\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. If you must paint the steps, ask at a paint store which paint is strong enough to walk on. 10 Best Non Slip Outdoor Stair Treads in 2020 . After the drying time is complete, remove any drop cloths, painter's tape, and other materials, and enjoy your beautiful new staircase. Staining wood can be simple although time consuming and messy. Affix it with masking tape. They help the stain from getting blotchy and even out the stain color. Stain has good lasting power and can be handy to have for touch ups in the future or other wood projects you’d like to add to your home to match your wood stairs. Apply even pressure and keep the sander in constant motion. Allow the varnish to dry for the recommended time, such as 4 hours. Allow the stain to penetrate the wood for 5-15 minutes, depending on the depth of color you desire. I am staining my steps. Make sure not to load the brush with too much paint, or you will get drips on the treads. Once you are ready to get staining, start by staining a sample piece of the wood you are using before you apply any stain to your. Best Sander for stair treads=> Check on Amazon=> Now start sanding all the stair treads properly with the 100 grit sandpaper. Fine-grit sandpaper ranges from about 120-220 grit. Remember to use a compatible varnish—oil-based with an oil-based stain, or water-based with a water-based stain. For example, if your decor, wall paint and other home features like furniture are lighter in color, choose a lighter wood stain. This will not only protect the wood, but it will prevent the stain from fading. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. You can also use a square-cut flooring nail. You don't want to get stuck up at the top of the stairs when you're finished! Use the shop vacuum to suck up the bulk of the dust on the steps and surrounding vicinity and then follow up by wiping down the stairs with tack cloths, which will remove any remaining dust. A dust mask will keep you from breathing in sanding dust, but won’t prevent you from inhaling fumes. Rubber-Cal Diamond-Plate stair tread: This is particularly critical with difficult woods to stain, like hard maple. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Once the finish dries, finish the remaining stairs and let them dry for 2 days. If your stain doesn’t turn out dark enough, apply additional coats until you’ve reached the desired darkness. To prevent blotching, do one stair part at a time. The only real remedy is to sand off what currently is on, re-stain and apply poly. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. You can buy them at any home improvement store. (Water-based stains are better for lesser fumes.). I then taped off the stair treads, grabbed a paint pad, latex gloves, and a rag (it was actually an old sock, lol). It paints well and is easy to cut. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Staining stairs requires at least a full weekend of work, with a lot of attention to detail—but it’s a great DIY job! Then, use fine-grit sanding paper to finish the sanding job. All Rights are Reserved! Beech Stair Treads: Stronger than oak or maple, beech is typically a reddish-brown wood that is fairly straight grained. It really doesn’t matter which tool you use as long as you are comfortable with the process. Crystal clear or amber tone: Many clear finishes add a rich, warm, amber tone to the wood. You want the stairs to appear smooth but have the slightest amount of surface texture to to accept the stain. How much sanding should I do? For a smooth and blotch-free surface, try applying a wood conditioner to your wood stair parts before you apply any stain. This article has been viewed 115,492 times. Wood conditioner causes softer woods to absorb stain more slowly, resulting in a more even finish with fewer blotches and streaks. After your stairs have been stripped, apply a coat of stain with a paintbrush or rag. If you’re not sure whether your stairs are made of a soft wood (like pine), a medium wood (like walnut), or a hardwood (like oak), go ahead and use wood conditioner. Attach a medium-grade sanding disc to a power sander, plug it in, and turn it on. Leaving the stain on for 15 minutes will produce a deeper, richer stain color than leaving it on for 5 minutes, but it might also conceal some of the natural beauty of the wood grain. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. What product would be best for finishing the treads? Doing a project like this yourself is going to shave a lot of money off what it would cost a professional to do the same job. Wipe the wood as you go for a lighter stain. Other tips for staining wood stair railing or treads: Feel free to give us a call with any questions you might have on staining wood stair railings or treads for your upcoming wood stairs project. Poplar Stair Treads: Lightweight, and somewhat soft for a hardwood, poplar is fine-grained in white to yellow-brown. I spread the stain on the stairs with the paint pad and quickly realized that it wasn’t the right tool for this application, it did work well, however, on the beams in my client’s kitchen. If you can't keep the staircase closed for at least 2 days, finish every other step first so that the staircase can still be used in the meantime. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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