Staircase Options

Builders will generally provide the most basic staircase thats affordable for them to provide however its not something that can be upgraded later on. Even for basic changes to a staircase that can easily add $5k and go up from there. The labour side

Staircase Components

Staircase Glossary — Courtesy: Designer Staircases

The main parts of a standard staircase, which you may consider upgrading, are:

Stringers (see Image 1) –
- Closed stringers – These is a standard option normally and allows you to use MDF treads and carpet.
- Open stringers (sawtooth stringer) – This adds a cost of a few thousand. You also cant use carpet or do your treads like laminate after handover as the balusters are installed with the staircase and would interfere with that floor.
- Mono stringer – These can be manufactured out of steel and can add a lot of cost to the design.
Balusters
- Steel – These are the cheapest as they just need to be installed and dont require another trade to paint them.
- Pine – These would be painted and come in different shapes like chamfered ones for about $4 extra each
- Wrought iron – Not much more than painted pine but it depends on the style
- Glass – This can add around $10k vs standard
Posts – A square post without any detail and a flat top is standard. 115sq or 155sq posts are upgrade options. There’s not much choice of styles in the range but you can do something custom which would cost a lot more. The difference in cost between the 115sq and 155sq is around $200 but just based on retail pricing so a builder would add margins onto this.
- Recess – These add to the character and would likely cost around $120 extra.
- Tops – These are around $75
Treads and Risers –
- Carpet – This is the cheapest option as the treads and risers are cheap MDF and just requires carpet over the top of it. Requires a closed stringer.
- Laminate or similar – This is similar to carpet with MDF as the base however the cost difference is laminate vs carpet. Requires a closed stringer.
- Timber – Out of the common options Maple is the cheapest, followed by Victorian Ash and then Oak. Oak can cost around $1500-2000 extra.
- Painted – This is another cheaper alternative which can look nice where you have white painted risers in a Hamptons/Provincial look.