Custom Stair Building & Recaps in Ottawa
Since 2006, our family has provided homeowners in Ottawa neighborhoods like Stittsville, Kanata, Westboro, Riverside South, Findlay Creek, Manotick, Orleans, and Rockcliffe Park a refined approach to stair building, custom stair recaps, and railings. Whether you’re looking for new stairs, or a stunning transformation of your existing one, let us show you how we use sustainable Canadian materials to craft exceptional finished products.
Which Solution Works For Me?
New Stair
There are several reasons to install a new set of stairs in your home. Whether the old ones aren’t up to code, aren’t structurally sound, or you just need to change the layout, we have decades of experience building top-notch staircases tailored to suit the needs and style of every homeowner. A new stair does carry with it some additional work (usually some combination of new framing, drywall, trim, or paint) that would need to be handles by other trades. We can remove an old set of stairs and install a new set in a few hours and you can use them right away.
Stair Recap
If your stair is currently carpeted and you would like hardwood instead, then it’s time for a recap. We remove the existing railing and carpet, cut off the overhanging nosings from the stair treads, and then essentially build a hardwood stair on top of the old stair. We have specialized in doing this for two decades and are exceptionally good at it. You can continue to use your stairs during the entire process, which takes 3-5 days, and no other work is required upon completion. This option is generally more cost effective and less intrusive than installing a new stair.
An Investment in Quality
We aren’t the right fit for everyone. For two decades, we’ve specialized in bespoke staircases for homeowners who value longevity and fine detail. We don’t aim to be the cheapest—we aim to be the last people you ever need to hire for your stairs by offering a level of craftsmanship that 'middle-of-the-road' contractors cannot.
The Best Materials
Regardless of which route you take, we use the same high quality materials: top grade sustainably sourced Canadian hardwood and plywood.
Expert Craftsmanship
The best materials are only as good as the hands working them. Marty and Jake were both in the stair industry prior to founding Campbell’s Woodcraft and have applied decades of industry experience to perfecting their craft. Skill and experience are the keys to our success.
Reliability You Can Count On
We stand behind our work, offering more than our word to give you our best. We are fully licensed, insured, and WSIB compliant. We follow the Ontario Building Code and guarantee all of our work will pass inspection. Finally, all of our work is warrantied for 1 year. Our reputation has built trust, but we’ve got paperwork to back it up.
Client Appreciation
As a small, family run operation, we have the opportunity to show our clients gratitude in real tangible ways. We offer discounts to first responders, Canadian service members, and repeat clients.
The Recapping Process
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Before we create an official estimate, we’ll stop by the house to take pictures and measurements of the stair. We’ll discuss the process with you, including details such as railing options, tread and trim style, colour selections, and stain matching the stair to your flooring for a harmonious look.
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Before we set foot in the house, we need to prepare all of the materials. Once you sign the estimate and provide your deposit, we’ll order all of the material. When it arrives we prepare it all and get it ready for finishing. We then stain the material (if required) to match the flooring or a preselected colour. Then we spray our clear coats of lacquer. If the material needs to be white, we spray our white lacquer finish (it’s much more durable than paint). We allow a few days for the finish to cure before it’s ready for installation.
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Your average stair recap takes 3-4 days and begins with us covering the flooring around the stair area. We then move on to removing the railing and carpet from the stair. Next, we cut off the overhanging bullnose from each tread and perform any repairs that need to be done. Now we have a solid blank slate on which to build the stair.
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We start by skinning the sides of the stair (stringers) with 1/4” plywood. Next we secure a riser (the vertical part of the stair) to the back of a solid hardwood tread made to fit your stair. The tread/riser then get installed as one piece using construction adhesive and screws. We can that add all of the trim pieces and reinstall the existing railing, or install a new one.
Want to see what makes us special? Get close. Go ahead… really zoom in.
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![Detailed photograph capturing the immaculate junction between a grey-toned hardwood recap tread, crisp white risers, and intricate traditional multi-profile baseboard and skirt board trim, showing seamless craftsmanship.]()
The Closed Stringer
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![Looking down a winder staircase transformation featuring grey-toned hardwood recap treads, a matching custom handrail, modern matte black balusters, and crisp white risers. Potted plants provide contrast below.]()
The Winder
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![Detail shot of modern, minimalist matte black square metal balusters seamlessly drilled and inserted into the clean edge profile of a grey-toned Canadian hardwood recap stair tread.]()
The Open Stringer
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![Close-up perspective of a custom-finished solid hardwood newel post matching the grey-toned recap treads. The post integrates perfectly with the built-up starting tread block, alongside modern matte black square metal balusters and clean white painte]()
The Volute Block
Working Throughout the Greater Ottawa Area
We’ve been working in homes across the national capital region for over 20 years. From Arnprior to Cumberland, the Byward Market to Brockville, we’ve been to every corner of the area.
Whether you’re in the core (Centretown, Westboro, the Glebe, & Vanier), or the ‘burbs (Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Orleans, Findley Creek, & Riverside South) we’ve got you covered.
Live further out? Fear not, we work in Cumberland, Manotick, Kemptville, Richmond, Carleton Place, Almonte, & Greely.
Even further? Please… We’ve worked in Calabogie, Brockville, Arnprior, Navan, & Vars. Trust us, we don’t mind a drive.
Service available in postal codes: K0A, K0C, K0G, K1R, K1S, K1Y, K1V, K2J, K2K, K2P, K2S, K4M, K4R, K7C, K7H, K6V, and surrounding FSAs.
Before
After
“We hired Campbell’s Woodcraft to design and build a custom staircase and railings that run through several levels at the centre of our home. Because it’s such a visible architectural feature, it was essential that the staircase match our hardwood flooring and look exceptional.
Campbell’s delivered beyond our expectations. The craftsmanship is outstanding—the staircase and railings blend perfectly with our floors and have become a true centerpiece of the house. Guests frequently comment on how beautiful it is.
Just as importantly, the team was professional and reliable throughout the project. They stayed on schedule, kept everything on budget, and were extremely helpful in guiding us through their portion of a large renovation.”
Marianne Dietrich - Manotick, Ottawa
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Once you reach out with your project details, we provide a rough estimate or request more info. If you're ready to move forward, we provide an official estimate. After a 50% deposit is received, we order materials and schedule your install dates. We complete the work within the agreed timeframe, you pay the remaining balance, and we all celebrate a job well done.
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Renovations are a process! For stair recaps, the first day is the loudest and messiest as we remove old materials. We tidy up daily, and from day two onward, it’s usually quiet enough for you to work from home. Most of our heavy cutting is done outside to keep your interior as clean as possible. For handrails and cabinetry, only the initial removal is particularly loud or messy.
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No. While we like someone to let us in, you don't need to stay. It will only ever be the owners—Marty, Jay, or Jake—in your home. We find that a quick chat at the start or end of the day is helpful for project updates, but it’s not required.
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No, bring us all the pets. Dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, goldfish, potbellied pigs, alpacas, and miniature horses are more than welcome to watch us work and interrupt us at every opportunity. Maybe leave the Wyverns out back though.
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Yes! We offer dedicated discounts for Canadian service members, first responders, and our repeat clients. We might sharpen our pencil behind the scenes if your project is unique.
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Just Contact Us with a few details. Photos are especially helpful, allowing Jake to give a rough estimate quickly.