how to finish stair treads

Shellac has been used on stair treads for many years with better results than similar types of finishes. Fill Screw Holes. % of people told us that this article helped them. Then, paint the finish onto the stairs. Test the finish first on a scrap of wood left behind from your project to make sure you like the color. We use these stairs several times a day and they do not look worn in the least. If you don't already have a power sander, purchase or rent one from your local home improvement store. Keep in mind this surface will most likely get covered in polyurethane. Staining a staircase involves preparing the area around the stairs so nothing gets in the way or gets stain on it. This will require a combination of power sanding and hand sanding to get in the tight corners and around balusters. Do not sand after the third coat. All rights reserved. If you watch the remodel update from a couple weeks ago, you can actually see the first step already done! We used their Porch and Floor enamel for this project, which dries to a good, hard surface great for foot traffic. Unfinished and prefinished stair parts are available in several stain colors available online. I’d like a finish which matches the hardwood (hi kory) as closely as possible. Sand all parts of the stairs, including nosings, treads, and edges to ensure the surface is smooth. Hardwood stair treads add the look of elegance to any stairway, along with a warm natural feel that goes well with any decorating decisions in your home. Evaluate the stairs to determine that the rise and run (or rise and fall) of each does not exceed the … The stair treads won’t have much to touch up either, those nails are countersunk and all I’ll have to do is add a little caulk to those and touch up with paint. It is important that all parts be lightly sanded before finishing. The stair treads will be made of composite decking planks — two for each step — making the run for each step (the distance front-to-back) about 11 inches. Allow the stain to dry for 12 hours. Choosing a Style. I removed carpet from wooden stairs to prepare for hardwood. How to finish exposed ends of stair treads and risers? Stair treads probably get more---and more intense---foot traffic than just about any other surface in your home. Once the first coat of polyurethane is dry, sand it lightly by hand with 220 grit sand paper. Easy to Maintain Siding with a Modern Spin | 2020 Farmhouse in Fairfield County. I would use pieces of the hardwood cut slightly wider than the thickness of the final stair tread. In this article on “Stair Treads – How to Install ... Fasten the tread to the stringers with three 12D finish nails placed through the tread into each stringer. The area of the stair treads I needed the stain for is minimal (I only used two small sample cans, that’s it, which ended up being around $7) Great durability of the product. Intro by Robin Steps by Ed. The stair treads won’t have much to touch up either, those nails are countersunk and all I’ll have to do is add a little caulk to those and touch up with paint. Also, you mention that your treads are 12" wide. 7. Allow it to sit for about 15 minutes and then remove any excess conditioner using a lint-free cloth. We use these stairs several times a day and they do not look worn in the least. By rubbing the stain into the wood (a process that takes place BEFORE the finish is applied) the natural grain pattern is able to be emphasized and given a more dramatic appearance by bringing out the natural beauty of the piece. At the 2020 Farmhouse in Fairfield County, builder Jerry Effren desired the look of a traditional New England barn that has been modernized over time, along with a contemporary farmhouse. 3. Paint every other stair if you need to use the stairway in the next few hours. Vacuum the treads thoroughly and then wipe them down again using a tack cloth. What size nail and what type of glue would be best to use? Unless you need to match exotic wood in the room, the best wood for a stair tread is solid oak. Return to using the stairs as usual 24 hours after the final coat. It has a 1" thick nose 1 1/4" back (for overhang), then it's 3/4" thick for the balance 4 1/4". Rather than demoing the old staircase or removing the original treads, I just built new treads right on top. of Artistic Finishes’ stair treads and risers. When you re-stain, you also will have to re-gloss over the stain, which looks good and protects the wood. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. or other … Clean. Apply the polyurethane slowly and evenly so as to avoid bubbles. 8. After that we used Kilz primer to coat each tread, which in effect sealed the mud and prepped it for painting. Scrub the treads and risers with a neutral cleaner, rinse, and wet vac. Roll a pencil up into a piece of fine-grain sandpaper and hand sand all of the corners and edges. Now that you know how many coats of polyurethane you need on stairs to get the mirror finish, let's see how to properly apply them. If you need to get up and down the stairs, only stain every other tread for now. The point we’re at here is the install. 