When owners dream of warm, elegant hardwood stairs, the first question is always price. While online averages help, nothing beats a tailored estimate that reflects your exact layout, materials, and local labor rates. CountBricks brings that accuracy to your phone or laptop, turning real-time voice conversations into detailed cost breakdowns—no spreadsheets required.
Across the United States, a straight 12-step hardwood stair retrofit lands between $3,800 and $8,900. A sweeping or L-shaped configuration can push totals past $12,000 because extra stringers, landings, and rail geometry add hours of labor.
• Basic red oak treads and risers: $95–$140 per step
• Premium white oak, maple, or hickory: $130–$200 per step
• Exotic species or custom nosing profiles: $200+ per step
Labor usually represents 45-55 % of the invoice. CountBricks keeps that line item transparent by separating prep, install, sanding, and finish phases in your digital estimate.
• Wood Species: Dense or exotic varieties raise material price and installation time.
• Staircase Shape: Curved, flared, or multi-landing stairs require custom stringers and handrails.
• Existing Conditions: Removing carpet, repairing creaking framing, or meeting updated code may add demolition and carpentry hours.
• Finish Level: Factory-finished treads arrive ready to install; site-finished treads need sanding, staining, and sealing.
• Railing Package: Upgrading balusters from paint-grade to wrought iron or glass can double railing costs.
Traditional estimates depend on handwritten notes and hurried phone calls. CountBricks replaces that friction with AI-driven clarity:
• Real-time voice capture: Simply walk the site and speak; our engine converts your words to line-item quantities.
• Live material pricing: CountBricks pulls regional hardwood prices and carpenter rates as you talk.
• Automated alternates: Compare red oak versus white oak, or paint-grade rails versus iron without rewriting the bid.
• Instant PDFs: One tap turns the on-screen estimate into a branded quote ready for client approval.
Visit CountBricks.com/services to see the full estimating toolkit.
1. Open the CountBricks mobile app or web dashboard.
2. Start a voice session and describe staircase dimensions, landings, and railing style.
3. Confirm AI-generated quantities for treads, risers, stringers, and balusters.
4. Review real-time labor and material rates pulled from your region.
5. Click “Generate Quote” to produce a shareable PDF with payment terms, scope, and signature box.
Does hardwood cost more than carpet or laminate? Yes, but hardwood staircases add resale value and outlast softer coverings by decades.
Can I reuse existing stringers? Often, yes. CountBricks flags stringer replacement only when rise-run ratios fail current code.
How long does installation take? A straight run averages two to three days. CountBricks timelines adjust automatically when you add custom newel posts or curved railings.
• Speed: Generate complete stair bids in under ten minutes.
• Accuracy: Live pricing slashes costly underbids.
• Professionalism: Branded documents elevate your image with homeowners.
• Integration: Push approved quotes directly into CountBricks invoicing and project tracking.
Whether you are a general contractor, finish carpenter, or homeowner acting as your own GC, CountBricks turns “How much will it cost?” into a detailed, defendable number. Start a free voice estimate at CountBricks.com/consultation and bring clarity to your next hardwood staircase build.
The Joneses in Anchorage wanted to replace squeaky carpeted stairs with white oak treads and wrought-iron balusters. Their contractor, Alpine Finish Carpentry, usually spent half a day measuring, phoning suppliers, and updating spreadsheets. Instead, they opened the CountBricks app:
• 7-minute voice walk-through captured 13 treads, one landing, and a 42-inch iron rail.
• Live pricing auto-filled Alaskan white oak at $13.25 per linear foot and regional labor at $68 per hour.
• CountBricks calculated demolition, install, sanding, staining, and polyurethane top-coat—then suggested an optional LED tread-lighting add-on.
• A branded PDF hit the Joneses’ inbox before the site visit ended. They signed digitally that evening.
• Estimate time cut from 4 hours to 20 minutes
• Upsell revenue: $1,450 for LED lighting the client hadn’t considered
• Zero price disputes—every line item matched the final invoice generated through CountBricks.com/invoicing
• Mention code compliance early; homeowners appreciate transparency about required baluster spacing and handrail height.
• Offer two finish options—factory-finished treads reduce on-site dust, while site-finished allows custom stain matching.
• Use CountBricks alternates to show exotic versus domestic hardwood pricing; clients often upgrade once they see the exact delta.
Once you master stair estimating, the same CountBricks workflow applies to millwork, flooring, and trim packages. Visit CountBricks.com/portfolio to explore completed residential projects and see how voice-driven takeoffs accelerate every phase of construction.
Ready to skip the spreadsheet marathon? Book a live demo at CountBricks.com/consultation and experience hardwood stairs pricing that keeps you competitive, profitable, and client-approved.
