MDF
Lowest costEasiest care
Cost$$$$$Budget-friendly
DurabilityVery smooth; swells if soaked
Easy carePainted; touch up as needed
Expected life20–30 years
Best forPainted baseboards, casings and crown
Watch-outsNot for wet areas; edges chip
Home / Services / Stairs, railings and trim
Stair renovations & finish carpentry Stairs, railings & trim in Oshawa & Durham.
Carpet to hardwood stairs, new railings and spindles, and baseboards and casings cut tight. The details that make a renovation look finished.
4.4 on Google · 20 reviews- Carpet to hardwoodTreads, risers and nosings
- New railingsWood, metal spindles, cable
- Trim cut tightBaseboards, casings, crown
- Free estimateSite visit, design and written quote
What we offer
Stair renovations, railings and finish carpentry.
Stair refinishing, carpet-to-hardwood stairs, railings, baseboards and trim for homes across Oshawa and Durham Region. We build the parts that tie a room together, inside and out.
- 01
Carpet to hardwood stairs
Carpet out, new hardwood treads and painted risers, finished to match your floors.
- 02
Stair refinishing and recapping
Existing treads sanded and refinished, or capped with new treads where the old ones can’t be saved.
- 03
Railings and spindles
New handrails, posts and spindles in wood, black metal or cable, built to code.
- 04
Basement stairs
Finished stairs, handrails and under-stair storage as part of a basement project.
- 05
Baseboards and casings
New baseboards, door and window casings in MDF, pine or hardwood, painted or stained.
- 06
Crown moulding and wainscoting
Crown, panel mouldings and accent walls for a more finished look.
- 07
Built-ins and shelving
Built-in shelving, benches and storage, finished to match the trim.
- 08
Exterior railings
Porch and deck railings in wood, aluminum, composite or glass.
From our job sites
Stairs, railings and trim from our job sites.
Railings, stairs and built-ins from basements and main floors across Durham Region.
Materials compared
Trim and railing materials compared.
MDF, pine or solid wood trim, and the railing options we build most often.
Interior trim: MDF, finger-jointed pine or solid wood
Baseboards, casings and crown are small details that make a renovated home look finished.
Rule of thumb. For painted trim, MDF or primed pine give a smooth finish at a fair price. Choose stained solid wood only where you want the grain to show.
Finger-jointed pine
Easiest care
Cost$$$$$Lower cost
DurabilityA softer wood that dents
Easy carePainted; touch up as needed
Expected life25–40 years
Best forPainted trim where you want real wood
Watch-outsDents easily; joints can show through paint
Solid wood (oak or poplar)
Most durableLongest life
Cost$$$$$Premium
DurabilityDense and repairable
Easy careRefinish or repaint as needed
Expected life50+ years
Best forStained or high-end millwork
Watch-outsHighest cost
Cost ratings compare typical installed prices for these options in Durham Region and the GTA, from $ (lowest) to $$$$$ (highest). Swatches are illustrations, not exact colours. Your free design and written, itemized quote will give you exact numbers for your home.
Railings: wood, aluminum, composite or glass
Railings are a safety feature first and a style feature second.
Rule of thumb. Aluminum is the low-fuss standard. Glass keeps the view open, and wood suits the lowest budget and traditional looks. All guards are built to Ontario Building Code.
