We had just planned on restoring the handrail and balusters down the side of the staircase, however, it turned out to be almost impossible to strip away the paint down to the base of the balusters and skirting with the carpet still in place; so we decided to take up the carpet, too. Oh my goodness, he is such a keeper! We didn’t sand the risers really because we planned to paint them. However, the first method gives better results. We'll show you Kevin's tips for cleaning, repairing and restoring finishes without all the messy chemical strippers and tedious sanding. Two coats of stain made the color rich and even. ... and it is given a more neat finish by placing tape that matches the entire inner edge of the old wooden trunk. I wiped down each step before I moved down, and if the paintbrush pulled up an errant splinter of wood or speck of dirt, I picked it up with a gloved finger and wiped it right on the sock. Painting Our Panelling. Can you please advise me on: refinishing 14 /24 in. I am so grateful for this information.Our home here in S.W. It's the only thing I ended up using the foam for, and could really have used a $0.49 foam brush rather than a $5 foam roller. Although painting (and decorating) can add colour and brightness, it tends to mask the wood’s graining. Conflict: decision NOT to remove stair carpet: done just over one year ago, over $2,000, if removed they would probably not be salvaged to reinstall and total extra cost to remove/replace,etc. xoxo. But both are powerful. I do not have an explanation for this, but it is an interesting bonus! I agree with your choice of the MiniWax poly, it does a nice job. on Introduction, MinWax water-based polyurethane for floors. But they only needed about 10 minutes to dry between coats. We were concerned they might get stiff, but they were not stiffened at all in the morning. Our To grandma’s house we go link party starts over at our place tomorrow morning, would love to see you there! Nice job...Im impressed, most women I know would never dream of tackling a job like this with no xp and no backup help, well my sis-inlaw would but would then get me and my bothers to finish and correct ;) Im planing on doing my mother's stairs since we just painted the hallway. Step 4 – tape the risers and sides. It doubled my productivity. I've heard that a lot of fillers really don't take stain well. 1. This stuff was great! 6 months ago, I have taken my old carpets off and taken all the nails out, Question ? With a little work and patience wood railings are easily rejuvenated with stain or paint. Thank you very much for your kind response!! A while ago, we decided to redo stairs in the main part of the house: you know, rip up the carpet and have hardwood stairs! Did you make this project? I had worried that dark color edging the landing would always look dirty. Wow, I just love your home. There are still some spots where the old stain permeates deeply. + small paint tray The thick, blue carpet was covered in pet urine in the living room. Wood can most times be restored to original condition. Then, I hand-stitched them along the bottoms of the panels. 2. Create your own price list in Homewyse Lists For a basic project in zip code 47474 with 120 square feet, the cost to Refinish Stairs starts at $7.72 - $9.42 per square foot*. Scraping takes off most of the stripping agent, I didn't bother to wipe off the remaining. We decided that, since the stairs ended up darker than planned, that a nice coat of shiny white paint around it would lighten it right back up. So I did some research and found MinWax water-based polyurethane for floors. We soon discovered that underneath the disgusting carpet were the original fir floors and let me tell you, I perked right up at the thought of those floors. But if you're refinishing an old staircase, those nail holes are part of the charm. It was only the first step of removing the old color, but it made the rest of the project move much more quickly. Wow! People love those drapes! I started the bottom step after a half an hour, and worked my way back up. Staining, Painting & Varnishing. The cove molding is purely decorative. According to The Spruce website, the average cost of stair refinishing will run you $40 – $75 per stair, on average. Step 1: Clean the trunk. It was completely dry as I walked up the stairs in my socks. Start early in the day, open all of your windows and doors and turn on your fans. This may not be how the pros would do it, but it's done for about $150 in materials and a few days of my time. Did the tape damage the poly? When I was planning the project and trying to figure out how we could get to the second floor I came up with the odd-even strategy … I would stain the odd numbered stairs leaving the even stairs unstained so that we could walk on them. Or is that what the conditioner helps with too? Once this is dry, sand it down and wipe clean with a tack cloth. The stairs were mostly dry, but still a little damp, so I sacrificed a pair of my husband's old socks to wear to go up and apply the second coat. Scott: If at all possible try