The most-used carpentry in the house.
A staircase is the one piece of finish carpentry your whole household touches every day, so it has to be safe before it’s pretty. Stair railing installation in Bellingham means more than swapping a wobbly handrail: balusters have to be spaced so a small child can’t slip through, guardrail height has to meet code, and a handrail has to be graspable and solid. We build the looks and the safety into the same run.
We replace treads and risers, install balusters and newel posts, run handrails, and finish the run with skirt boards and trim so it reads clean from the side. Where a project changes the stair geometry or the guardrail, we build to current code and tell you up front whether it triggers a City of Bellingham permit. We’d rather flag that on day one than surprise you later.
What it actually costs.
Our four-step process.
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Free in-home consult & written quote
We look at the run, check what meets current code and what doesn’t, talk through the look, and hand you a quote. We flag any permit needs here.
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Build to code
We build treads, risers, rail, and balusters to current guardrail height and rise/run, paint-grade or stain-grade.
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Install & secure
We set newel posts solid, run the handrail at a graspable height, and space the balusters so they pass code.
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Finish & walkthrough
We trim the skirt, caulk and fill, and walk the run with you. Every part should feel solid underfoot and in hand.
Why hire a finish carpenter for this.
- Guardrail height and baluster spacing built to current code
- Newel posts set solid; handrails graspable and tight
- Treads and risers in paint-grade or stain-grade
- Skirt and trim finish the run from the side
- Permit needs flagged up front, not after we start
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need a permit to change my stairs in Bellingham?
It depends on what changes. Cosmetic work, like new treads, a new handrail, or fresh balusters on the same staircase, usually needs no permit. But if a project changes the stair geometry (rise, run, headroom) or alters anything tied to egress or guardrail height, the City of Bellingham may require a permit. We check that at the consult and tell you before any work starts.
Can you just replace the balusters and handrail?
Yes, and it’s one of the most common stair jobs we do. Swapping dated or wobbly balusters and a worn handrail for new ones transforms how a staircase looks and feels without touching the structure. We make sure the new baluster spacing meets current code and that the newel posts are anchored solid so the whole rail is tight.
How much does stair work cost?
Stairs vary too much to put a single range on, so we price them by consultation. As a starting point, new treads and risers generally begin around $2,500, and a full rebuild with new rail, balusters, and skirt runs higher. Stain-grade hardwood costs more than paint-grade. We give you a firm line-item quote after we see the run.
Stairs & Railings across Whatcom County.
Stair work shows up across Bellingham, refinished runs in Edgemoor, cedar-and-timber rails in Sudden Valley. Pick your area for local notes: