the tread features of your staircase. By simply enhancing the lighting around the staircase say through better placement of light fixtures for visibility purposes, or even using LED lighting systems, not only will your staircase become more functional and safer to use, it will also become a focal point of design for your home.
    4. Take advantage of overstock items from staircase companies
      If you are fortunate enough to be in the market at the right time, you can often find discounted staircase parts for your remodel from companies who have them in overstock. Staircase companies may have overstock items for a variety of reasons, so if you can find the parts or supplies at discounted price due to overstock, it’s always in your best interest to take advantage of these options.
    5.  Be smart and patient with your decisions for your staircase remodel and don’t jump into a quick fix you might later regret
      While time may be of the essence if you are planning on moving or need to start repairs on an old staircase, sometimes it’s in your best interest to be patient with your options when you’re remodeling your staircase on a budget. Primarily, this is because it’s best to wait a little longer to find the exact staircase remodeling option that meets the needs of the goals you have for your home, without compromising to safe a few bucks.
      If you really want to save money and invest in the smartest staircase remodel for your home, it’s in your best interest to consult with a professional staircase company who has experience with a multitude of different staircase remodeling projects, even those of which are operating on a budget.

Eco-friendly Ways to Add value to your home

For homeowners we know that there are a lot of other vital home repairs that accompany a newly renovated Sacramento staircase. Home repairs can be an expensive and time-consuming investments, so it is so important to consider which repairs are going to add value to your home when it comes time to sell, or which investments will help you save money now on energy bills.

Low-energy lighting

The average household spends about 5% of its energy budget on lighting, so switching to low-energy lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bill. Decisions regarding low-energy lighting not only save you money right away, but they also add value to your home, making it a more attractive option when you decide to sell.

As reported by the U.S. Department of Energy, light bulb alternatives include compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs). Both will help you save on your monthly energy bill.

A typical CFL uses about one-third the amount of energy as a standard light bub and it pays for itself within nine months. The LEDs are one of the most energy efficient and rapidly developing technologies. They last up to 25 times as long as a traditional bulb and they use about 25% of the energy.

Natural floors

For such a utilized asset in your home, it is essential that you make the best choice when replacing flooring. Again, choosing natural floors can save you money and more importantly, increase the value of your home. Your main options include bamboo and cork.

Cork floors offer many exciting eco-friendly benefits. The natural elasticity makes these floors comfortable, while not compromising on durability. They are hypoallergenic meaning they will not attract dust, they are fire resistant and best of all they serve as a natural insect repellant. Also, the bark of the cork oak tree from which the floors are produced, naturally grows back every three years, so there is no harm done to the trees whatsoever.

Bamboo is another sustainable, green flooring option. This wood is very durable and lasts longer than most tradition hardwoods, such as maple or red oak. Other natural benefits are that the bamboo floors are naturally water resistant and insect repellant. They make a fantastic option for an eco-friendly staircase or for the accompanying rooms.

Water-saving repairs

Any repair done in the kitchen or bathroom should definitely be done with the intent of water-saving in order to reduce energy and water bills. 60% of your water consumption comes from the kitchen and bathroom so those are the main areas you will most likely want to invest in water-saving repairs.

Key signs that you need a bathroom water repair are faucet leaks, showerhead leaks, tub leaks, or toilet leaks. If a faucet leaks just ten drips per minute that totals to about 500 gallons of wasted water per year.

In the kitchen, your main indicators are water puddles found underneath the fridge, dishwasher leaks, or faucet or sprayer leaks.

All of these eco-friendly repairs are additional ways for you to add value to your beautiful home investment.