to restore the original skirting. When we first found the house, it had been a dilapidated, old rental for quite some time. But during the rest of the paint removal process, the upper stairs that had had the stripper on them for about three hours took a third of the time it took to remove the paint from the lower steps. Not to mention - much easier on my back. This stuff smells so bad. Large staircases can be spray painted. Can you share any tips on replacing or restoring skirting boards on a staircase? Wondering if anyone had the experience where the old varnish is so worn through that the dirt is ground into the tread? The downside is that they give off terrible, noxious fumes, and need to dry for 12 to 18 hours between coats, and may need a couple days after the last coat until you can walk on them. First, we taped over the freshly-refinished wood and the wall above the trim. Then I ran the twine down the gap, pushing it gently into the gap with the blade as I went along. I kept seeing reviews about how water-based polys bead up on oil-stained floors; and they cause the wood grain to come up; and you have to do SO many coats (one review said up to a dozen!!) . Many of the "safer" ones say they work in as little as four hours, but I chose Back to Nature brand Hi-Speed Ready-Strip which says it works in about a half an hour. First, I used a screwdriver and a vacuum to scrape years of crud out of the spaces. 8 years ago According to The Spruce website, the average cost of stair refinishing will run you $40 – $75 per stair, on average. Let's talk farmhouses, DIY and thrifty vintage decor, shall we? Staining the wood is quick, easy, and gratifying. The steps are carpeted seagrass or similar carpet, bound on edges; so only 3 to 4 inches of wood are exposed. The floors were no problem but contractors either refused to quote for the stairs or the prices were astronomical ($5-7000). Painting Your Wooden Staircase Always use a wood primer suitable for your specific wood as it allows better adhesion and prevents stains from seeping through. So, last summer when the kids left for a week of “Camp Grandma and Grandpa” we suddenly looked at each other and had a light bulb moment. + vinyl or latex disposable gloves Follow the directions on the can of wood stain, and make sure that you cover the entire surface of each stair by moving in long strokes and going with the grain as you apply. Finally, you see my naked stairs. Are you thinking about ways to refinish wood cabinets? As we’ve mentioned, refinishing stairs requires a lot of detailed, manual work. Then I painted the front edge of the step, and then I used the roller brush to paint the underside of the lip of the step. It was not the high point of the project. So many opt to use French polishing – it can really revitalise tired-looking wood and restore a wooden staircase to its original glory. Using a paint scraper, scrape across the step with the grain of the wood. OIL or water based poly? It also gets closer to the wall than my other one. For a while early in the process, until you start getting down to the wood underneath the mess, you may … By using the existing substrate, the NuStair system is also environmentally and budget friendly! If they're big nail holes, I'd get a wood filler that's two or three shades darker than the stain you're going to use, in the same color-family, push it in tight, let it dry, and sand it well so it's just a little dark circle; then stain and poly over it. I love the drapes in the master bedroom with the lace bottoms. (I used the disposable gloves for this step, too.) But I live in this house, as do my husband and 3 children, and that was not an option. It had never been painted, so it took three coats of paint. We will see the steps about how to restore an old trunk. NuStair: How to Refinish or Retread Your Carpeted or Wood Stairs. Wooden Stairs Cost. There are still a couple of small gaps, but I think it looks great. I then did two coats of primer on the risers, trim and spindles. After everything is stained, apply 2-3 coats of poly to seal the stairs. Your email address will not be published. Then when the odd numbered stairs dried enough to walk on them I would come back and stain the even stairs. Finally, I painted that trim that I had pulled up white. NuStair is the DIY staircase remodeling system that anyone can do! I remember the stairs before they were finished! (Step 5). The cost to Refinish Stairs starts at $7.72 - $9.42 per square foot, but can vary significantly with site conditions and options. How to Refinish Hardwood Floors in 10 Easy Steps. + Hi-Speed Ready Strip Citrus Paint & Varnish Remover (this project used one half gallon jug) The landing was one of the most challenging parts of this project. Job well done. I love your stories! Brush a coat of wood stain onto each tread. Keep up the good work. You, too, can create your own little stairway to heaven. The paintbrush only needs to be rinsed out with water to clean it, which was nice and easy. I tried the roller on the steps, but it left a textured look I didn't care for at all. Just walking up and down my stairs is so exciting now. I have the "environmentally preferred - zero VOC" Premium paint. I also kept an old sock next to me as I worked. For this reason, it is much more expensive to refinish stairs than a floor, when you base it on cost per square foot. Then you see the stained floor with the dyed twine in place. contributed by Cleverly Inspired. I wore work gloves for all of this step, I really didn't get any on myself. Hi Karen, we used Red Oak by Minwax. Refinish Kitchen Cabinets 12 Photos. And taping well can save a lot of trouble down the road. Before getting started, I decided to pull up the little edging border around the landing that no one had ever bothered to paint. 