48 in. 4. Tip: Do this process at night, or consider doing every-other tread so that the stairs can be used throughout the finishing process. Just measure and count your basement stairs, select the color and finish of your stair treads and then request a stair tread quote! Step 10 After all the treads and risers are dry-fitted and you're satisfied with the flatness and the rise and run, remove all the pieces and sand and finish prior to installation. Clean again. Baseboard trim can be cut with mitered corners and follow the angles of each tread and riser. Using the durable board and batten siding from LP Smartside, Jerry and his team created a functional and customized look for the home. A random orbital sander will make the quickest work of this step. Frog tape really seals nicely—when you go to take it off it has a nice clean edge. Use this form to ask a home-repair question and you could be featured! wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. I used a mask while using the outdoor stain, opened all the windows and … The main problem is that pine tends to soak up stain unevenly, resulting in a blotchy, unnatural appearance. AMAZING! Apply wood finish to the treads if they’re unfinished. The next day I was able to cover the treads with some craft paper and tape the sides so that I could paint the trim white and the risers. I waited a few days for drying, then put three coats of satin polyurethane on them with a very light sanding between coats. In Part 1 of this Stairs Makeover series, we shared the reasons we chose to cover our steps with hardwood stair treads – and we outlined some other choices you may want to consider to upgrade your own steps. To remove the dust, Nathan used a HEPA Dust Extractor with a brush attachment by Festool and a tack cloth, which can be found at home centers. Whil… In this guide, the This Old House Reviews team has compiled a list of gift ideas for the smart home enthusiast. Each of these nailers covers a range of applications. This will walk you through the NuStair remodel process from biginning to end, along with helpful tips to make your … This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. ... Now the stair treads are the right color, but we need to protect them. Be sure all of the previous finish is removed, otherwise the stain will not absorb properly. It will be a long time before the finish is actually worn off, and since a light coating is all that is needed, keep wearing down those seven coats until such time as you need to recoat lightly. The stringers of the stairs are what support the steps. Consider how this handsome addition to your hallway will impact your allover … Nov 8, 2015 - Explore paul's board "Staircase finishing" on Pinterest. It would be best to use an air gun to apply polyurethane but a 2" foam brush … The facings were painted white before installation, using some leftover enamel from another project. These products are on the smelly side but give excellent durability and are pretty UV stable. Oak is economical, durable, and looks beautiful either stained or with a natural finish. Then, replace the medium-grade disc with a fine-grade disc and sand them again. A belt sander is not recommended here; it is too aggressive for this work. This is why staining … A typical stair case has 12-18 stairs in it so the total cost for a new floating stair case … For best results, follow the directions on the polyurethane and stir it right before you dip the brush into the can each time. This article has been viewed 25,047 times. It's possible to stain pine stair treads, but it takes more prep work to get good results with pine than it does with harder woods. Is tear away bead the recommended way to finish … Allow the polyurethane to dry for a few hours. A stair skirt or baseboard is the trim that runs along the bottom of the wall beside the steps. A ½ sheet or ¼ sheet finish sander can be used in lieu of a random orbital, but it is important to move the sander along the grain and not across it. Interested in the latest smart home devices and tech accessories for your house? I am unable to screw the treads and risers from underneath due to the stairwell bottom being drywalled. Questions. Don't waste money using a tread; landing cap is cheaper. It’s okay if the treads of the stairs are getting soft or beginning to fail. I’ve considered laminate edging, wood filler and restaining, or wood filler and paint. In this edition of DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert demonstrates how to refinish stair treads. Apply stain to a scrap piece of wood as a test piece. Unlike a finish, which is meant to protect the wood, a stain won’t do that. If you'd rather make your own tack cloth, soak a piece of cotton fabric in water, wring it out, and then wet it lightly with turpentine. A good quality water-based polyurethane is recommended in lieu of oil-based. Unfinished Pine Stair Tread Made of two pine re-saw layers, the Surewood-LNL Made of two pine re-saw layers, the Surewood-LNL 48 in. This will require a … {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Finish-Pine-Stair-Treads-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Finish-Pine-Stair-Treads-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Finish-Pine-Stair-Treads-Step-1.jpg\/aid9698511-v4-728px-Finish-Pine-Stair-Treads-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"