when we bought our townhouse we had the usual pine stairs to the basement. we finished the basement and just painted the stairs. but after spending thousands on the family room in the basement i wanted the stairs goig down to look great too. the lowes guys suggested glueing an nailing hardwood floorin onto the existing stairs.it worked great the stairs are all now hardwood oak and look fantsatic. svaed about 2500. not having a company put in a new stair case.