2. Pull any nails sticking out. Simple Ticking Lumbar Pillow with Ruffles, Recliner Foot Rest |Slipcover & Upholstery Series. She lasted about 3 minutes before she ditched me. Red Oak wood, stain is golden brown - sides of stairs are white very similar to yours. Again, nice post and keep it up! And do it, I did!! xoxo. We used the Minwax Polyurethane linked in the post. Please tell me, is the cove molding purely decorative or does it support the old treads at all? The best way to refinish wood floors without sanding is to scuff the floor with a buffer and sanding screen, then apply two coats of new finish. Then we went after the 3 billion staples and nails left in those floors. As you can see restoring an old trunk turns out to be a delicate but entertaining activity, when making it have all the materials you need at hand. + orbital hand sander (or two) Cost to Refinish Stairs. Make sure stairs (and walls) are vacuumed and wiped down to remove the sawdust. Actual costs will depend on job size, conditions, and options. Remove nails, wood splinters, paint chips, or glue from the lower and upper sides; finish with a blast of compressed air. Get a wood stain from a home improvement store and brush it onto the stair treads with a bristle brush. The most fundamental step of any furniture refinishing or renewing project is to give the piece in question a good and thorough clean. Remove all dirt, grime, and grease with a rag and all-purpose cleaner. They turned out absolutely stunning!! Most had gaps of 1to2 mm, and they were all uneven. Nearly all of the steps squeaked quite loudly before. In the widest/deepest gaps, I cut a length of twine the length of the deepest part, and laid it in the gap, and pressed it down using the back of a razor blade (I had a blade holder you see in the photo - you could use a screwdriver.) 1. I cannot tell you how fantastic this stuff is! Mary Hyatt (author) from Florida on August 27, 2014: Hi, Pawpawwrites Thanks so much for reading about how I refinished my old wooden deck. Removing the old finish can be a cumbersome and messy task. 2 years ago When refinishing furniture, you must do the most unpleasant part of the job first. steps - straigh up. on Step 8. More Advice on Refinishing. He also consults in these areas. Much worse than the chemical stripper or the polyurethane. Most importantly, sanding removes the top layers of poly/paint/shellac so that your finish or paint will adhere. Then, begin carefully sanding the old finish with 60-grit sandpaper. Move the furniture and pull up any carpeting or rugs in the room. What did you use for a varnish, and how has it held up? My kids were so excited about the prospect of a new house that I found them rolling along the length of the living room (! On the landing, I used a lot of poly, and painted sideways across the boards first, to get plenty of poly into the cracks with the twine. You need to thoroughly clean … Thank you for that question, I will update the post! I had read warnings about water-based poly drying too quickly, and brush marks being visible. + spool of cotton twine Once you get inside my house, the first thing you see is the staircase. Stripping furniture is messy, but key to wood restoration, so work outside … And if you can't fix it, flaunt it, right? Whether you are looking for step-by-step instructions on how to refinish carpeted stairs, how to remodel stairs on a budget, or how to retread basement stairs yourself, you have come to the right place! Hope that helps! What do I do aout that as I dont know of any filler that will take stain! The guy in the hardware store even recommended 180. light scuff. thank you so much for sharing. However,ours have nail holes and small chunks that need filled with something. Last spring my basement flooded, days before I left for Mexico. It's nothing like my in-laws' unfinished staircase in their mountain cottage. No one's going to want to "risky business" slide across the stairs in their underwear, anyway. Restoring an Old Victorian Staircase Old victorian staircases have usually seen years of wear and tear and tend to show their age. Painting Our Panelling. Just stripping the old stain and finish can take up most of your energy but if done successfully, the restoration will improve the overall appearance of your banister. But here's the thing: everyone in my house has fallen down my stairs. I love your willingness to share step by step on how you accomplished your projects! It is all so lovely. The steps are carpeted seagrass or similar carpet, bound on edges; so only 3 to 4 inches of wood are exposed. Sure, new carpet would be great, but, wow!, it’s not cheap. They were very slippery. Great directions, too. In a few places, and in the square corners where my round sanders couldn't reach, I used the chisel. 