Exterior Stairs & Railings in Vancouver
Front and back stairs rebuilt to BC Building Code - new stringers, treads, guards and handrails - then painted or stained by the same crew.
Stair Rebuilds, By The Numbers
Stairs are the most common carpentry job in our files - more than decks, siding or windows.
What We Build And Fix
Front stairs and porches. Old stairs demolished, a new layout with the correct rise and run, new stringers, treads and risers. On a 2025 rebuild the old stairs were too steep - the new layout made the stair longer and we framed storage underneath.
Back stairs and landings. When a stair is fastened to the house, water runs down behind it. On one back stair in Kensington-Cedar Cottage the wall framing behind it had rotted and was rebuilt before the new stair went on - see the case.
Railings and guards. Older porches often have 750 mm railings with wide gaps. A rebuild is the time to bring guards to 900 mm with no climbable rails, and to add a handrail at 865-1070 mm. Cable railing is an option where you want the view.
Rot repairs. Post bases, the bottom of stringers and the first tread sit closest to wet ground - that is where we open up first. Sound stairs with local rot get new treads or post bases instead of a full rebuild.
The Code Numbers We Build To
Private stairs serving one home, from BC Building Code Section 9.8. Your municipality's inspector has the final word. Full details in our guide to exterior stairs and the BC Building Code.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Rise per step | 125-200 mm, every riser in a flight the same |
| Run per step | 255-355 mm |
| Width | 860 mm minimum |
| Handrail | 4 or more risers; 865-1070 mm above the nosing |
| Guards | Over 600 mm drop; 900 mm high (1070 mm above 1800 mm drop) |
| Openings | A 100 mm ball must not pass through |
How A Stair Rebuild Runs
- Site visit: we measure, check the footings and the wall behind the stair, and tell you if the new layout is likely to need a permit.
- Fixed written quote. Hidden rot or a new concrete pad, if found once the old stair is off, is shown to you and priced before we continue.
- Demolition and haul-away; new footings or pad where needed so posts sit off the ground.
- New stringers, treads and risers - cedar, pressure-treated or composite. Every cut end sealed.
- Guards and handrails to code, posts finished after any siding work.
- Two coats of paint or stain on treads, risers, stringers and railings, with a slip-resistant finish on the treads.
Stair Questions We Get Every Week
Do I need a permit to rebuild my front stairs?
A like-for-like repair usually does not. A new or reconfigured stair, or one over a certain height, can - rules differ by city. Before we change a layout we tell you whether a permit is likely and who should apply.
What does the BC Building Code require for house stairs?
For stairs serving one home: risers 125-200 mm, runs 255-355 mm, width at least 860 mm, a handrail on four or more risers at 865-1070 mm, and guards where the drop is over 600 mm.
How long does a stair rebuild take?
About a week for a typical front or back stair. New footings or a concrete pad add time and are confirmed once the old stair is off.
Do you paint or stain the new stairs?
Yes. The same company seals, primes and finishes the new wood - one quote and one 2-year workmanship warranty for the carpentry and the finish.
Cedar, pressure-treated or composite treads?
Cedar for the look, pressure-treated where it will not show, composite where you never want to paint again. Every cut end gets sealed.
Related: deck repair & building · deck painting & staining · front stairs design ideas · all carpentry services
Stairs Feel Soft Or Steep?
We rebuild them to code and paint or stain them in the same job.
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