Wood
Lowest cost
Cost$$$$$Budget-friendly
DurabilityCan weather and loosen
Easy careStain or seal regularly
Expected life10–20 years
Best forTraditional looks and budget builds
Watch-outsNeeds the most maintenance
Aluminum
Most durableEasiest care
Cost$$$$$Lower cost
DurabilityPowder coat resists rust and fading
Easy careOccasional wash
Expected life25–30+ years
Best forLow-fuss, clean lines on any deck
Watch-outsCan look plain; scratches touch up with paint
Composite
Cost$$$$$Lower cost
DurabilityWon't rot or splinter
Easy careSoap and water
Expected life20–30 years
Best forMatching composite decking
Watch-outsBulky profiles; costs add up
Glass panel
Longest life
Cost$$$$$Premium
DurabilityTempered glass; hard-wearing
Easy careNeeds regular cleaning
Expected life25–30+ years
Best forKeeping the view open with a modern look
Watch-outsHighest cost; shows fingerprints and water spots
Cost ratings compare typical installed prices for these options in Durham Region and the GTA, from $ (lowest) to $$$$$ (highest). Swatches are illustrations, not exact colours. Your free design and written, itemized quote will give you exact numbers for your home.
Getting it right
Stairs are safety first.
Stairs and railings are covered by the Ontario Building Code. Handrail height, the gaps between spindles and how a guard handles weight all have rules, because stairs are where people fall. When we replace a railing, we build it to current code, not just to look good.
Carpet-to-hardwood conversions are about consistency. Each step needs the same rise and the same tread depth, and the new treads change the heights slightly. We plan the top and bottom steps so the staircase stays even.
On trim, the joints tell the story. Coped inside corners, tight mitres and caulked, filled nail holes are what make baseboards and casings look custom.
Kind words
What Durham homeowners say about us.
★★★★★★★★★★
20 Google reviews
Rated 4.4 out of 5 by our clients
I recently had my stairs renovated and I’m very happy with the results. The team was professional, reliable, and their workmanship was excellent. It’s clear they take pride in their work and care about customer satisfaction. The finished stairs look beautiful and have completely transformed the space. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for quality renovation work. Thank you Jim, Cameron, and Michael for the fantastic job!
Charlotte Abou-HeifStairs · Google review★★★★★I have used Ramsauer Reno now for two renovations. First one was replacing carpet with flooring in two adjoining rooms and the second was replacing the front porch railing. Jim came to the house for the original quote and explained things thoroughly. His team completed both projects very quickly. The work was expertly done, and the team was friendly and polite. I highly recommend them and would hire this company again in the future.
Cheryl RiversoFlooring and railing · Google review★★★★★I can’t say enough good things about these guys. They are great people and their work is outstanding. I had the floors done in my bathroom and on my main level as well as all new baseboards and trims and I couldn’t be happier. Let’s plan the next project! Thanks guys! Highly recommend!
Linda HodgkinsonFlooring and trim · Google review★★★★★The Ramsauer team did a fabulous job on building a new deck in my backyard along with a matching garden planter. Cameron’s workmanship was impeccable. His creative skills and building talent combined with his easygoing personality and attention to detail were unmatched. He completely met my vision and did it with seemingly little effort. Cameron is a natural builder whom I would definitely hire again. Thank you to Jim, Cameron and the Ramsauer team.
Alison Abou-Heif OvenellDeck · Google review★★★★★
Questions
Stairs, railings and trim questions, answered.
Straight answers. Anything else, just ask.
01How much does it cost to replace carpet on stairs with hardwood?
It depends on the number of steps, whether the stairs are open or closed, the wood species and the railing. We give you a written, itemized price after a free visit.
02Can you keep my existing railing?
Often, yes. If the railing is solid and meets code, we can refinish or paint it. If it is loose or doesn’t meet current height and spacing rules, we’ll recommend replacing it.
03Do you install new baseboards with new floors?
Yes. New floors are the best time for new baseboards and quarter round, since the old ones usually come off anyway. We install and paint them as part of the job.
04Do railings need a permit?
Replacing an interior railing with a similar one usually doesn’t. New exterior guards on decks and porches are part of the deck permit when one is required. We check what applies to your property.
05Do you build exterior railings too?
Yes, in wood, aluminum, composite and glass, for decks, porches and front steps.
Related
Renovations often done together.
Free estimate and design
Ready to renovate your stairs and trim?
Send photos of your stairs or book a visit, and we’ll give you a written price for the stairs, railing and trim. Free.