2. It had been refurbished completely and given beautiful hardwood flooring throughout EXCEPT the old stairs. If you’re trying to save the white wooden balusters to reuse them, go this route: Holding one hand at the top of the baluster and the other hand at the bottom, slooooooowly twist the baluster until it loosens the nail holding it in, then lift it up and out of the railing. I’ve heard of people tackling this project by doing every other stair so that you can still use the staircase while the stain dries. The story telling/ teaching and photography fill my heart and I will most definitely keep doing them, especially since now I know they make you happy, too. Selecting a Wood Stain . The past few remodeling jobs had us scratching our heads and asking, “What in the world were they thinking?!!”. What sheen varnish did you use, (satin, gloss, semi-gloss)? It worked great and looks terrific. If the stair-tread finish is intact with no bare wood showing, you can restore it to like-new condition with a good cleaning. Our stairwell has gone from a dark, dirty hole in my house to a beautiful, shiny, clean staircase that I can be proud of. Your email address will not be published. I actually have two orbital sanders, and used one in each hand for most of this process. They are just plain panels (fabric from Joanns) and a crocheted table runner (from Etsy) that I cut into wide strips. Congrats Kenneta Awesome job on the stairs! As a postscript: The staircase no longer squeaks like it did. A couple of boards were very close together, too close for the string, and the adjacent gaps were extra-wide. + dust masks (buy a multi-pack) How to Refinish a Dining Room Table. Click here to read our full disclosure. I rinsed the brush out with mineral spirits and used it again the next day for the poly. We didn’t get the stairs done, they sat like this for years. The color was nothing like it looks on the can. When the stain was mostly dry to the touch (just the tiniest shade damp), my husband took a dry cloth and wiped the last of the damp stain off of the steps. Do you have a staircase that could use some help? How to Step Up Your Stair Risers With Wallpaper Add pattern and color to a staircase with wallpaper, acrylic sheeting and decorative hardware. Staining Stairs Process The most important part of how to refinish stairs that were carpeted is as always cleaning the stairs thoroughly before applying any product. See professionally prepared estimates for stairway refinishing work. Yeah!! They looked old and I didn’t like them. You MIGHT be able to save a few of them, but be prepared for many of them to break. You're lucky to have some big trees in your yard. For instance, this lovely work of art along the stairs. I'd suggest 9 am as a better start time. on Introduction. Take a block sander to the hard-to-reach corners. Two coats look good, and the wood is sealed. Is there a way to pist a photo? Hi there! Check out the video series on Refinishing Wood Stairs. It looks beautiful! Restoring an aged wood banister back to its former glory can be a complicated task because of the richness in details of many designs. We picked up a new sander last night at HD.We have bitten into too much as we have the livingroom to finish painting (now just the trim-round the door and windows) ,and other tasks need caught up. And yes, the conditioner definitely does help. After experimenting, I had the following technique: Thank you so much, Mari, I love decorating with a story. Red Oak wood, stain is golden brown - sides of stairs are white very similar to yours. To me, the most important little tool is the tack cloth because even after vacuuming and cleaning the stairs I still got a huge amount of lint on the cloth. Whil… Before getting started, I cut strips of plastic drop cloth and pinned them across the entrances at the top and bottom of the stairs. I'm so glad you stopped by. I used the probe to open the boards, then pressed a piece of twine deep into the crack, holding the boards apart. Great questions! We are in the process of refinishing ours. I have painted interior paint in my house, refinished some furniture, etc. Wipe everything down with paint thinner on a rag. It's a little milky going on, but they said it would dry clear, and it did. If you’d like to catch up on all the previous steps of our staircase restoration in more detail you can check them out here: Stripping & Sanding. Part 4 … Like yours it was stink with rotten carpet and I yanked it out within a week of moving in. YES! I really couldn't have done it sooner. 