How to Stain Stairs
Remove carpet or carpet runners., Move any furniture and knick-knacks near the stairs, both at the top and the bottom., Cover doorways with plastic sheeting., Open all nearby windows., Survey the stairs for loose or protruding nails., Tape the area...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Remove carpet or carpet runners.
Pick up a corner of the carpet with pliers.
You can use a pry bar if the pliers aren’t doing the trick.
Rip up carpet, padding, wooden carpet strips, and staples.
Discard them.
Remember to wear heavy-duty gloves and work clothes when removing carpet. -
Step 2: Move any furniture and knick-knacks near the stairs
This process will create a lot of dust, and you will want to seal off the area as completely as you can. , Affix it with masking tape.
Lay down drop cloths on nearby floors or carpets. , The sanding and staining processes both require good ventilation. , Hammer them in thoroughly, so that they are even with the stair. , Apply the tape to the wall, so that you have full access to the stairs. , If it is thick paint or heavy stain, you may need to use a chemical stripper.
Apply it according to package directions, remembering that ventilation is important.
Chemical strippers are usually applied to the surface with a brush and then scraped off with a putty knife.
If you don’t have a heavy stain on the stairs, move on to the next step, sanding.
Wipe the stripped stairs with a clean rag before you continue.
You will need to sand the stairs lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to remove chemical residue. , You can use an electric random orbital sander for surfaces; however, corners and other areas may require a finishing sander, sanding blocks, or just plain sandpaper.
A small wood chisel can be helpful to remove the finish from the edges or corners of the stairs or risers. , If your stairs were recently installed, you may only need to give them a light sanding.
Your aim is to entirely remove the old finish, rather than change the shape of the stairs. , Then, vacuum the stairs and surrounding areas with a shop vacuum.
Run damp tack cloths over the surface of the stairs. , Choose an inconspicuous area and apply two to three coats.
Repeat this step until you find the perfect color. , Water or oil-based stains require a paintbrush, while gel based stains require a rag for application.
Read the directions on the stain container well before starting.
Start at the top of the stairs and work your way down.
Be sure that no one will need to walk down the stairs for the next day or so.
Allow the stain to penetrate the wood for 5-15 minutes, depending on the color you desire.
Wipe off the excess stain with a clean, dry cloth after allowing the stain to soak in.
Make sure not to allow any stain that has not penetrated the wood to dry on the surface. , Then, apply a second and possibly a third coat, wiping the excess off after allowing it to penetrate the wood.
The stairs should look slightly darker with each coat of stain. , Stairs are high-traffic areas, so sealing them is essential. , Wipe up dust with a tack cloth.
Most floor-grade polyurethanes do not require sanding between coats, especially if the second coat is applied within 12 hours of the first coat. , Allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before walking on them., -
Step 3: both at the top and the bottom.
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Step 4: Cover doorways with plastic sheeting.
-
Step 5: Open all nearby windows.
-
Step 6: Survey the stairs for loose or protruding nails.
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Step 7: Tape the area where the stair meets the wall.
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Step 8: Decide what finish is currently on the stairs.
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Step 9: Sand the surface of the wood with a medium-grit sandpaper to remove the existing finish and to buff out light dents and nicks.
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Step 10: Move on to fine-grit sandpaper.
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Step 11: Sweep up dust.
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Step 12: Purchase some stain samples to test on your stairs.
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Step 13: Apply a coat of stain with either a paintbrush or a rag to the stair treads.
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Step 14: Let the stain coat dry.
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Step 15: Apply a coat of floor-grade polyurethane varnish
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Step 16: following package directions closely.
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Step 17: Sand the stairs again with fine-grit sandpaper
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Step 18: if the polyurethane manufacturer recommends to.
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Step 19: Apply a second coat of varnish.
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Step 20: Remove drop cloths
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Step 21: painter’s tape and other materials.
Detailed Guide
Pick up a corner of the carpet with pliers.
You can use a pry bar if the pliers aren’t doing the trick.
Rip up carpet, padding, wooden carpet strips, and staples.
Discard them.
Remember to wear heavy-duty gloves and work clothes when removing carpet.
This process will create a lot of dust, and you will want to seal off the area as completely as you can. , Affix it with masking tape.
Lay down drop cloths on nearby floors or carpets. , The sanding and staining processes both require good ventilation. , Hammer them in thoroughly, so that they are even with the stair. , Apply the tape to the wall, so that you have full access to the stairs. , If it is thick paint or heavy stain, you may need to use a chemical stripper.
Apply it according to package directions, remembering that ventilation is important.
Chemical strippers are usually applied to the surface with a brush and then scraped off with a putty knife.
If you don’t have a heavy stain on the stairs, move on to the next step, sanding.
Wipe the stripped stairs with a clean rag before you continue.
You will need to sand the stairs lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to remove chemical residue. , You can use an electric random orbital sander for surfaces; however, corners and other areas may require a finishing sander, sanding blocks, or just plain sandpaper.
A small wood chisel can be helpful to remove the finish from the edges or corners of the stairs or risers. , If your stairs were recently installed, you may only need to give them a light sanding.
Your aim is to entirely remove the old finish, rather than change the shape of the stairs. , Then, vacuum the stairs and surrounding areas with a shop vacuum.
Run damp tack cloths over the surface of the stairs. , Choose an inconspicuous area and apply two to three coats.
Repeat this step until you find the perfect color. , Water or oil-based stains require a paintbrush, while gel based stains require a rag for application.
Read the directions on the stain container well before starting.
Start at the top of the stairs and work your way down.
Be sure that no one will need to walk down the stairs for the next day or so.
Allow the stain to penetrate the wood for 5-15 minutes, depending on the color you desire.
Wipe off the excess stain with a clean, dry cloth after allowing the stain to soak in.
Make sure not to allow any stain that has not penetrated the wood to dry on the surface. , Then, apply a second and possibly a third coat, wiping the excess off after allowing it to penetrate the wood.
The stairs should look slightly darker with each coat of stain. , Stairs are high-traffic areas, so sealing them is essential. , Wipe up dust with a tack cloth.
Most floor-grade polyurethanes do not require sanding between coats, especially if the second coat is applied within 12 hours of the first coat. , Allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before walking on them.,
About the Author
Sarah Torres
Professional writer focused on creating easy-to-follow DIY projects tutorials.
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