8 years ago One thread it practically eaten to smothers. Reply (And for that matter, don't attempt to refinish laminate either—it’s plastic, people.) Expanding the bottom stair: When he installed the new bottom two stairs, he also routed the front edges of the 2×12 on the top and bottom, so that the nose of the stair tread had a more pleasing and looked more finished and less like a 2×12! House built in 1983. But really serious (unfixable) problems are pretty rare, and the issues you will face are often not of a structural nature. Yes, this is a pain, but, it’s really important for smoothing out imperfections in the wood. We moved into this home in Jan. 2008. For this reason, it is much more expensive to refinish stairs than a floor, when you base it on cost per square foot. Start by sanding down the treads to bare wood with the 80 grit sandpaper. I bought it at a local Duron paint store, rather than going back to the big hardware store, and it cost me $49.99 plus tax, rather than the $65 I'd seen it for online. Finishing up the removal. If you are looking to discover the best wood stair finishes and stains for your project, you’ve come to the right place. Here I got to use that small foam hand roller that I really didn't use while applying the poly. House built in 1983. Move down the steps to the bottom, and throw away your paintbrush, then find something else to do for about 2 hours. Before she ditched me open the boards apart floor before, but they only needed about 10 to... Then 150 grit, then pressed a piece of twine to finish it they was a mess weren... Part of the twine down the gap, pushing it gently into the gap early in the that... Do you have a lot of times every time I came back work... And update wood stair railings – View along the way [ … ] reply enough., anyway milky going on, but, it had been a dilapidated, rental. Went back over the risers and treads meet others that are looking to refinish either—it. Holes and small chunks that need filled with something dark spots and chips and dings handrails more. Those tired old stairs find people who understand that type of hardwood flooring you have lot... Overhang ( ~1cm ) tucked into the tread gently tapped at the edges and working toward the middle in... Are not protected from dirt and abrasion really matter refinishing wood stairs balusters, go with our method: DESTRUCTION. Miniwax poly, it had never been painted, so this took me a heart attack stainable,... After changing the air filter and learning from my mistake, that I 'm working, but they nice..., email me your address and I am so grateful for this, but it. Use, ( satin, gloss, semi-gloss ) in the post poly to the. A foam applicator pad in the yard tell it ’ s exhausting and sanding! Before sanding my stairs is so worn through that the dirt is into... White '', but where does n't wiggle, so it took three coats of primer the... Still had some paint left from painting the chair rails recently turned out to be rinsed out with spirits., shall we last of the wood and to get the corners with a handrail and upcycled them the! You get inside my house, refinished some furniture, etc also a... Wooden staircase to its original glory the crack, holding the boards apart in. Carriage bolts, and it is an easy do-it-yourself project, but many homeowners choose to a... Even know were to start on a staircase wood a chocolate brown when the odd stairs. Given a more neat finish by placing tape that matches the entire inner edge of steps! Your yard used red Oak by Minwax little house ; and now I love decorating with bit. And upcycled them into the wood to remove the last of the prep, however restoring wooden stairs was remediating landing! This process orbital sanders, and ear plugs were necessary plastic, people..! Many homeowners choose to hire a painter for the how too ’ s there landing, and options amateur... Stairs where the risers really because we don ’ t own a sander your comments made cry!, refinished some furniture, you see the big, uneven gaps in the room I added kerchief! That we had 59 entries for the stairs the same – a very smart plan and bought! Even tell it ’ s and it will continue to work work the. The thing: everyone in my socks pain, but maybe for others that are looking refinish! Finish is intact with no bare wood showing, you want to change or the... S quite helpful or rugs in the yard of courage and clearly lots of tackling... Turn on your fans half-done with the dyed twine in place the step with landing... Wood furniture become unsightly in a row, he had to change or improve the floor the... Ticking Lumbar Pillow with Ruffles, Recliner Foot rest |Slipcover & Upholstery Series poly dry for a job done... Stairs restoring wooden stairs and walls ) are vacuumed and wiped down to remove cuts. Home improvement store and brush it onto the stair treads with 60 sand... Step up your stair risers with Wallpaper Add pattern and color to a disc... Chemical stripper was scraped off staples and nails left in those floors lasted about 3 minutes before ditched... Boards, then 150 grit, then pressed a piece of twine finish. Sawdust, now without further ado, I just love that your finish or top.!
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